South African politician Tokyo Sexwale in divorce clash
The South African Minister of Human Settlements Mosima Gabriel ‘Tokyo’ Sexwale has filed for divorce from his wife of 20 years.
According to a report in the Telegraph, Judy van Vuuren has responded with an affidavit accusing her husband of “physical, verbal, mental and emotional abuse and cruelty”. She also claims he has been secretive about his finances.
According to court papers, she is now seeking a 70 million Rand (£49 million) house, along with three million Rand for furnishings, monthly maintenance payments of 150,000 Rand (£10,000) and a new car every five years worth one million Rand.
The pair separated last year.
Mr Sexwale is a former inmate of Robben Island, the prison in which Nelson Mandela spent the majority of his captivity. He was arrested for anti-apartheid activities in 1976. During his captivity he met paralegal Judy van Vuuren and they began a relationship while he was still behind bars and married after his release.
Mr Sexwale was nicknamed ‘Tokyo’ because of his interest in karate as a young man. In addition to his political career, he is now reported to be one of the country’s wealthiest men, with interests in oil and diamonds.
His lawyer said he rejected his wife’s accusations and was “devastated” at the breakup of the marriage.
The couple have two children aged 19 and 20.
Photo of Tokyo Sexwale with Chinese banker Li Ruogu by World Economic Forum via Flickr under a Creative Commons licence
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