By Samkelisiwe Khoza | 2018-08-20

The much hyped ‘vote for a woman’ campaign has claimed its first casualty.

A married woman has been dumped by a bitter husband after she was nominated to contest elections under the Bucopho category, ironically the same position the husband held in the ended political term.

As the nation gears up for the primary elections, Sibongile Mahlalela, nee Dlamini, is faced with divorce papers she has to sign after being served by her husband Joseph’s lawyers.

Joseph is a former Bucopho of the area. He is not happy that his wife accepted a nomination to stand for the Bucopho position, let alone to stomach the fact that they will compete for the same position with his wife.

According to well-placed sources, through his lawyers, Joseph served his wife with divorce papers weeks after the nominations. Narrating the ordeal, the source said things between the couple went sour the moment the wife’s name was called out at the nomination centre.

On the day of nomination, Sibongile’s name was called out second on the list of nominees, while Joseph’s was called out 16th.

This allegedly did not sit well with Mahlalela as he noted the popularity of his wife as he immediately moved out of home thereafter. The source said Joseph advised his wife against competing against him in the race.

The villagers are said to have been motivated by the humble and respectful manner of Sibongile to consider her for the position they nominated her in. Joseph is said to have told other villagers that his wife would never win the elections because the position was his.

In an interview, the wife confirmed being served with divorce papers by her husband.

She said her suffering in the marriage began a couple of years ago when her husband won the Bucopho position.

She claimed that he had been openly having numerous affairs with other women around the community.

She said her husband moved out of their home a couple of days after the nominations and he currently resides at her first wife’s home around Khuphuka, just a few kilometres away from where they used to stay.

“I do not know what I did to deserve such treatment from him,” said the wife.

She said her husband now sees her as an enemy; he is going around the community telling people that she (wife) forced him into marrying her. She said even though her husband had been harsh on her, she never thought it would end with a divorce.

Meanwhile, the husband denied having any knowledge of the matter (divorce). He said he was 100 per cent behind his wife and whoever wins the bucopho position, it would make no difference because they are a family.

“I am 100 per cent behind my wife and whoever wins the position, it  would still be a victory because we are a family,” Mahlalela said in a not convincing manner.

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