[imagesource:gencraftai]

If divorce doesn’t hurt you emotionally, then it certainly will hurt you financially.

A Pretoria businessman has been accused of living a high life with fancy cars and a swanky house while conveniently forgetting to pay his ex-wife’s spousal maintenance, his two kids’ school fees, and some other bills.

The couple divorced in September 2018 and entered into a settlement agreement, per IOL. He was supposed to give her a bunch of money – R300,000 for spousal maintenance by July 31, 2018, to be exact. Additionally, he undertook to purchase a house for her with a maximum value of R2.6 million, covering transfer costs and contributing 50% toward specific furniture and household items. He was also responsible for maintaining her Mercedes-Benz.

Moreover, he was obligated to pay the children’s school fees, monthly maintenance of R7,500 per child, and compensate the au pair caring for the children.

However, he neglected to stick to the plan and now he’s paying for it, finding himself in a legal quagmire at the High Court in Pretoria where he is being forced to fulfil all these financial obligations.

In November 2022, the ex-wife took legal action, claiming that the businessman was R225,542 in arrears for child maintenance, owed R110,375 for spousal maintenance and owed the au pair R2,250. She further alleged that the children faced suspension from school on three occasions due to unpaid school fees.

Despite living a luxurious lifestyle with a residence in Silver Lakes Estate and an extensive travel history, the businessman did not deny the allegations. His legal response, however, contested the arrears in maintenance, despite his attorneys admitting to the contrary.

While acknowledging non-payment of the full R300,000 spousal maintenance, the businessman claimed to have paid R120,000 in June 2023, nearly five years after the agreement’s signing in 2018. He cited a fluctuating financial status, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on his government tender-dependent business, as a hindrance to meeting his obligations.

Judge Jan Jacobus Clute Swanepoel called him out for lying and said his excuses about business troubles were a stretch. The judge scrutinized the businessman’s testimony and found inconsistencies, labelling some of his statements as deceptive. The judge emphasized that it had been five years since the divorce, and the promised house purchase had not materialised, leaving the ex-wife and children facing the prospect of homelessness.

The judge decided the guy had to get his act together and ordered him to buy the ex-wife’s house before January, clear all the overdue payments, and pay his kids’ school fees in advance. And, of course, he has to cover the court costs.

In short, this rich dude got a reality check from the court and has to step up on his promises and payments.

[source:iol]