An influential member of the ANC has evaded a High Court ruling that required him to disclose his assets and income in a divorce case. The politician filed for divorce from his estranged wife in August 2022 after a separation of more than ten years. The couple, once a powerful duo within the ANC NEC, had been married for over three decades. Reports at the time suggested that the husband had engaged in extramarital affairs, prompting his wife to leave their Cape Town home while he moved in with his younger mistress, who has since given birth to two children.
This week, the politician was spotted attending the extravagant wedding of Sisa Gebulana and Ayanda Gebulana in Paris, France. The week-long ceremony featured coordinated outfits for the bridal party, with the husband and his mistress playing prominent roles. The guest list included prominent figures from South Africa’s elite circles, including several ANC supporters and beneficiaries such as Vivian Reddy and Sorisha, as well as Mzwandile Masina and his wife Sinazo. It appears that the politician’s disregard for the court’s order to submit his papers and appear in court became less significant compared to his luxurious trip to France with his lover, an event that reportedly cost each attendee an average of R80,000 per day for accommodation, meals, and other expenses.
ANC bigwig fails to declare his assets to divorce court
Read more: https://t.co/kyxP3cDiwM pic.twitter.com/D1Zet0dysj— Zimoja Lezinto (@ZimojaL) June 3, 2023
According to court documents obtained by ZiMoja, the estranged husband repeatedly postponed the case while allegedly attempting to conceal his assets and funds. Several months ago, ZiMoja reported that the husband was unwilling to disclose his sources of income and details about their shared estate. An insider shared that the mistress had pressured him to divorce his wife as she desired marriage and wished to share his surname. Another source revealed that the husband made a strategic error by appointing their eldest son as a director in one of his companies, leading the son to side with his mother in the divorce proceedings.
The court’s decision remains uncertain as neither the husband nor his lawyers appeared in court, resulting in a default judgment against him. Since the couple was married in community of property, the court ruling means that if the husband still wishes to proceed with the divorce, all assets and liabilities accumulated during their marriage will be considered joint property and subject to division. Attempts to reach the politician for comment went unanswered, and his wife, who is currently abroad serving as an ambassador for South Africa, was also unavailable for comment.