Cape Town Man Ordered to Pay Over R70,000 as Monthly Spousal Maintenance

A landmark ruling has emerged from the Western Cape High Court, where a man has been ordered to pay his estranged wife over R70,000 each month as spousal maintenance. The couple has lived separately since March last year, following a marriage characterized by comfort and luxury. The couple, who signed an antenuptial agreement, shares four children, the youngest being 18 years old.

Earlier this year, divorce proceedings were instituted, highlighting the different perspectives of their lifestyle. The court described it as a comfortable existence, while the wife viewed it as a life of relative luxury. Conversely, the husband countered it as an above-average modest lifestyle. The husband's monthly expenses were reported to be around R366,766.

The wife, armed with an Honours degree in psychology and currently finalising her PhD in neuroscience, hasn't been employed since 1997, choosing to devote her time to raising their children. Contrarily, her husband was the family's sole breadwinner, one of the co-founders of the Tribeca Coffee Company International Group.

According to the judge's ruling, the wife had requested R96,925 for monthly maintenance and the continuation of other expenses such as medical aid, cellphone contract, and levy payments for her new apartment. She also demanded an annual holiday amount and continued use of a holiday home in Eastern Cape.

On the husband's part, he has consented to pay a monthly amount of over R80,000. However, the court deemed the wife's latest drafted budget, listing monthly expenses of over R128,000 which included excessive personal care, groceries and even renovation payments for her new apartment, as exaggerated and beyond her reasonable requirements.