By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Mourners gathered at the International Convention Centre in Durban on Friday to pay their last respects to musician Mandla “Mampintsha” Maphumulo.
The 40-year-old died in a Durban hospital at the weekend.
He was admitted to King Edward Hospital for treatment after suffering a minor stroke. He was then transferred to Durdoc Hospital.
The mood at the funeral was jovial and celebratory as various speakers reiterated that the day marked a celebration of the star’s life and the mark he left in the music industry.
Speakers included his former boss, DJ Tira, his group’s only surviving member Mzi ‘Danger’ Ntsomela, his father, Thembinkosi Maphumulo, Simelane’s father, Welcome, and Kwa-Zulu Natal premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube.
The front row was occupied by Babes Wodumo’s family and other relatives of her husband.
Bongekile ‘Babes Wodumo’ Simelane stole the moment at her husband funeral when she extended an olive branch to his mother following a year-long public spat.
While giving her speech at the funeral, which was held at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre in Durban, Simelane started by facing Maphumulo’s mother, Zamanguni Gumede, telling her she forgave her.
She said,I want to forgive you for all your sins because I am a child of a pastor, and I am saved. I forgive you. May whatever it is that is making us fight end today.
Simelane, who was clad in a white dress with a white sheer hat covering her face, looked slim, however, appeared to be in good spirits as she was surrounded by other family members on stage who were also wearing white outfits.
The couple got engaged in October 2020, announcing the news with a video on social media of Mampintsha going down on one knee with a ring in his hand.
They celebrated their traditional wedding last year.
She had been at loggerheads with her mother-in-law for several years. Their feud made headlines and was in full view on the Showmax reality TV show Uthando Lodumo.
Babes addressed the tension that has been pilling up between them.
“I would first like to thank you for the love you have for us. I didn’t expect the place to be this packed. Thank you, Tira, for loving my husband. Even you, Danger, and all his friends. I would like to thank you, Baba Maphumulo, you raised him well with respect and prayer.
“Namuhla ngiyahlambuluka, MaGumede. I would like to forgive you for all your sins because I’m a child of a pastor. I’m saved.
“I forgive you. I ask that whatever dispute we have ends, starting today.
This was followed by a hug between the two women as the crowd cheered and cameras flocked to them.
“I thank West Ink. I hope we can continue working together and have fun. Tira and Danger, I ask that you not abandon me.”
Simelane said: “In his last days, he said he loved me. I think that is why I am so strong. What shocks me is that he left this world before giving me his phone password. I keep looking at his phone as calls are coming in and I can’t open it.”
She said,I know that men are like that. That is just in their nature. There is no man that does not lie or cheat. It is their nature.
“In this journey of music, was put into it by Mampintsha. He trained and taught her because Babes used to be a model here in eThekwini. Before I know it there goes Babes into music with Mampintsha. I will never forget him because he groomed my child to be the successful star that she is today. He succeeded in doing that.
“There are very few people who, when they love their women, groom them … For that reason he has left her with bread. She is able to sustain herself. Mandla built Babes and for that I’m thankful.”
Maphumulo was laid to rest at the Lala Kahle Memorial Park in Ximba, Botha’s Hill, KwaZulu-Natal.
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Video Courtesy of IceboLethu.