MBABANE – A 43-year-old Liswati woman who works in the United Kingdom (UK), earning her salary in pounds, has filed for divorce from her husband, alleging that he may be interested in her money, among other grievances.
Nqobile Mngometulu (née Matsebula) last appeared at the Mbabane Magistrate Court last week, where her matter against her husband, Thabiso Mngometulu, was first heard by Principal Magistrate Fikile Nhlabatsi. She stated that they were married in a civil rites union, in community of property.
In her particulars of claim, the plaintiff said they got married on March 17, 2022, in Mbabane, but within a year, their marriage had begun to deteriorate.
She further alleges that Thabiso failed to fulfill his marital duties and has since deserted her. Nqobile said that although their marriage is still legally valid, they have not established a matrimonial home and have instead been residing separately at their respective parental homes.
“Thereafter, the plaintiff and the defendant failed to establish their matrimonial home and never stayed together as husband and wife, as they alternated between their parental homesteads,” the court papers state.
She confirmed that there are no children born of the marriage.
Nqobile also claims that Thabiso failed to provide conjugal rights and did not make himself available to live with her as a husband. This, she says, marked the beginning of marital strife.
She said that she tried to resolve the matter through Thabiso’s family, but he appeared disinterested in continuing with the marriage. Despite being invited multiple times to join her in the UK, he never made the trip.
“As initially planned, the defendant was supposed to join the plaintiff in the United Kingdom, where she resides and is permanently employed. However, the defendant failed to even visit the plaintiff, despite countless invitations from her,” the court documents state.
Despite this, she claims that he continued to accept money from her.
She also told the court that they last had sexual relations in January 2024.
Nqobile said she met Thabiso at church, during a period when she had been single for a long time, and they eventually got married.
She is now asking the court to order Thabiso to fulfill his marital duties. However, if reconciliation is not possible, she seeks a final decree of divorce. She is also asking for an interim order compelling Thabiso to restore conjugal rights, failing which a final decree of divorce should be granted.
Nqobile further alleges that Thabiso appears to be primarily interested in her money. As a result, she wants to terminate the marriage but is asking the court to allow each party to retain the property currently in their possession.
She also seeks costs of suit should the matter be opposed, along with any further alternative relief the court may deem fit.
Nqobile is represented by Mkhabela Attorneys.
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