South African actress Enhle Mbali Mlotshwa has opened up about the emotional and professional challenges she faced during her marriage to internationally acclaimed DJ Black Coffee, claiming that his discomfort with her acting roles and expectations for her to perform domestic duties hindered her career growth.
Mlotshwa made the revelations during a lengthy legal battle over the division of their multimillion-rand estate, following a turbulent breakup that has kept the former celebrity couple in the public eye. The two, once celebrated as one of South Africa’s most glamorous power couples, are now officially divorced after years of legal wrangling and personal disputes.
According to a Johannesburg High Court ruling delivered last week, Enhle Mbali had taken Black Coffee, whose real name is Nkosinathi Maphumulo, to court seeking a decree of divorce and an equal division of their estate, estimated to be worth over R100 million. The actress argued that the pair were married in community of property following their 2011 traditional wedding, which, she maintained, constituted a valid customary union under Zulu law.
Black Coffee, however, disputed this claim, insisting that the couple’s prenuptial agreement, signed after their traditional ceremony, should be enforced. But in a ruling seen as a victory for Mlotshwa, the court affirmed that the traditional marriage was valid and therefore legally recognized as a marriage in community of property — meaning both parties are entitled to an equal share of their accumulated wealth.
The judgment sheds light on the personal sacrifices and frustrations Mlotshwa endured during the marriage. The actress, best known for her roles in Isibaya and Rockville, testified that her husband had grown increasingly uncomfortable with her acting work, particularly her on-screen kissing scenes. She told the court that his objections and disapproval eventually led her to step back from her career to maintain peace in their household.
“The defendant was no longer comfortable with her taking kissing scenes,” the judgment read. “She testified that the majority of the time she was not working. In order to keep peace in the household, she looked after the house, packed the defendant’s clothes, fed him, and massaged his injured hand.”
Mlotshwa said that while she willingly supported her husband through his demanding career, the balance of their relationship shifted over time as she sacrificed her own ambitions. The court noted her testimony that the relationship deteriorated amid accusations of infidelity, with Black Coffee allegedly engaging in extra-marital affairs that resulted in children outside the marriage.
“Both parties confirmed that their marriage relationship has irretrievably broken down and that there are no prospects of restoring it to a normal marriage relationship,” the court noted.
Despite the emotional turmoil that marked the later years of their relationship, Enhle Mbali also reflected on the glamorous lifestyle she enjoyed while with the internationally renowned DJ. She recalled the financial comfort that came with being married to one of Africa’s most successful performers.
“He Was Uncomfortable with My Kissing Scenes”: Enhle Mbali Opens Up About Life with Black Coffee
“The plaintiff explained her lifestyle by testifying that she used to get shopping sprees of thousands of rands, euros, and dollars,” the judgment stated. Enhle Mbali further told the court that her current work as a freelance actress was irregular and unpredictable. “This varies from once a year to working five times a year, one short start project, or one six-month project,” she said, adding that R500,000 per month would be sufficient to support herself and their two minor children.
The court documents also offered an intimate glimpse into the early days of their romance and the cultural significance of their union. Enhle Mbali recalled how, shortly after Black Coffee proposed, he expressed his wish to send a lobola (bride price) letter to her family. Though her relatives were initially hesitant — as she was young and the engagement had been arranged without prior family consultation — they eventually gave their blessing after she pleaded with them to accept her decision.
“On the same evening as the proposal, the defendant mentioned that he would like to send a letter to her uncles for lobola negotiations,” the judgment read. “She texted her aunt to inform her that her fiancé wanted to send a letter home. Her mother was shocked but eventually gave her blessing.”
According to the judgment, all traditional customs were duly followed during the lobola ceremony. “The groom stood outside the gate and asked for permission to come in,” the court stated. However, Enhle Mbali admitted that some of her uncles had been displeased that the engagement had taken place before formal discussions with the family, though they eventually relented at her request.
The actress said she was deeply in love at the time and persuaded her relatives to allow the marriage to proceed. “She spoke to them and requested leniency, as she was in love and the defendant was a millionaire,” the judgment noted.
The court’s ruling marks a significant moment in one of South Africa’s most high-profile celebrity divorces. It not only clarifies the legal status of their marriage but also exposes the emotional cost of Enhle Mbali’s attempts to balance her professional ambitions with traditional expectations of marriage and domesticity.
While both parties have moved on publicly,Enhle MbaliMlotshwa’s testimony offers a rare, unfiltered look into the complexities of love, success, and sacrifice behind the glitz of fame — a reminder that even the most glamorous unions can unravel under the weight of unspoken compromises.
Source- Nehandaradio
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