It has been less than a week since Gqom artist Mandla 'Mampintsha' Maphumulo was laid to rest on 30 December 2022. Mampintsha (40)briefly suffered a stroke and died after being admitted to Durdoc Hospital inDurban, Kwa-Zulu Natal. His wife Bongekile "Babes Wodumo' Simelane has already performed at a handful of events including nightclubs. On New Year's Eve, she performed a tribute to Mampintsha after Big Nuz won the Ukhozi FM Song Of The Year title. After that, she has been seen at nightclubs and events drinking with friends and performing in her everyday colourful wear and not traditional mourning clothes. The latest video demonstrates her at a club wearing an orange outfit with Durban artist Madanon singing that she is mourning but she is drinking and dancing.' Ngizilile,kodwa Ngiyayiphuzela, ngiyayi dansela, ngiyayi bengela,' she sings to an audience. Babes has also regained access to Mmpintsha's cellphone after she announced at his funeral that he died without giving her his password. "I've found baby's password. Thank you, baby. My man loved me until the end. I am just looking at your conversations, I will not hold a grudge against anyone. I am just checking. There are so many girls here.' she says on an Instagram Live.
MAMPINTSHA'S MOM NOT HAPPY
Mapmints's mom, Zamanguni Gumede is not happy after seeing videos of her daughter-in-law, Babes Wodumo trending on the internet for dancing and performing at nightclubs just days after her son's funeral. Zama wishes she could mourn her son the traditional way. "One; no offence, I love Babes, she and I reunited and made peace at the funeral, but this is not how things are done, "she tells ZiMoja. "Firstly, she is not at home, she is gallivanting in the streets, drinking and partying. Two, she is not wearing traditional mourning clothes. The daughter of a pastor is not following the rules. She is doing things her own way,' she adds. "I am not a very traditional person myself, and I understand people heal differently and deal with grief in their own way, but this is not right. This is painful to watch. She is disrespecting my son in a way.' Zama is wondering why her parents are not calling her to order. "Why are they not saying anything? It has not even been a month. I wouldn't be shocked If she were to start dating someone. After everything, I am very disappointed. I just want her and me to talk and for us to find a way forward.'
THE TENSION
The tension between Mampintsha's mom and Babes Wodumo is nothing new. Last year, Babes swore at her on social media saying Zama was demanding R1,500. "We gave it to her. We gave her, what the sh**! That b***h is drunk,' Babes said while allegedly under the influence of alcohol that her mother-in-law must not "f**k' with her and accused her of having a drinking problem. She then threatened to beat her and the son, Mampintsha when he asked her to apologise. "I will beat you up and if that fails, I will send my brothers to do it! He comes here and makes excuses for his mother, but I don't care. Why must I apologise when she's the one who must apologise to me.' After Mampintsha's death, the Maphumulo and Simelane family were at war over who should bury the Ngeke singer. They protested outside the mortuary to take his body.
THE REUNION
But all beef was squashed at the funeral when Babes extended an olive branch to her mother-in-law. "Today, I want to open up to MaGumede. I wish to forgive you for all your sins. I am a born-again Christian, raised by a pastor. I forgive you and I ask that whatever was causing tension between the two of us, end today and we start afresh.' Babes also thanked Mampintsha's father for raising him well. She spoke briefly about Mampintsha's last day. "In his last days, he told me that he loved me, which is why I am probably this strong. But he left me without giving me the pin of his phone,' she joked while saying that "all men cheat and Mampintsha was no different.'
