This archive report was first published on 16 August 2019.
Comedian JB Masanduku's career has been on hold for a while, and he attributes this to a very personal reason - his children. In an exclusive interview, JB Masanduku spoke about the pain of being separated from his two children with ex-wife Tina Kaggia, whom he married in 2014.
JB Masanduku revealed that he has not been granted access to his children for over a year, and this has taken a toll on his mental health. He expressed his frustration in a heartfelt statement, saying, 'That is the reason I have not been focusing on doing comedy, 'cause I sit and wonder why I should make people happy yet am unhappy.'
JB Masanduku went on to explain that he rarely talks to Tina Kaggia, as she prefers not to communicate with him. He hopes that the court will be more understanding and considerate of their children's well-being, saying, 'Eventually, it will affect the kid’s life, and once they are 18 years, the government allows them to come to look for their fathers, so it is just fair for them to know that it was their mum or dad who denied access to the other.'
When asked for her side of the story, Tina Kaggia was unavailable for comment, laughing sarcastically and hanging up the phone.
JB Masanduku's message to any parent who denies the other parent access to their children is clear: it's not worth the long-term consequences for the child.
