Media personality Somizi Mhlongo clarified on Thursday 09 March why he has withdrawn his divorce case against his estranged husband Mohale Motaung, following a lengthy divorce battle.
Also Read: Somizi Mhlongo Ordered By The Court To Pay Mohale Motaung
Also Read: Somizi Mhlongo Ordered By The Court To Pay Mohale Motaung
This comes after reports emerged on social media that he was ordered to pay Mohale's legal fees. The couple tied the knot traditionally at Kibler Park in Johannesburg in September 2019, then had a lavish white wedding in January 2020.
In a lengthy statement on Instagram, the Idols SA judge stated on Instagram that he had withdrawn his divorce case against Mohale after it was determined that their marriage was invalid.
In his statement, he stated that both of them were initially in agreement that they had entered a valid customary marriage and had married in community of property.
According to the Idols SA judge, he issued summons to dissolve the marriage in compliance with South African law, but both parties initially agreed to negotiate an amicable settlement
"Both Mohale and I were initially in agreement that we entered into a valid customary marriage. It is indeed Mohale, who in the first correspondence between us stated that a valid customary marriage was entered into and that we were married in community of property. I issued a summons for divorce, as this is the only manner in which a marriage can be legally dissolved in accordance with South African law. We initially agreed to enter into settlement negotiations in an attempt to end the marriage amicably. I never wanted the matter to become protracted and acrimonious," reads a statement by Somizi.
He says that this led to Mohale disputing that they were never married.
"The decision to withdraw the divorce action comes after we were unable to reach an agreement regarding the existence of the marriage. We had initially agreed that a marriage existed, but Mohale later claimed that no valid marriage had taken place," read the statement.
He said he agreed to pay Mohale's lawyers' legal fees because it was a small amount.
"Although I received legal advice suggesting that Mohale's disavowal of our marriage may have warranted an exception to the usual rule of the withdrawal party paying legal costs, I opted to cover the costs. This decision was influenced by the fact that the case was still early stages and the legal costs were relatively small, which made pursuing the matter seem unproductive," read the statement.
Somizi said he was grateful that the matter was over and now he can look forward to the future.
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