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Tembisa Tender Boss in Court After Ex Blocks Son’s Disney World Trip
A Family Feud Meets the Courtroom
The man often linked to Tembisa Hospital’s controversial tenders, Morgan Maumela, is back in the headlines, but this time, not for business. The Johannesburg-based entrepreneur has taken his personal battle to the High Court, seeking permission to travel internationally with his young son after the child’s mother refused to sign off on the trip.
Maumela’s plan to take his son and other children to Disney World Paris fell apart when his former partner declined to give consent for the child to leave the country. The disagreement has now turned into a court case that’s added another chapter to an already turbulent relationship.
From Romance to Resentment
According to Maumela’s court papers, the two were romantically involved from 2015 to 2022, before parting ways due to a “breach of trust.” He claims that after the split, he left their shared home and relocated to the North West province, where contact with his child became strained.
The mother, whose identity is being withheld to protect the minor, has filed her own divorce and property division case, arguing that the pair were married in community of property. She cites the R60,000 lobola Maumela allegedly paid for her as part of her claim.
Maumela denies the marriage entirely, stating that they were never legally wed. He maintains that he already provides monthly maintenance, holiday allowances, and even a replacement vehicle every five years.
The Disney Dispute
In May 2025, Maumela asked for permission to take his son on a family trip to Paris. But when he reached out for written consent, he said she responded through WhatsApp, directing him to “have your lawyers contact mine.”
He alleges that she has since moved to the Eastern Cape, where her “unstable lifestyle” and “heavy drinking” could affect their child’s wellbeing. Despite those concerns, she allowed their son to spend some time with Maumela earlier this year.
When he finally secured the child’s visa in August 2025, he informed her of the travel plans, provided an itinerary, and even offered to arrange virtual contact between mother and son during the trip.
Her response, however, was a firm no.
Court Intervention
Now, Maumela has asked the Johannesburg High Court to intervene and authorise the child’s international travel. He insists there are no valid reasons for refusal, calling the trip a chance for his son to join siblings and family at a once-in-a-lifetime holiday destination.
“There is no basis to argue that travelling to Disney World Paris would be to his detriment,” Maumela stated. “This is simply a family vacation.”
The court’s ruling will decide whether he can proceed with the planned trip or whether the matter will continue to play out in family court.
Public Curiosity and Context
South Africans have followed Maumela’s name closely since the Tembisa Hospital tender scandal, where millions in questionable contracts drew public scrutiny. His latest legal drama has reignited online conversations about wealth, privilege, and family disputes in high-profile circles.
On social media, some users expressed sympathy, calling it “sad when children become caught in adult conflict,” while others were sceptical, suggesting the public might see the trip as a distraction from his ongoing reputation issues.
Whatever the court decides, this case blends private tension with public interest, a reminder that even those with influence are not immune to the complexities of family law.
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Source: IOL
Featured Image: ActionSA
