Husband’s lover must repay R610k, court rules

A CHEATING husband who gave his girlfriend R610000 in an attempt to hide it from his wife in the event that they divorce, won an appeal after the Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg, ordered the girlfriend to pay back the money.

- SINENHLANHLA MASILELA

The appeal comes after the November 2023 ruling absolved the girlfriend of any liability.

The man, identified only as HW, is married in community of property to SJW.

In 2015, HW began an extramarital affair with RS and in 2017, he made three withdrawals amounting to R850 000 from his investment account.

The withdrawals were an attempt to conceal the money from his wife in the event of a divorce. He transferred R610000 to RS, advanced in two payments: R210 000 and R400000.

Along the way, his relationship with RS became turbulent and they went their separate ways. Following the failure of the relationship, he demanded that she repay the money, saying it was a loan.

When he realised that this wouldn't happen, he sought relief at the high court and joined the wife in suing the girlfriend by virtue of their marriage in community of property.