Battered by husband of 10 years, says wife

Date for high-profile couple’s divorce battle still to be set

HE SAYS she’s been battered and abused for almost 10 years but she’s held her head high. She says her reconstructed nose hides the horror she’s been subjected to. Now the socialite and fashionista, who cannot be named because of SA’S divorce laws, wants to put an end to what she says has been all out war for her and loved ones.

Yesterday, the 34-year-old appeared at the Midrand Magistrate’s Court alongside her husband of 10 years, family and friends.

The hearing was to see whether an interim protection order she filed against her estranged husband at the Randburg Magistrate’s Court last month would be made permanent.

She claimed in court papers that her husband, a head of department at a parastatal, had been beating her up since 2004.

However, it was after the latest alleged altercation on January 16 at their luxurious Midrand home that she finally went to the police to lay a charge of domestic violence.

The incident happened in full view of their domestic worker. The court papers claim he slapped and pushed her until she fell.

Then he allegedly snatched her cellphone and deleted a video she had recorded of the brawl.

He is said to have also intimidated her and screamed insults at her.

She claims she was injured during the fracas. Her neck and shoulder injuries were recorded by Sunninghill emergency practitioners Drs Monieith, Na, Wells and Heymans after she was admitted to the hospital on January 17.

She told the court the brawl had been just one of many incidents. She told investigating officers that seeing her being assaulted affected her domestic worker and her son.

She claims matters reached a head two-and-a-half years ago

Swhen an emergency meeting was held at the couple’s home by family members in an effort to mediate and intervene. The meeting in question, she says, was attended by 10 people where her husband allegedly admitted to having assaulted her.

He has publicly denied ever assaulting her.

At the time he “promised” to never assault her again.

Yesterday, the tension between the pair was palpable.

He greeted and hugged friends and family, but pointedly avoided any eye contact or even a simple handshake with his estranged wife.

The two, who sat in the same front row bench with one family member between them, were silent.

The fashionista laughed and made small talk with her sister and others, while her husband remained silent. Her long-time friend declined to reveal any details.

The presiding magistrate opened the session by declaring it in camera whereupon the court was cleared.

The woman has since moved out of her home with her son. The court hearing was also a far cry from the words on her official website in which she posted affectionate newspaper clippings of her wedding day, magazine covers and a biography of her life.

On it, she wrote; “I’m forever grateful I have a husband like ‘My *****’ – I thank God!”

Speaking on her behalf, celebrity publicist Siphiwe Majola said the woman had filed divorce papers on her husband claiming to have done everything in her power to protect the integrity of her marriage for the past 12 months.

Majola said he was not at liberty to comment on the upcoming divorce but asked the media to respect the couple’s privacy “during this trying time as there is an adorable and innocent minor involved”.

A date for the divorce battle has yet to be set.

The husband declined to comment.