Black Coffee’s Divorce Appeal Explained: Why The Ruling Is Being Challenged

Black Coffee Takes His Divorce Battle To The Supreme Court Of Appeal

International DJ Black Coffee, born Nkosinathi Maphumulo, is escalating his long-running divorce dispute with Enhle Mbali Mlotshwa by taking it to the Supreme Court of Appeal.

The move follows a Gauteng High Court ruling handed down in October 2025 that classified their marriage as a customary one and ordered the DJ to pay spousal maintenance to his former wife, with whom he shares two children.

At the heart of the appeal is not just money, but how the law understands their marriage and the consequences that flow from it.

Why The Marriage Classification Matters

In South African law, the type of marriage determines everything from how assets are divided to whether spousal maintenance is payable.

The High Court found that Black Coffee and Enhle Mbali’s union was a customary marriage, not a civil one. Under the Recognition of Customary Marriages Act, customary marriages are automatically considered to be in community of property unless a valid contract says otherwise.

That ruling effectively created a joint estate between the former couple and opened the door to a maintenance claim.

Black Coffee disputes this finding and argues that the court erred in classifying their relationship under customary law.

The Prenup At The Centre Of The Dispute

One of the most contentious issues is an antenuptial contract signed in 2017, several years after the couple’s traditional wedding ceremony in 2011 and shortly before their white wedding.

Black Coffee maintains that the prenup reflects his intention for the marriage to be a civil one and should therefore govern how their assets are handled.

The High Court rejected that argument, ruling that the contract could not override the default property regime of a customary marriage. The court also found that Enhle Mbali had been misled and did not receive proper legal advice at the time of signing.

This rejection is one of the key points Black Coffee wants the Supreme Court of Appeal to reconsider.

The Fight Over Spousal Maintenance

Another major ground of appeal relates to spousal support.

Black Coffee argues that his former wife has not adequately proven her need for maintenance, nor the amount or duration she is claiming. In his court papers, he contends that there is no sufficient factual basis to justify an ongoing maintenance order.

Enhle Mbali strongly disagrees. She has told the court that she placed her acting career on hold to support her husband during the rise of his global music career. She has also detailed her financial position, including personal income, household expenses, and health-related costs.

She further argued that, at her current age, demand for her work as an actress has declined, affecting her earning potential.

A Case With Wider Implications

Beyond the celebrity headlines, the case has broader significance in South Africa, particularly around the legal protection of women in customary marriages.

Legal representatives for Enhle Mbali have previously described the High Court ruling as a landmark decision that reinforces women’s rights and prevents post-marriage contracts from undermining customary law protections.

If the Supreme Court of Appeal overturns or amends the ruling, it could influence how future disputes involving customary marriages and late-signed antenuptial contracts are handled.

What Happens Next

The Supreme Court of Appeal will now decide whether to hear the matter and, if so, whether the High Court’s findings should stand.

For Black Coffee and Enhle Mbali, the appeal represents another chapter in a deeply personal legal battle that began years after their separation in 2019. For the public, it offers a rare window into how South African family law balances cultural traditions, contractual intent, and financial fairness in modern marriages.

Whatever the outcome, the ruling is likely to echo far beyond this high-profile divorce.

{Source:The South African}

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