THE long-running legal battle between businessman Wicknell Chivayo and his estranged partner Sonja Madzikanda took a dramatic turn Monday after Madzikanda announced that the High Court had ruled the pair were never married.
Although the court’s written judgment had not yet been released, Madzikanda disclosed the outcome in a video posted on her Instagram page, describing it as the conclusion of a painful legal fight.
“Today, the judgment was made final. The court decided that I have never been married…but that’s okay,” she said.
The ruling follows months of litigation between the two, with Chivayo arguing before the High Court that any customary union between them had ended in 2024 and that Madzikanda’s claims for spousal maintenance, dissolution of marriage and a share of assets had no legal basis.
The dispute also spilled into South Africa earlier this year after Madzikanda secured an anti-dissipation order freezing assets linked to Chivayo and companies associated with him, including restrictions affecting a private jet.
Reacting to Monday’s outcome, Madzikanda said she intended to publicly share her experiences through a series of videos to warn other women.
“My hope is to warn women: don’t do it. Don’t put yourself through this nonsense just to be told it never existed,” she said.
She questioned how a relationship involving children, family participation and traditional ceremonies could ultimately be declared legally nonexistent.
“Why have the kids? Why involve your relatives? Why have the ceremonies? Why do all of that when someone can later say it never happened?” she asked.
Describing the ruling as “a sad day for our culture and our history”, Madzikanda argued the decision could have implications beyond her own case.
“There are women in relationships who could end up facing the same judgment because any judgment made in the courts can be referenced in future cases,” she said.
The matter was heard by Justice Amy Tsanga.
At the time of publication, the court had not yet released its official written judgment.
