SOMPISI’S final journey to his resting place turned out to be a rocky, bumpy ride.
With pledges ignored and promises forgotten, for a while the funeral was headed for disaster.
BUT THEN MAM RUBY AND OTHERS STEPPED FORWARD.
Along with Generations head writer Bongi Ndaba and actor Thabo Mnguni, who played Khuboni, TV actress Slindile Nodangala, who played Mam Ruby, managed to save the funeral.
This came after Tiki “Sompisi” Nxumalo’s family revealed how the KZN government pulled out at the last minute from sponsoring the funeral as it had promised.
At the ceremony in the packed Lamontville Community Hall in Durban on Saturday, Bongi mentioned the people who had contributed to Sompisi’s burial costs.
Then she disclosed that Mfundi Vundla, his former boss and executive producer of Generations – The Legecy, had donated only R1 000 and the mourners responded with howls of protest.
Tiki’s son, Ntokozo Nxumalo (32) told the crowd that eThekwini Municipality’s head of parks and recreation Thembinkosi Ngcobo and the KZN department of arts and culture had promised to help them bury Tiki.
“Ngcobo told us that they would cover the grave, coffin, catering and hall expenses. Now we owe the funeral parlour about R45 000,” said Ntokozo.
Tiki’s nephew, Sydney Nxumalo (46) told Daily Sun they were shocked over Mfundi’s donation.
“He phoned and said we must list what we need and asked for banking details. Then he deposited R1 000. The axed actors contributed far more and some of them are still unemployed,” said Sydney.
He said Patrick Shai who played Patrick in the soapie, donated the suit that Tiki was wearing in his coffin.
“We thank business people who contributed, including Maz Herbal which donated more than R20 000,” he said.
He said Ngcobo told them on Friday that they were cancelling the grave expenses after the family refused to move Tiki to their funeral provider.
Sydney said arts and culture promised them on Thursday that they would provide food for 300 people as well as three buses,” said Sydney.
“But when we called no one seemed to know what we were talking about.
“That is when he went to Mam Ruby to see if the actors and celebrities could put together some money and provide some food.
Mam Ruby and Bongi were seen driving from the venue to buy food to cook for the mourners.
Arts and culture spokesman Lethukuthula Mtshali said everything had been authorised.
He later said they dealt with a family member named Masenti Nxumalo.
“The family should check with Masenti because he knows the department paid for the taxis. As for catering, our service provider let us down,” he said
Mfundi Vundla said he did not want to comment.
Attempts to get hold of Ngcobo failed as his phone had been off since the morning.
Tiki was laid to rest at Mobeni Heights cemetery at 3pm on Saturday.
