News / Africa
Minister claims ex-wife bewitched him
01 Jun 2014 at 12:13hrs | Views
Cape Town - A senior cabinet minister in South Africa has been granted a divorce from his wife following a bitter four-year legal battle that saw him accuse her of using witchcraft against him.
According to the Sunday Times, the minister, who may not be named so as to protect the names of his children, admitted in divorce papers that there was a third party involved. He also accuses his ex-wife of having been involved in witchcraft or causing "witchcraft practices and rituals" to be held at his homes.
He reportedly said she wanted to cause him harm by "causing unknown substances" to be put in his food and drink, he wrote in one affidavit.
He said he had been alerted to this by one of the domestic workers in his house. His ex-wife however denies the allegations. She responded by saying the minister's sister was a sangoma (traditional healer).
Despite only being granted a divorce last week, the minister has already conducted a traditional nuptial ceremony with his mistress, with whom he has two children.
Late last year, the Justice Department released its 2012-13 annual report that put South Africa on the map in terms of matrimonial woes as new figures showed that the divorce rate has rocketed by 28% from 39 573 to 50 517 cases since the previous year.
Divorce lawyers and marriage councillors say however that sex and money is behind this spike. They say that adultery, unrealistic expectations and a lack of sexual intimacy plays a huge part in the increasing divorce rate.
According to the Sunday Times, the minister, who may not be named so as to protect the names of his children, admitted in divorce papers that there was a third party involved. He also accuses his ex-wife of having been involved in witchcraft or causing "witchcraft practices and rituals" to be held at his homes.
He reportedly said she wanted to cause him harm by "causing unknown substances" to be put in his food and drink, he wrote in one affidavit.
He said he had been alerted to this by one of the domestic workers in his house. His ex-wife however denies the allegations. She responded by saying the minister's sister was a sangoma (traditional healer).
Despite only being granted a divorce last week, the minister has already conducted a traditional nuptial ceremony with his mistress, with whom he has two children.
Late last year, the Justice Department released its 2012-13 annual report that put South Africa on the map in terms of matrimonial woes as new figures showed that the divorce rate has rocketed by 28% from 39 573 to 50 517 cases since the previous year.
Divorce lawyers and marriage councillors say however that sex and money is behind this spike. They say that adultery, unrealistic expectations and a lack of sexual intimacy plays a huge part in the increasing divorce rate.
Source - News24
