South African Gqom star Babes Wodumo has strongly dismissed allegations made by Mampintsha’s sister, Pinky Gumede, regarding the late musician’s wedding and lobola negotiations.
Pinky recently claimed that Mampintsha did not personally finance the lobola and that their lavish wedding was largely funded by a production company for television purposes.
Pinky Gumede’s Allegations
In a recent interview, Pinky alleged that Mampintsha was financially strained at the time of the wedding and was unable to afford lobola for Babes Wodumo, whose real name is Bongekile Simelane.
She further suggested that the reality show production company, which documented their wedding, handled most of the expenses, including outfits and even Mampintsha’s wedding ring.
“He was under pressure to go along with the arrangements. He even confessed that he was intoxicated on the wedding day and didn’t remember much of what happened,” Pinky said.
She also accused the production team of distorting Zulu traditions, stating that if proper lobola negotiations had taken place, their family would have observed traditional rituals, such as burning impepho (incense) to inform the ancestors.
Babes Wodumo’s Response
Babes Wodumo’s manager and spokesperson, Nondumiso Simelane, has vehemently denied the claims, calling them false and misleading.
“Pinky knows nothing about the lobola negotiations. Mandla was never broke, and he paid lobola from his own pocket. As the Simelane family, we received lobola from Mandla and not from Showmax or the production company,” Simelane said.
She further explained that Pinky was not involved in the lobola discussions and had no financial role in Mampintsha’s life.
“Pinky wouldn’t know this because she never assisted Mandla financially in any way,” Simelane added.
A Wedding for TV?
The reality show, which aired on Showmax, featured intimate moments from Babes Wodumo and Mampintsha’s traditional and white wedding.
Pinky claims that because the production team funded various aspects of the event, it was more of a staged wedding than a genuine cultural ceremony.
Babes Wodumo and Mampintsha
She alleges that Mampintsha himself had privately expressed concerns about the wedding, stating that it was not his decision but rather something he went along with due to financial constraints.
Cultural Traditions in Question
A major point of contention in Pinky’s claims is that certain Zulu customs were not followed.
She argues that if Mampintsha had truly paid lobola, his family would have performed essential rituals, such as:
Burning impepho (incense) to inform the ancestors
Hosting a traditional family gathering to celebrate the union
Conducting customary blessings before the wedding