Tembisa Hospital tender kingpin battles ex-wife for son's travel consent to Disney World
Tembisa Hospital tender kingpin Morgan Maumela has turned to the Johannesburg High Court to secure permission for international travel with his child after the mother refused consent.
According to a report by Sunday World, Maumela’s plans to travel to Disney World Paris with his son and other children were thwarted last month when the child’s mother declined to authorise their departure.
To protect the minor’s identity, her name has not been disclosed.
The woman has also initiated legal action against Maumela, seeking division of their estate because they were married in community of property, citing the R60,000 lobola Maumela paid for her.
Maumela, however, denies the marriage and opposes her divorce application, arguing they were never legally married.
In court papers obtained by Sunday World, Maumela revealed that he and the child’s mother were romantically involved from 2015 to 2022 but parted ways after a breach of trust.
Following the separation, he left their shared residence to live in North West province, alleging that the mother subsequently impeded his contact with their child.
Maumela explained that on March 3, 2023, the woman filed for divorce, claiming half of his estate and seeking custody of their child.
“I make monthly maintenance payments for [child’s name withheld] and the respondent, including annual holiday allowances of R50,000 and R100,000 respectively, as well as a replacement vehicle every five years,” he stated.
He contested the divorce application, denying any community of property marriage.
Later, towards the end of 2024, the woman allegedly informed him by phone that she intended to move with the child to the Eastern Cape, offering little further detail.
Maumela said that on May 16, 2025, he requested her consent to travel abroad with their son to Disney World Paris in July.
However, he received a WhatsApp message refusing to respond and directing him to have his lawyers seek court intervention.
Further raising concerns, Maumela claimed that since relocating to the Eastern Cape, the child’s mother has engaged in heavy drinking and unstable relationships, potentially impacting their child’s welfare.
Despite these challenges, the woman agreed last month that the child could spend time with Maumela.
“With my other children on holiday in August, I thought it is an ideal opportunity to take [child’s name withheld] and his siblings to Disney World, Paris,” Maumela said.
He proceeded to apply for a travel visa but waited for confirmation that he would have custody before finalising plans, citing the mother’s history of last-minute changes and demands.
Following a telephone conversation on August 5, where Maumela informed her of the visa application, he learned on August 11 that the visa had been granted.
He provided her with the travel details and itinerary and invited her to schedule virtual contact with the child abroad.
To his disappointment, the woman refused consent. Maumela maintained, “There is no basis to argue that [child’s name withheld] travelling with me, his siblings, and other family members to Disney World Paris would be to his detriment, or that any grounds exist to oppose the same.”
The court will now determine whether Maumela can obtain the necessary authorisation to proceed with the planned trip.
thabo.makwakwa@inl.co.za
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