Top executive takes on ex in court

Divorced couple fight over the transfer of properties

A top black executive has hauled his former wife before court in an attempt to claw back three Pretoria properties which were awarded to her in their divorce settlement.

This after the ex-wife had failed to transfer the ownership of the three Pretoria properties, including a Silverlakes home, into her name in more than a year.

She has accused the director of assaulting her, fracturing her nose, hiding assets she was entitled to and failing to pay maintenance for their two children, with one studying overseas.

The man who is also a shareholder and director of a listed hospitality and entertainment company, and his ex-wife, also a businesswoman were now embroiled in a legal battle playing itself out in the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria. The matter is due to be heard later this month.

In their 2015 divorce settlement, the couple shared between them seven properties – two in Cape Town including in Claremont, four in Pretoria including in Willow Acres and one in Manzini, Swaziland. They also shared seven cars, furniture and other household contents.

The businessman is asking the court to give him ownership of the three properties because his ex-wife had breached clauses in their divorce settlement which indicated she needed to transfer the properties into her name.

He argued in court papers that his former wife “has by virtue of her aforesaid breaches lost, waived and relinquished all of her right, title and interest in and to any of the properties”.

He also asked the court to authorise the sheriff of the court to take steps in effecting the transfer of the properties.

In her responding papers filed before the court, the ex-wife argued that her former husband had been in control of their properties, including finances. “I was subjected to grave physical and economic abuse by the applicant during the period of separation. The situation prompted me to obtain a protection order in terms of the Domestic Violence Act,” stated the ex-wife in court papers.

She added: “The economic abuse situation persisted even after the decree of divorce was granted by this honourable court and it contributed tremendously to my inability to perform my obligations.”

She argued that since the divorce she had been single-handedly taking care of the maintenance and education of the children.

She also argued she was faced with unpaid rates and taxes amounting to about R95 000 on the three properties, which prevented her from transferring them into her name.

‘‘ The economic abuse went on even after the divorce decree was granted