Bridges sues ex fiancé for R1m
2007-02-06 12:21
Johannesburg - The fifth marriage of singer Sunette Bridges didn't take place because she, among other things, demanded a lot of money from Deon (Skip) van Jaarsveld, her former fiancé.
Bridges sued for Van Jaarsveld for about R1m in damages she had suffered as a result of the alleged illegal termination of the engagement last year. Van Jaarsveld counter-sued.
This farmer from Patensie in the Eastern Cape stated several reasons for the "legal termination of the engagement contract" in court documents.
Several unsuccessful marriages
Van Jaarsveld, who would have been Bridges's fifth husband, said she had already had several unsuccessful marriages in the past and that he could not face continuing with the marriage under the circumstances.
Bridges also planned to continue her singing career, which would have taken her away from the farm for long periods of time.
Van Jaarsveld apparently found this "irreconcilable with a successful marriage".
Private schools
According to Van Jaarsveld, Bridges set high financial demands. For instance, she expected Van Jaarsveld to contribute to the school funds for her children from a former marriage to attend a private school.
According to court documents, Van Jaarsveld had shared his doubts about the marriage with Bridges, upon which she set an ultimatum that they should decide. They then agreed to end the engagement.
Bridges in court documents stated that Van Jaarsveld had acted in order to hurt her feelings because he requested that she send wedding invitations to certain people because she was "a well-known singer and the fact that the marriage was published in the popular media".
Cheap publicity
Van Jaarsveld said any publication in the popular media was brought about by Bridges herself. She turned to the media before and after the engagement in order to "apparently get cheap publicity".
The case will be heard in the Pretoria High Court early next year.