The Tsabedze family has cautioned the fifth and last wife of the late Chief Justice (CJ) Bheki Maphalala against banking on her late husband’s estate.
A representative of the Tsabedze family, speaking at the funeral, said the family was still new to the union and had not yet had an opportunity to discuss important family matters in depth.
He said the family had only formally handed over Innocentia Tsabedze to the Maphalala family this year and had hoped the marriage would have a long future.
“We are still new in this union and we had not even started discussing significant issues in detail. We just officially handed over our sister to the Maphalala family this year,” he said.
The representative urged LaTsabedze to avoid taking part in possible disputes surrounding the Maphalala family.
“We were hoping this journey would go a long way. We pray that our sister does not get herself involved in family disputes,” he said.
“We do not want to hear that she is part of family disputes because we are a very humble family that does not like trouble.”
The family representative further advised her not to make the late chief justice’s estate the basis of her future.
“We hope our sister does not bank her hope on Maphalala’s estate,” he said.
He said the young widow had the advantage of having employment and a stable source of income, which he said should allow her to support herself.
He urged her to appreciate whatever share the Maphalala family eventually gives her.
“Fortunately, she has a job and a stable source of income. She should just be grateful for what the Maphalala family will give her,” he said.
The representative also emphasised LaTsabedze’s family background, saying she came from Malindza, from the family of Chief Ndlondlo, where he said there was sufficient land and family support.
He urged her not to remain dependent on the late chief justice’s estate, but instead to play an active role in supporting his children, whom he said were still young.
He said the responsibility was particularly important because Maphalala had been a father who cared deeply for his children.
The late chief justice had five wives, namely Eunice Dube, Tengetile Dlamini of KaPhunga, LaMabelesa, Lungile Ndlovu and Innocentia Tsabedze.
Representatives of the families of the late chief justice’s widows separately expressed their grief over his death, describing him as a man who had become much more than a son-in-law.
They said Maphalala had integrated himself into their families and participated in family activities.
A representative of the Mabeleza family from Ntondozi said the late chief justice would attend family events and make contributions whenever necessary.
“He loved and cared for his children. He would even summon us and warn us against abandoning our children,” the representative said.
The sentiments portrayed Maphalala as a man who, despite occupying the highest judicial office in the country, maintained close relationships with his extended family. The late chief justice died on September 10, while receiving medical treatment in South Africa. He was the first Liswati to serve as chief justice of Eswatini and had held the position since 2015.
His funeral brought together members of the Maphalala family, government officials, members of the Judiciary, the legal fraternity, traditional leaders and mourners from across the country and neighbouring countries.
