BUSINESS PARTNER: BUSINESS PARTNER: I SLEPT WITH ECLIPSE DIRECTOR’S WIFE

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.

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