Magistrate’s husband demands paternity test in bitter divorce

Local magistrate Ingrid Lerato Unengu and her husband Festus Sikukutu Unengu are embroiled in a bitter divorce, amid accusations that he had an affair with his wife’s half-sister, while he is demanding paternity tests for two of their children.

Ingrid claimed her husband told her he will make it “a dirty fight” and do everything is his power to tarnish her name and reputation.

She also said until instituting divorce proceedings, he had never denied or expressed doubt about the paternity of the children, whom he has always accepted as his own.

She has, nevertheless, agreed to DNA tests. In fact, she is now demanding DNA tests for all of their children, whom she insists must be made aware of this process.

According to court papers, the breakdown of their marriage began with both parties engaging in extramarital affairs. Festus allegedly cheated first, and Ingrid, out of revenge, struck back by also cheating on him.

Ingrid told the court that from 2019 until about February 2023, Festus was involved in an adulterous relationship with her half-sister, who is his colleague. The name of the half-sister is contained in court papers.

Ingrid’s claim is based on an alleged confession by her half-sister in the presence of Festus, Ingrid’s then fiancé. She confronted him about the affair, and he alleged admitted to it and repeatedly begged for forgiveness.

Fights, abuse

During divorce proceedings, Ingrid accused Festus of picking unnecessary fights with her and creating constant disharmony in their marriage - including swearing at her and verbally abusing her.

According to her, he entered into extramarital relationships with other women as well.

Ingrid also accused her husband of physically assaulting her on several occasions, including 13 October 2023, when she called the police to remove him from their home.

“[She] further pleads that on 13 October 2023, [Festus], in his drunken state, declared his love for her [Ingrid] and begged for her forgiveness for what he had done by engaging in an extramarital relationship with her half-sister. He was on his knees and kissing her feet,” court papers read.

“[Ingrid] further pleads that [Festus] has, since the time that the extramarital relationship was exposed, repeatedly informed [her] that the relationship was a purely transactional - money in exchange for sexual intercourse.”

She also claimed that Festus has not communicated meaningfully with her and instead often goes out alone and never invites her along, nor informs her of his whereabouts. Festus stays out late, or even for days, Ingrid said.

“He has since finding out that [I] have taken steps to divorce him threatened that he will never let [me] go, falsely accused [me] of adultery and physically assaulted [me].”

Drove me into their arms

In court documents, Festus admitted to the infidelity, saying his wife drove him into the arms of other women by denying him sex. She further engaged in adulterous relationships during their marriage, he said.

He insisted that he condoned these extramarital affairs because he did not want to lose his family, adding that she is currently in a relationship with another man.

“Ingrid was caught with [the man, name withheld] at his residence at Rocky Crest in the presence of witnesses on Saturday, 21 October 2023. [The man] was in his underwear when he walked to the door from his bedroom. The police attended the scene,” court papers read.

Festus further denied claims that he picked fights with his wife, saying the only arguments they had were over sex, which is not a ‘trivial issue’.

He then turned the accusation onto Ingrid, saying she has belittled him by telling him she has “bigger klotters [balls]” [than him] and that she could take care of herself. This, he said, is why she allegedly did not want to have sex with him.

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