Times Of Swaziland: BUSINESS PARTNER:  BUSINESS PARTNER:  I SLEPT WITH ECLIPSE  DIRECTOR’S WIFE

BUSINESS PARTNER:  BUSINESS PARTNER:  I SLEPT WITH ECLIPSE  DIRECTOR’S WIFE
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Sibusiso Shange on 13/11/2024 13:51:00


MBABANE – A businessman stunned the court and those present when he admitted
to committing adultery with a teacher, who happened to be his business
partner’s wife.
Dumisani Dlamini told the court that he knew Futhi Shongwe as a divorcee when he
proposed love to her. However, he said Shongwe confided to him that she was in a
divorce process after separating with her husband Muzi Zwane, who is Eclipse
Investment Director.  “There was a time when Shongwe frequented court during
the course of our relationship. She then informed me about the divorce
proceedings between her and her husband. However, we continued with our
relationship even after she had informed me about the ongoing divorce,” he
said. He said their relationship was a bit shaky after Shongwe informed him that
she was pregnant.“We just greeted each other without affection,” he said.
Abusive
However, Ncamiso Nxumalo, who is representing Shongwe in the matter, put it to
Dlamini that the relationship ended after his client learnt about his abusive
nature. Nxumalo said Shongwe could attest to that. Dlamini said he had no
comment on what was being said against him. Nxumalo further put it to Dlamini
that it is not true to that he started knowing Shongwe last year. He said
evidence would be presented that he has been receiving services from Zwane’s
business for three years, which means that he knew Shongwe about three years
ago.
Shongwe’s friend, Sibongile Masilela, testified that she knows Dlamini since
2010. Masilela submitted that she used to accompany Shongwe to Dlamini’s
homestead situated in Pigg’s Peak in northern Hhohho. This, she said, was
because Dlamini was in a love relationship with Shongwe. She told the court that
she had been to too many places with Shongwe. Masilela said, they used to go to
Johannesburg together since they were hawkers. She said they used to visit a
certain Isaac Hadebe in Pretoria between 2016 and 2017. “Isaac was also in a
love relationship with Shongwe,” she said as those in court murmured. Masilela
told the court that she was aware that Shongwe was married.
Evidence
In his evidence, Zwane, who is divorcing Shongwe told the court that Dlamini
openly told him during a business meeting that he used to be in a love
relationship with his wife (Shongwe). Zwane submitted that Dlamini was quick to
tell him that he ended the affair with his (Zwane) wife, because she was in love
with many men, who he claimed included a Pretoria-based judge, dagga farmers and
a Nigerian, who was based in Mbabane. He said Dlamini first asked him if he is
Zwane, before confiding in him that he used to be in a love relationship with
his wife. He said it was his first meeting with Dlamini, who used to deal with
his children in their partnership.
At the time, Zwane told the court that his wife had long deserted him. “My
wife was argumentative, resulting in a hostile environment at home. She denied
me conjugal rights. At times, she would wake me up at night to talk (vuka
sikhulume) while carrying a knife,” Zwane alleged. The businessman told the
court that Shongwe’s refusal with conjugal rights deprived him of the
opportunity to have children with her. As a result, Zwane submitted that he
found new love after he was deserted by Shongwe. He told the court that he has
two children with his new lover.
“I had children out of wedlock and I beg the court to condone me for that.  I
was compelled by the situation,” he said. Zwane applied for a final decree of
divorce, so they could go separate ways.  He applied that each party keeps what
it is in possession of. The businessman told the court that there is only one
property that was accumulated before the desertion. He said he has a plot at
Mathendele in Nhlangano and Ngwane College. However, he said he has bedsitters
where he collects rent to service loans and pay school fees for his children. He
said the other property was undeveloped due to a lack of funds. Apart from the
plots, Zwane told the court that he has a motor vehicle.