A Johannesburg-based businessman and philanthropist is facing a hefty financial blow after his wife filed for divorce, citing his infidelity and a penchant for “intimate sexual relationships with prostitutes”.
The couple, who cannot be named for legal reasons, have been married for over eight years under community of property, and now face the arduous task of dividing their multi-million rand assets, which include a luxurious Sandton mansion worth R13 million.
The news crew has seen the divorce papers filed at the Johannesburg High Court, where the wife alleges that the marriage has irrevocably broken down due to her husband’s continued infidelity. She states that she expects an annual spousal maintenance payment of R400,000, which she plans to use for taking their only child on holiday.
The wife also demands a monthly child maintenance payment of R25,000 for their three-year-old daughter.
The divorce papers paint a picture of a marriage riddled with infidelity and a husband who seemingly prioritised his extramarital affairs over his family.
The wife alleges that her husband has fathered another child out of wedlock through his alleged extramarital affairs and that he has been “conducting intimate sexual relationships with prostitutes”.
“The husband conducts intimate sexual relationships with prostitutes and in so doing has potentially exposed the wife to sexually transmitted diseases and HIV. He has threatened divorce on numerous occasions throughout the duration of the marriage, most especially in the past five years and over time since the revelation of his affair," read the papers.
The wife further accuses her husband of being controlling and belittling her in public, including in front of their child. She claims that he has been “acting like a bachelor without family responsibilities” despite being legally married.
“Even though the parties are legally married, the husband conducts himself from time to time as if he were a bachelor without family responsibilities.,” read the papers.
The wife has limited knowledge of her estranged husband’s assets and liabilities.
“In this premises, he is obligated to render the full particulars of the value of his estate on divorce, identify each asset, its value, the nature of any ability and extent of such liability, duly supported by documentary proof,” read the papers.
The couple will share responsibility for their daughter, who will remain in the mansion with the wife. The husband will have to vacate the matrimonial home and find his own accommodation. A parenting plan is in place, outlining the husband's visitation rights.
“The husband shall be entitled to exercise contact with the minor child, For a period of four hours on a Tuesday, which contact shall commence in the afternoon and will collect the child from the wife”, read the papers.
Both the wife and husband declined to comment on the divorce, stating that it was a private matter.
