Well-known television actress has accused her estranged hubby, who is a DJ and friend of Black Coffee, of forcing her to sacrifice her acting career because he was not comfortable with her filming romantic scenes with her fellow male actors.
The actress’s startling tidbits are contained in the papers she filed at the Joburg High Court, where she is seeking spousal maintenance from the DJ pending the finalisation and outcome of their divorce proceedings.
If the actress’s allegations are anything to go by, they ring true to the adage that birds of the same feather flock together. This is because Black Coffee’s estranged wife, Mbalenhle Mlotshwa, also stated that she sacrificed her acting career because the Grammy Award-winning DJ was not comfortable with her taking raunchy scenes with her male colleagues.
The actress, who is known to Africa Daily, filed for divorce in court in August last year after accusing her husband of being involved in an adulterous affair with an unknown concubine.
The actress and her husband, who is also known to Africa Daily, cannot be named for legal reasons.
In the papers, which we have seen, the actress states that her husband should pay R65 000 in spousal maintenance, R40 000 for their sick child and educational expenses for their children, and R150 000 for her legal fees.
She said she could not afford this because she was forced to sacrifice her acting career as her green-eyed husband did not want her to take up romantic acting roles.
“The applicant at the time had to take a break from her acting career as the respondent was the party who indicated that he was not comfortable with his wife engaging in romantic scenes.
“Respondent during that period gave the applicant an ultimatum between him and her work because the acting stints she had secured with one of the famous soapies at the time included scenes of a romantic nature,” read the papers.
The actress said this has had an extensive detrimental impact on her career and also resulted in her being unemployed. She said that she can no longer afford the lifestyle that her husband exposed her to during their hunky-dory days.
“The applicant has given a chunk of her career at the behest of the respondent. The applicant is an unemployed former TV presenter and mother who seeks maintenance pendente lite for herself in the amount of R65 000.00 per month, and the minor child in the amount of R40 000.00 per month, including payment of medical and educational expenses, and a contribution towards legal fees in the sum amount of R150 000.00,” she said.
The actress further alleged that before she filed for divorce, she was working in the two companies owned by her husband. However, she said after filing for divorce, he booted her out of the two entities.
“And it is also common cause that her employment as a manager of the two companies, of which the respondent is the sole director, was terminated in an attempt to financially deprive her of the financial freedom she was accustomed to prior to the institution of divorce.”
The thespian’s husband is challenging her demands, saying he cannot afford the amounts she wants because he is unemployed.
He alleged that he relies on Black Coffee for financial support. He further alleged that Black Coffee acquired and paid off the actress’s R3.8 million house, bought them two luxury vehicles and also paid more than R2 million for the aviation lessons of one of their children.
Attempts to solicit comments from the actress and the musician drew a blank.