Lobola negotiations contract sells for R99

SHARPEVILLE.- A local entrepreneur, Jabulani Mahlangu, has come up with an interesting innovation, a legally binding Lobola agreement document.
Just as you can buy a drafted Deeds Transfer document from the local supermarket, you can now, for R99 buy a ‘Lobola Negotiations Agreement for Marriage’ at U-Save and Shoprite.
Speaking to Sedibeng Ster, the Sharpeville resident, Mahlangu said that what is agreed upon during lobola negotiations has legal repercussions, so it is important that all information be recorded accurately.
“I have been involved in a lot of lobola negotiations and has seen how information, which was mostly written on pieces of paper, has been bungled up. This is why I came up with this idea to make lobola negotiations more formalised. This is of great importance to our culture, we can’t afford to have any more information bungled up,” Mahlangu said. The legal document is in partnership with Hortors Stationery which manufactures and supplies legal publications, forms, books and notices. The document consists of four sections. The first requires the names and contact information of all parties concerned from both the bride and the groom’s side. The second page notes the full names and identity details of the bride and groom.
It also notes the dates, times, venue, amounts and balances.
“It is important that full details of the bride and groom be recorded.
“Within many negotiations people noting minutes only write the first name of the bride and groom leaving out information that can verify their identities which leads to disputes in the future.”
The document also gives the bride and groom power over the negotiation processes as they authorise the people representing them.
“With this document I want to dignify our culture and practices by putting them in sync with the current times.”
Mahlangu has also developed another document for the penalty of impregnating a woman out of marriage which he aims to release soon.