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A 37-year-old teacher from Emelo, Mpumalanga, has been ordered to vacate the home she built with her late husband after losing a bitter legal battle to his ex-wife.
The woman, identified as Nandipha Mabuye, found herself without a home just weeks after burying her husband, who passed away on Christmas Day. What was meant to be a period of mourning has turned into a nightmare, leaving her and her young daughter, Sbahle, uncertain about their future.
According to community sources, Nandipha married her husband five years ago after he separated from his first wife, Miss Mashaba. The couple began their new life together by developing a piece of land in Emelo — land that the husband had once shared with his ex-wife.
At the time, the plot had only a small shack on it, as the couple had separated before building a proper home. When Nandipha entered the picture, the husband assured her the land was his. Together, they decided to build from scratch, pouring their savings and salaries into constructing a modern ten-room house.
Neighbors described their home as one of the most beautiful in the area — a symbol of progress and partnership. Nandipha, who works as a teacher, even helped her husband secure employment as a general worker at the same school. They later welcomed their daughter, Sbahle, and were said to be a happy and respected couple in the community.
“They were always together,” said one neighbor. “She worked hard and supported that man through everything. It’s painful to see her go through this now.”
Their joy was short-lived. Last December, tragedy struck when Nandipha’s husband fell ill and died on Christmas Day at his family home. Weeks later, the peace that once surrounded their lives shattered.
The man’s ex-wife, Miss Mashaba, returned with her family, claiming ownership of the land on which the house stood. Backed by legal documents — including a purchase slip and a certificate of allocation from the local chief — she insisted the land was hers, purchased long before Nandipha entered the picture.
The dispute was first taken to the traditional chief, who ruled in favour of the ex-wife, declaring that the land legally belonged to her. Unwilling to accept the decision, Nandipha escalated the matter to the small claims court in an attempt to retain her home.
But once again, the judgment went against her.
“The law is very clear,” the magistrate reportedly said during the ruling. “You cannot build on land that does not belong to you. Regardless of your marriage or the number of years you have stayed there, the rightful owner remains Miss Mashaba.”
The magistrate ordered Nandipha to vacate the property within 30 days. Defeated and heartbroken, she signed the consent forms and agreed to leave.
“I will go,” she said tearfully after the ruling. “It’s not easy to walk away from something I built with my sweat and love. I should have advised my husband to get another place, but we were young and blinded by love. We never imagined things would turn out like this.”
She added that they had trusted each other completely, never thinking paperwork would one day destroy what they built together. “Our love was real,” she said quietly. “We didn’t think of death or fighting. We thought we were building a home for life.”
The situation has left many in the community divided. Some believe justice was served since the property documents prove the land was never Nandipha’s to begin with. Others say the ruling was heartless and failed to consider the emotional and financial investment she made.
“She built that house with her own hands,” said one resident. “Even if the land wasn’t hers, she deserves something for what she put in. You can’t just throw her out like that after her husband died.”
In the midst of the turmoil, one person has stepped forward to support her — her mother-in-law, Mama Julia. Despite losing her son, she has publicly defended Nandipha and offered her a place to stay.
“My daughter, come live with me,” said Mama Julia. “You and the child can move in until you find your feet again. You built a ten-room house before; you can build again. God will not forsake you.”
Her words have touched many, especially as it’s rare for a mother-in-law to take her daughter-in-law’s side in disputes like this.
Meanwhile, the ex-wife, Miss Mashaba, has reportedly already begun preparations to move back into the property, accompanied by her family. People close to her say she feels justified, claiming she paid for the land long before her ex-husband’s second marriage.
“This land was mine from the beginning,” she told one local source. “I worked for it. He left me, but that doesn’t mean he could take my property. I am only taking back what belongs to me.”
As Nandipha prepares to leave the home she built, she has become a symbol of the quiet injustices faced by many widows — women who lose not only their husbands but also the homes they shared.
Legal experts say her case highlights a recurring problem: many couples build on land without verifying ownership, often trusting verbal agreements or family arrangements that have no legal standing. Once one partner dies, disputes arise — and the surviving partner is left with nothing.
For Nandipha, the pain runs deeper than the loss of property. “I buried my husband three weeks ago,” she said softly. “Now I have to bury my dreams too.”
She and her daughter are expected to move out within the week, with help from family and colleagues. Despite the heartbreak, those close to her describe her as resilient and determined to rebuild.
“She’s a strong woman,” said one teacher who works with her. “She’s been through the worst, but she still wakes up and goes to class every day. I believe she will rise again.”
As the deadline approaches, the ten-room house stands quiet — a monument to love, trust, and the painful consequences of what happens when life and law collide.
