A Zimbabwe-born millionaire-cum-politician has been held in
contempt of court for owing about R323 000 in child maintenance in a divorce
settlement matter.
The man, who cannot be named to protect the identity of his
children, appeared at the North Gauteng High Court on Monday where his dirty
divorce and child maintenance legal battle between him and his estranged South
African wife was heard.
The businessman’s spouse filed a contempt of court
application against her husband after he failed to comply with a court order
issued in October last year which ordered him to pay R30 000 a month in
maintenance for her and their three minor children, among other things. He is
R323 000 in arrears.
The couple were married in community of property for about
nine years until the husband proposed a divorce in December 2018 before moving
into a cottage attached to their matrimonial home in Joburg.
The lawyers of the two parties had a virtual sitting of
North Gauteng High Court on Monday.
The tycoon owns
several companies and assets in the southern African region and is a big
political figure in his home country, where he was also a presidential
candidate.
According to court documents seen by The Star, the court
ordered the husband to pay R30 000 a month in maintenance for his spouse and
their children; pay all costs and expenses for the children’s education; reinstate
the children and ex-wife on his medical aid scheme; make payments for all the
children’s clothing, cellphones, pocket money and all birthday gifts; return
the wife’s Mercedes-Benz together with all sets of keys; and make payments
towards the wife’s legal costs which were about R30 000.
The wife’s attorney, Graeme Krawitz, said in court that the
businessman had not complied with the order.
“He has not delivered the car, which he could have done, he
has not placed the children on medical aid, he has not paid contribution
towards legal fees and has not paid one cent of maintenance apart from R7 000
in October,” Krawitz said.
The wife told The Star that she’s had to rely on her family
members to aid her financially.
“I pay for all transport, whatever food I use with
donations from my family. I am absolutely destitute despite the fact that I am
married in community of property to an extremely wealthy man,” she said.
The husband’s attorney, Kevin Schaafsma, said his client
was not in complete default of the court order because his client did pay all
costs and expenses for the children’s education, clothing, cellphones, pocket
money and all birthday gifts.
He said the vehicle was handed over to the wife but it did
not work and was removed from the property.
Schaafsma added that his client did not comply with the
payment of maintenance and reinstate the wife and children on the medical aid
scheme because the businessman could not afford to pay because his company was
under suspension.
“The bank statements before the court contend that he had
an overdraft limit and he lives on the overdraft limit and he is not in a
position to make payments,” he said.
The businessman’s attorney contested that the wife was
destitute and said she had not tried to find employment to support herself.
“The applicant continues to believe that she can live a
life of luxury without working, notwithstanding being a healthy 33-year-old
woman with formal qualifications,” the husband wrote in his answering
affidavit.
The judge in the matter indicated that he would hold the
businessman in contempt for not fully complying with the previous order and
gave him a 60-day sentence suspended for five years.
Schaafsma confirmed to The Star that his client intended to
appeal against the order. We will be taking it on appeal,” he said. He added
that his client asked for privacy.
The wife said she was relieved about the outcome but was
hoping her estranged husband would comply. The Star
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