By Karen Breytenbach
Sandra Black-Pahad, wife of outgoing Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Aziz Pahad, has accused him of "emotional and financial abuse and neglect" in papers lodged in their divorce proceedings in the Cape High Court.
Pahad, in turn, has accused her of behaving badly, being unsupportive of his demanding career, making outrageous financial demands and showing no remorse for damaging his property.
He also claimed she wanted to live beyond their financial means, including living in a better house than the one the state provided for them in Rondebosch.
The couple married in 1994 in Johannesburg, out of community of property, with accrual. She was a widow and he was divorced. Black-Pahad filed for divorce in 2006.
In papers Pahad said his wife's behaviour was unbecoming of the wife of a statesman. She was arrested twice for drunken driving in 2003.
Pahad claims he laid several complaints against her at different police stations between 2000 and 2006.
She allegedly damaged his Jaguar beyond repair, but when a BMW 323i was offered as a replacement, she demanded a 5-series instead.
Black-Pahad, who lives in Constantia and does freelance acting, denied all the allegations, except for the driving offences.
She claimed she was the complainant in all the cases.
She said his allegations "were made scandalously, vexatiously and recklessly in an attempt to slander and/or defame her".
She admitted to thinking their official residence at Groote Schuur Estate was not good enough.
She claimed the marriage had irretrievably broken down because Pahad left their common home in 2002.
He said a trial separation became permanent, because she was "unrepentant" and "unapproachable". She alleged he subjected her "to emotional and financial abuse, and neglected her and the children".
Black-Pahad said she earned R3 500 a month, while he earned R56 000 a month, in 2006. He wants her to repay him R200 000 from the sale of a flat he had in London.
Black-Pahad claims she is entitled to half of Pahad's pension and a house worth up to R4-million.
He is prepared to pay her no more than R7 000 a month, and has asked the court to dismiss her claims with costs.
According to their antenuptial contract, Pahad is liable to pay her R2 500 a month in compensation for the loss of her widow's pension if it was attributable to his conduct.
The matter is set down for hearing on February 23.