Denise Zimba has lost a critical legal battle against her ex-husband, Jakob Schlichtig, over the custody of their two daughters.
SA court rules against Denise Zimba in custody battle
The Johannesburg High Court has ruled in Schlichtig’s favour, granting him the right to take their five-year-old and 19-month-old daughters back to Germany.
This decision follows a Hague Convention case that Schlichtig filed, arguing that Zimba had unlawfully retained the children in South Africa.
The Hague Convention is an international treaty that ensures children involved in cross-border custody disputes are returned to their country of habitual residence unless exceptional circumstances apply.
Zimba, who has been vocal about her personal struggles, had initially moved to Germany with Schlichtig and their eldest daughter in 2022.
However, after giving birth to their second child, she decided to return to South Africa for the support of her family. Schlichtig initially agreed to this arrangement but later filed the legal challenge that resulted in this latest court ruling.
Women For Change, a South African women’s rights organisation, has spoken out in support of Zimba, condemning the court’s decision.
The organisation stated that while the court acknowledged the distress the children would face without their father, it did not consider the psychological trauma of separating them from their mother.
Zimba has not publicly addressed the ruling in detail but has hinted at her heartbreak on social media.
What happened to Denise’s marriage?
Zimba’s battle with Schlichtig extends beyond custody issues. In January 2025, she revealed on social media that Schlichtig had allegedly had an affair with her childhood friend, Mpumi Mdluli.
The betrayal deeply affected Zimba, who posted on X (formerly Twitter):
“Nothing worse than finding out your best friend since you were 14 years old has been having an affair with your husband, and that’s why she always ghosted you when you were pregnant and never celebrated you – birthdays, baby showers, bridal showers.”
She later shared photos from her wedding, reflecting on how those moments took on a different meaning after discovering the affair.
Zimba and Schlichtig were married in April 2022, but the marriage quickly unravelled. She has since used social media to reclaim her story, sharing messages about resilience, healing, and betrayal.
On her 36th birthday last November, she wrote:
“Close friends betrayed me at levels I cannot even comprehend. Those I loved the most and held close to my heart abandoned me and didn’t choose me. I was lied about and stripped of everything I built for myself … And now I have to start over from the very beginning. Yet, I AM GRATEFUL TO GOD FOR ALL OF IT!”
As Zimba navigates this painful period, she continues to fight for the right to keep her daughters in South Africa.
With the Johannesburg High Court ruling against her, it remains to be seen whether she will appeal the decision or pursue other legal avenues.