TV personality and singer Letoya Makhene is struggling to get access to her three children after her ex-husband, Privilege Mangezi, failed to return them to her place.
Makhene, who walked down the aisle with businesswoman Lebo Keswa in December 2020, told Sunday World that the children visited their father in their marital pad in Kempton Park about two months ago, but Mangezi failed to return them and has been denying her access to them.
She said Mangezi, a Zimbabwean, has also filed a maintenance suit against her at the Kempton Park maintenance court, where he demands R3 000 for each child.
“The summons to appear in court was delivered at my grandmother’s house in Tladi, Soweto about two months ago. I only got to know about it [summons] about six weeks ago because I don’t live there,” said Makhene.
She added that the case was thrown out of court on June 17 after she proved to the court that she has the primary custody of the children.
“I told the court that this man is refusing to bring the children back to me since they visited him. That is why the matter was dismissed.”
Her version was corroborated by Keswa, who said they went to Mangezi’s house to fetch the children at the advice of court officials, but when they arrived, the security guards denied them entry.
They then proceeded to the Kempton Park police station with the intention to open a case against Mangezi, but the police refused to help because “they probably know him”, according to Keswa.
The couple finally received help when they approached the Douglasdale police station to open a case of kidnapping and contempt of court against Mangezi.
“After opening the case, we went to the complex with the police four times and we couldn’t find him,” said Makhene, noting that she suspects Mangezi has farmed the children out to live with his relatives elsewhere.
Makhene said she turned down the police officers’ advice to get the children from school, saying she did not want to create drama. “We don’t want their schoolmates to witness us fighting over them. This would destroy them.”
Gauteng provincial police spokesperson Mavela Masondo confirmed that Makhene has laid charges against Mangezi.
When contacted for comment, Mangezi lost his cool. “I don’t talk to you guys, you guys always peddle rumours and I guess that’s what you get paid to do. Who are you to ask me sh&*t like that, bro?” he asked, fuming.
Makhene and Mangezi divorced in 2016 after nine years of tumultuous marriage. The velvet-voiced singer, who was an applicant in the matter, was granted a decree of divorce that gave her the primary custody of the children.
In terms of the divorce decree, which we have seen, the children are supposed to live with the former Generations – The Legacy actress but still allowed to visit Mangezi during school holidays and on weekends.
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