STATE Theatre boss Xoliswa Ngema, who claims she is entitled to half of MTN boss Sifiso Dabengwa's wealth because they were married according to customary law, wants her case back on the court roll, the Pretoria high court has heard.

STATE Theatre boss Xoliswa Ngema, who claims she is entitled to half of MTN boss Sifiso Dabengwa's wealth because they were married according to customary law, wants her case back on the court roll, the Pretoria high court has heard.

Ngema, who is suing Dabengwa, claims they were married in community of property in 2003.

In January she withdrew her application after firing her lawyers, whom she accused of giving up on her. Her new lawyer, Ike Motloung, told the court they were not giving up on the lawsuit.

"Witnesses and experts were subpoenaed and it would be convenient to finalise the matter," Motloung told the court yesterday.

"My client is a single parent who has a young daughter to maintain. Dabengwa is a man of unlimited financial means, being worth more than R1,5billion."

Dabengwa's lawyer, Carin Foulkes-Jones, said: "Her team advised her to withdraw because the evidence against her was devastating. She withdrew the application."

Ngema wanted a divorce and R35000 a month in maintenance with medical aid until she remarried or died. She also wanted the court to grant her half of Dabengwa's estate, including 10percent of his investment in MTN worth more than R204million.

Dabengwa has maintained that he never married Ngema. They were only engaged. He said he paid R20000 ilobolo and bought her an engagement ring but there had been no customary celebrations.

They had been together for eight years when in March 2003 Dabengwa gave her a R90000 ring while holidaying in Dubai.

Ngema insisted that the ring was a "wedding ring".

Judgment was reserved.