Another tragedy has struck the Simelane family. Barely two months since her husband Mandla "Mampintsha' Maphumulo died after suffering a stroke in December 2022. Her mother-in-law Zamanguni Gumede died after a few weeks of being hospitalized. Now, Gqom singer Bongekile "Babes Wodumo' Simelane is hit by another tragic death.

LOSING AN UNCLE

The Wololo singer and her family learned the news of her uncle's passing on Wednesday. Speaking to ZiMoja, Babes Wodumo's sister Nondumiso Simelane says last year, her maternal uncle, Mduduzi Masikane had a heart operation. "The operation was very successful," she says. "So we were not expecting this to happen,'she adds. The eldest brother to their mother, Mduduzi died in his Pinetown home. "uMalume was fine yazi. He passed on at home. We thought after the heart operation he would be okay.'

PARENTS NOT TAKING THE NEWS WELL

Nondumiso feels like a dark cloud is hanging over their family."What have we done? uMa is not okay at all. They were very close, and she is not taking the news well. Our dad is trying to be supportive, but losing a sibling is not easy, no matter what age they were,' she says. "It's almost like a dark cloud is hanging over our family.' Nondumiso says Babes has held back on taking bookings. "People think that Babes is not pitching for events because she is problematic, but everything has just become too much, and she needs time out. We closed the year off badly and we are starting out badly We hope things will change.' Nondumiso adds. "We ask that people be patient and give her time.We are all mourning. She will be taking bookings again next week.' Babe's uncle will be buried KwaMaphumulo in KwaZulu- Natal.

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