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Musician Bongekile ‘Babes Wodumo’ Simelane stole the moment at her husband Mandla ‘Mampintsha’ Maphumulo’s 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.
Simelane said:
This was followed by a hug between the two women as the crowd cheered and cameras flocked to them.
In the past, Simelane and Gumede made their dislike for one another known after the matriarch accused her daughter-in-law of faking her pregnancy last year and called her a crook during a social media rant.
Simelane also made mean remarks about her mother-in-law on her reality television show Uthando Lodumo, which is broadcast on Showmax, during which she claimed Gumede left her son while he was only three years old.
On Monday, Gumede was reportedly refused entry into the mortuary where Maphumulo’s body lay. The distressed Gumede was seen in viral videos visiting the morgue and waiting outside with other members of her family after they could not gain entry.
READ: WATCH LIVE: Big Nuz member Mandla 'Mampintsha' Maphumulo's funeral
Maphumulo passed away on Saturday after suffering a minor stroke after attending a gig in Durban. The muso was admitted to King Edward Hospital and later transferred to Durdoc Hospital where he passed away on Christmas Eve.
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 mother of one also took the moment to address cheating allegations after two women surfaced following Maphumulo’s passing claiming to be his mistresses.
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 added:
Maphumulo was laid to rest at the Lala Kahle Memorial Park in Ximba, Botha's Hill, KwaZulu-Natal.
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.
READ: Tension between Babes Wodumo and Mampintsha's mom at memorial
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.
Maphumulo’s sister Toto said: "My heart is not okay. He was my brother. We used to walk to school together and looked after our grandmother together. I am very hurt. May God receive his spirit."
