A fairy tale romance that began in high school almost 20 years ago is on the verge of an acrimonious end before the Matala Local Court.
Kahlolo Mothae (40), and ‘Matlotliso Mothae (39), whose relationship began in 2006, now find themselves on the brink of divorce after years of discord.
Kahlolo recounted their journey, which began with a whirlwind romance that led to a customary marriage in 2007, shortly after ‘Matlotliso became pregnant. The couple welcomed two children – a boy and a girl – into their lives, but the initial joy of family life soon gave way to challenges.
After living with Kahlolo’s family for two months, they rented a home in Lithabaneng, where financial strains began to surface.
Kahlolo worked temporary jobs fixing electronic devices, while ‘Matlotliso found employment at a furniture shop in town. However, the disparity in their earnings became a source of frequent quarrels.
“Every time we planned to buy something together, she would choose something different,” Kahlolo told Matala Local Court president, Mathuntsi Ntsala, on Tuesday this week when the estranged couple appeared before her.
Kahlolo said their happiness was often tied to financial stability; when money was tight, ‘Matlotliso’s insults would cut deep, leading to further conflicts.
Frustrated by the situation, Kahlolo confessed to stopping financial support for his wife, which ultimately resulted in ‘Matlotliso denying him conjugal rights.
“I reached out to my mother-in-law for help, but she never listened to my pleas,” he said, revealing the isolation he felt.
The couple’s relationship deteriorated into a cycle of arguments and violence, which Kahlolo admitted had escalated.
At one point, the local village chief attempted to mediate their disputes, questioning Kahlolo about the violence.
“I told him it was because my wife denied me my conjugal rights,” he recalled. The chief advised the couple to resolve their issues amicably, but the problems continued.
Social media became another battleground for the couple. Kahlolo shared that he would often advertise his job on Facebook, only to return home to find ‘Matlotliso scrutinising his messages, accusing him of infidelity with female clients.
“She would insult anyone I spoke to, creating an atmosphere of mistrust,” he lamented.
As the years passed, tragedy struck when Kahlolo lost his mother in 2016 and the couple relocated to Khubelu (Ha-Abia) to take care of the family home.
Kahlolo told the court that it was here that his wife began associating with friends of questionable morals, particularly one woman (name withheld).
He said he warned ‘Matlotliso against her friend’s rumoured promiscuity but she refused to sever ties, leading to further tension.
In 2019, when he was employed at Phillips Industrial area in Masowe, Kahlolo’s eye problems forced him to stop working, exacerbating their financial struggles.
He said Matlotliso’s behaviour became increasingly hostile; she would hide food and cosmetics from him. He further claimed that she sometimes wished him dead.
Desperate for peace, Kahlolo eventually left their home and sought refuge in Ha Tsolo.
After hearing Kahlolo’s testimony, court president Ntsala postponed the case until April 3, 2025. On that date, ‘Matlotliso will have the opportunity to present her side of the story, with a judgment set to follow.
