South African actress and singer Denise Zimba has opened up about the heartbreaking reality of being separated from her children following a painful legal custody battle with her estranged husband, Jakob Schlichtig.
On Easter Sunday, Zimba took to Instagram to share a heartfelt message addressed to her daughters, Leah and Mila, expressing her sorrow and longing. “I love you Leah and Mila. Haven’t seen or spoken to you since last Saturday. My body shows I bared my children, but no children in sight. God only knows why this is happening,” she wrote.
Denise and Jakob met in Cape Town in 2015. Their first daughter was born in 2019, followed by their wedding seven months later. In 2022, the family relocated to Munich, Germany, where they welcomed their second daughter in 2023. However, their marriage began to unravel, leading Zimba to file for divorce in September 2023.
In a turn of events, during a two-month family visit to South Africa later that year, Zimba decided not to return to Germany with the children. She alleged that her decision was due to attempted assault and infidelity on Jakob’s part. However, this move led to legal repercussions.
In a recent ruling, the Johannesburg High Court ordered Denise to return the children to their father in Germany, citing the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. The court found that because the children had been residing in Germany, they should be returned there for custody matters to be handled in that jurisdiction.
“I did not abduct my children,” Denise insisted during an interview with the Sunday Times. She explained that her decision to stay in South Africa was initially agreed upon in a family meeting that included Jakob. “He went back to Germany and opened the case, which came as a shock to me and my family.”
At the time of the legal proceedings, Denise said she was just four months postpartum, financially dependent on Jakob, and trying to revive her career, which had been put on hold for her family. “I had to fight for my girls to remain with me, their primary caregiver. They were only four years and four months old,” she said.
The ruling has left her emotionally and financially drained, with legal costs reportedly leaving her R300,000 in debt. Despite the hardship, Zimba has not given up hope, believing the truth will eventually prevail.
In her post, she concluded her Easter message with love and hope: “The truth will always find its way. Love, Mama. Happy Easter.”
Denise’s story has sparked conversations about international custody battles and the emotional toll they take on families, especially mothers left to fight for their children across borders. As she navigates this painful chapter, many of her fans and followers continue to offer their support and prayers.