A widow’s two adult children have persuaded a court to curb their mother's lavish spending sprees on frivolous hobbies and other unnecessary items. According to a report in The Mercury, the elderly woman’s children said she also fell for all kinds of scams as she simply coughed up money or incurred debt to cater for her needs.

Gauteng High Court (Pretoria) Judge Johan Louw declared her a prodigal, or person unable to manage her finances.

A curator was appointed by the court to manage her affairs on her behalf. Her daughter said in papers before court that their father, who died in 2007, had always provided his wife with ‘everything her heart desired’. Soon after his death the widow moved to a townhouse in the Free State, where the spending started.

The daughter cited several examples of her mother’s profligacy, and said they had no other option than to ask the court to step in. She said they were being saddled with the bills and it also did not help to take their mother’s credit cards away as she always found a way to get what she wanted.

Full report in The Mercury (subscription needed)