Allegations of physical abuse formed the basis of Nothando Nhlengethwa-Ntshangase’s High Court application to stop a traditional wedding (umtsimba) that was planned at her marital homestead in Mkhwakhweni, Shiselweni.
In an affidavit before court, Nhlengethwa-Ntshangase stated that she was lawfully married to former His Majesty’s Correctional Services (HMCS) commissioner general, Mzuthini Isaiah Ntshangase.
The couple contracted a marriage on March 5, 2011, in terms of Eswatini law and custom and two children were born of the marriage. She told the court that the marriage subsisted.
She informed the court that she was employed by HMCS and held the rank of Senior Superintendent, stationed at Nhlangano Correctional Centre, where she resided alone. She stated that her living arrangements arose from alleged physical abuse within the marriage.
Nhlengethwa-Ntshangase alleged that the marriage became strained due to repeated physical abuse by Ntshangase, which forced her to leave the matrimonial home for safety reasons.
She stated that she was beaten and hospitalised, prompting her to move into employer-provided accommodation.
She further stated that their children were attending boarding schools around Manzini.
She also alleged that the children were exposed to abuse while in Ntshangase’s care.
According to her affidavit, the children later fled after alleging abuse at the hands of Ntshangase’s wife, Nokwazi Mkhwanazi.
The applicant told the court that she was Ntshangase’s second wife and that he had previously been married to Dr Betty Sibongile Dlamini.
She stated that around 2020 she learnt that Ntshangase had married Mkhwanazi in terms of Eswatini law and custom.
She alleged that the kuteka ceremony was conducted at her marital homestead while she was at work and without her knowledge.
She further stated that in December 2025, she learnt that Ntshangase had issued invitations for an umtsimba ceremony with Mkhwanazi, scheduled for yesterday.
She later confirmed that the ceremony was intended to take place at her marital homestead.
Nhlengethwa-Ntshangase told the court that she opposed the ceremony being held at her home and reported the dispute to the Mabonwabulawe Royal Kraal, seeking an interdict.
She stated that the homestead was hers and her children’s and that allowing another wife to be introduced there would displace them.
She further stated that the Ntshangase homesteads were separate and distinct, with different wives occupying different compounds and that no homestead had been built for Mkhwanazi.
The applicant sought an interim interdict to preserve the status quo pending resolution of the dispute by the relevant traditional structures.
