Generations Actress Denise Zimba Loses Custody of Daughters to Ex-Husband in High Court Ruling Amidst Cheating Scandal and Bitter Divorce

Johannesburg – In a devastating turn of events, Generations: The Legacy actress Denise Zimba has reportedly lost custody of her two daughters to her ex-husband, Jakob Schlichtig. The news comes after a tumultuous period in the actress's life, marked by allegations of infidelity, a bitter divorce, and a fierce legal battle over the children.

Women For Change reported on Friday, 7 March that the Johannesburg High Court ruled in favour of Denise Zimba’s ex-husband and allowed him to take their daughters back to Germany. The organisation also alleges that the court filed documents and claimed that the girls would be distressed without their father.

The actress and media personality moved to Germany in 2022 with Schlichtig and their first daughter after their wedding. Zimba later moved back to South Africa after giving birth to her second child due to their marital disputes.

The court’s ruling comes after the actress hinted on her Instagram account in March 2024 that she and Schlichtig have separated, and she was a single mother. The TV personality took to her Instagram Story to share a photo of herself and her daughters on the beach. She captioned the post: “Had such a good time with my girls in the sun today. Getting a hang of this single parenting. Just us three.”

The How To Ruin Christmas star has also deleted all photos and videos of her wedding day and ex-husband from her social media accounts.

The custody battle is the latest blow for Zimba, who has faced a series of personal and professional challenges in recent years. In January 2025, the actress revealed that her ex-husband, Jakob Schlichtig, had allegedly cheated on her with her childhood friend, Mpumi Mdluli.

Zimba who married Schlichtig in April 2022 said that she and Mdluli had been friends since they were 14 years old. She wrote on X: “Nothing worse than finding out your best friend since you were 14 years old has been having an affair with your husband, and that’s why she always ghosted you when you were pregnant and never celebrated you – birthdays, baby showers, bridal showers.”

The allegations of infidelity sparked a social media storm, with many South Africans expressing their support for Zimba and condemning Schlichtig's alleged actions.

@IAmShahieda: “Sad, but we do not know the inner workings of these people’s lives and why the court would rule in the father’s favour.”

@TeeDeeny: “Just read the post about Denise Zimba and I had to read it again to confirm I’m understanding it correctly. How does a court rule in favour of a cheating husband for custody? Worse to allow him to take her minor girl children overseas without their mother? Nope she needs to appeal!”

Naki_Nephawe: “What’s happening to Denise Zimba is wrong on so many levels. Your husband cheating on you with your best friend then winning custody of your kids. Shipping them off to a whole different continent is so wrong.”

In November last year, Actress Denise Zimba revealed how she was betrayed by those close to her in the previous year. Zimba, who had recently gotten divorced from her German husband, Jakob Schlichtig, was celebrating her birthday at the time.

In June last year, Sunday World reported that Zimba dumped her husband because she caught him playing with himself while texting another woman. She also said Schlichtig refused to buy a plane ticket for her mother to travel to Germany to help her with the kids. Instead, he paid €900 for the medical treatment of his sick cat.

The child custody battle between Zimba and Schlichtig has been ongoing for months, with both parties presenting their case to the Johannesburg High Court. Zimba dropped the bombshell in the court papers she had filed in the Joburg High Court. She was opposing Schlichtig’s application for an order to force her to return their two children to Germany, where he lives. He hads claimed that she unlawfully removed them from the country.

Since her divorce, the actress had been mum. But she then opened up in November last year about how she has been navigating the past year. She shared that she was lied to and stripped of everything that she has built for herself. And now has to start from scratch. “The best thing I could have ever done for myself was to walk away. In this past year alone, I lost my family that I gave so much of myself to have. Close friends betrayed me at levels I cannot even comprehend. Those I loved the most and held close to my heart abandoned me and did not choose me.

“I am blessed with another year of life, reminding me how precious life truly is. And that you can always start over and try again. I am excited to do things differently and not betray myself again. My girls deserve a thriving mama who respects herself enough to do right by herself,” wrote Zimba in November last year.

The court's decision to grant Schlichtig custody of the children and allow him to take them back to Germany has been met with mixed reactions. While some have expressed sympathy for Zimba and questioned the court's decision, others have acknowledged that the court likely had access to information that the public is not privy to.

As Denise Zimba navigates this difficult chapter in her life, she faces the challenge of rebuilding her personal life and career while dealing with the pain of being separated from her daughters. The actress's resilience and determination will undoubtedly be tested, but her fans and supporters remain hopeful that she will emerge from this ordeal stronger than ever. The legal battle may not be over, and Zimba may choose to appeal the court's decision in an effort to regain custody of her children.