Lethokuhle Moyo Court Reporter
A 29-year-old marriage came to an end yesterday after an aggrieved Pumula South woman revealed in court that she caught her husband in bed with a neighbour after he had denied her sex for eight years.

Joyce Manyathela Sibanda dragged Christopher Sibanda to court seeking the dissolution of their marriage saying she last saw her husband three years ago.

She told magistrate Victor Mpofu that she could spend the whole day talking about their marital woes.

Manyathela and Sibanda were married under the Marriage Act and they sired three children during their 29 year old union.

The woman told the court that she discovered that her husband was cheating on her with two other women identified only as NaBarbra and MaNkundla.

“Your Worship, I’m fed up. We haven’t had sex as husband and wife for eight years. I last saw him three years ago on the 15th of April 2012, after I caught him red handed at NaBarbra’s place. He has never done anything for the upkeep of the children,” Manyathela said.

“The day I caught him it was after my 26 year old child told me that her father was sleeping next door. I went there in the middle of the night and slept at the gate. Early in the morning, I entered the yard and knocked at the door. I called him saying let’s go home but there was no response so I got inside the bedroom. I was shocked when I found him and NaBarbra naked but she ran away.”

Manyathela said she went to the nearest police community relations and liaison officer where Sibanda told her that he was having sex with other women because he wanted to have more children.

Magistrate Mpofu dissolved their marriage after Sibanda consented.

He told the magistrate that he had not wanted to end the marriage, but his wife forced him into the divorce.

He said when he was ready to go and apologise for his actions, his wife had already sent a man to surrender his clothes.

“If that’s what she wants then let it be terminated but I still wanted my family,” he said.

The end of the 29 year old marriage comes a week after the same magistrate grappled with a decision to end a 37 year old marriage.

In March, magistrate Mpofu had refused to dissolve it saying he was fearful that God would smite him for doing so.

He, however, dissolved the marriage last week after the husband failed to make any effort to save it as he had promised when opposing its dissolution.

Elsina Nyathi, 62, and Dennis Ndlovu, 67, had no children and the man allegedly told her that he had found a younger woman who would bear him children. Nyathi told the magistrate that Ndlovu also told her that he was now tired of staying with her and she had also recently discovered that he had sired a son who is now 24 years old, with another woman. Ndlovu denied the allegations saying he never wanted to be separated with his wife. He also said he did not want his marriage to be presided over by “young” people and would have the issue handled by a chief.

Last week, Nyathi was back for the hearing alone and told the magistrate that Ndlovu did not bother to come to their homestead in Filabusi, to discuss the matter with their chief as he had proposed.

She asked the magistrate to dissolve the marriage and her request was granted.

 

You Might Also Like

Comments