This is certainly not the common love story between a wife and a former girlfriend wanting the same man, nor is this a fictional story, but rather one of Laudium’s soapies, of allegations between a wife, a former wife and a husband.
The story gets juicier as claims are made that the ex wife not only wants her ex hubby back, but she wants to keep her present husband also, seemingly as the saying goes she wants to eat with both hands. As much as the Laudium Sun tried persuading the parties to settle the matter on their own and leave the media out of it, one of the parties, who says she is the victim and wants justice for the ordeal she is going through, insisted that her story be placed for all to read, insisting that she did not want it in the Laudium Sun’s ‘Punchaat Column’ where names were marked as XXX. Najma Patel of Lucknow Ave, Laudium Ext 3, married to Irfan Member, approached the Laudium Sun for what she termed wanting ‘justice’ as she explained the trauma she was going through, allegedly at the hand of her husband’s ex-wife, Sabia Patel, of 9th Avenue, Laudium. Both women, together with Irfan, are originally from India and according to Najma, Sabia wants her former husband back in her life, but does not want to leave her present husband, Mohsin Khandh, who is also from India. All four Indians are in South Africa for at least 10 years.
Najma explained to the Laudium Sun her version of the story, “My life has become unbearable because of my husband Irfan and his ex-wife Sabia Patel. My life feels like hell because of Sabia. I am deeply broken inside my heart because of my husband and because of his ex-wife. Before marrying me, Irfan married Sabia in India 15 years before my marriage and then brought her to SA after which they were divorced. After their divorce, Irfan married me in India 15 years ago and we then also came to SA. We have three children, two sons and one daughter and our family life was peaceful and stable. However, for the past three years, my life has been completely turned upside down because of Sabia. Sabia is constantly disturbing my marriage, as she wants my husband back in her life. Every day there are many text messages exchanged between my husband and Sabia. Sabia wants to marry Irfan again, while still keeping her present husband, Mohsin. She seems to want to keep two husbands in one bedroom. Sabia is destroying my peace and my marriage. My husband has a child from Sabia and always provides maintenance money. That money is however not enough for Sabia, as she keeps on asking for more from my husband. Sabia expects my husband to also support her husband, Mohsin, financially. He gave a lot of money for Mohsin to start a food place in Laudium.”
Najma further alleged, “Sabia uses my husband for money and emotionally blackmails him. Sabia’s actions have destroyed my marriage. I have reason to believe that Sabia brings medicines from India illegally and sells to people living in Laudium. Sabia also collects zakaat money from the Muslim community. Because of Sabia, my husband physically abuses me, I have been beaten regularly for the past three years.
About three weeks back, on the evening of 23 January, my husband hit me on the head with an iron rod. I was bleeding badly. I could not cope anymore with his anger and torture, so I went to the Laudium Police Station to open a case. While I was at the Police Station, members of the Gujarati based HID Foundation from Laudium, arrived and persuaded me not to open a case and told me that they would talk to my husband. So I listened to them as I believed my husband would change and that the abuse would stop. I believed my husband would stay away from Sabia. But that same night my husband beat me up again very badly. I spent the night on the floor. The next day I returned to the Laudium Police Station. I registered a case against my husband. The police arrested my husband. Since 24 January, my husband has been in jail. My husband’s release depends on me. The court will not release him if I do not withdraw the case. I want my husband to remain in jail. I want him to face the consequences of his actions. I will only withdraw the case if my husband signs a legal contract. The contract must state that he will never hit me again and will stay away from Sabia. The contract must ensure that Sabia never interferes in my marriage again. Until those conditions are met, my husband must remain in jail. I urge the residents of Laudium to take note of the harm that Sabia has caused me and my children. I have suffered abuse for three years because of Sabia. I have decided that I will no longer remain silent. I refuse to be bullied anymore. I am speaking out so the truth can be known. I am speaking to protect myself and my children. I do not want anyone else to face the pain I have faced. I want my husband to understand that his actions have consequences. I want my children to grow up in an environment of safety and peace. I cannot allow Sabia to destroy my life anymore. I am tired of lies, manipulation, and harassment. I am tired of fear controlling me every day. I am determined to end the suffering in my home. I am determined to reclaim my dignity and my life. I am confident that the law will protect me. My husband will be accountable for every action. I will not remain silent while my marriage is destroyed. I will stand firm for my children, for my life, and for the truth. I will continue to speak until the abuse stops. I will continue to act until justice is done. I will continue to protect my family from Sabia. I will continue until my life is my own again.”
In response to Najma’s allegations, Sabia told the Laudium Sun, “I deny and completely disagree with all the allegations Najma has made against me. Najma is a rude woman and she is completely wrong in the statement she gave to the Laudium Sun. Najma is mentally not well. I have a son with Irfan and that is why I communicate with him sometimes. I have nothing else to do with Irfan. I have a husband and a son and a happy family. I do not need any more stress in my life. I will get a protection order from the police against Najma, because she came to hit me the other day. Najma is a violent woman. People must not listen to her at all.”
Mohsin Khandh, the husband of Sabia, told the Laduium Sun, “I cannot comment on anything between my wife and her ex-husband, as I do not know anything about it.”
Attempts to get hold of Najma’s husband, who is still in custody were unsuccessful.