THE late Mbongeni Ngema’s family allegedly barred a three-month pregnant woman who claimed to be his customary law wife from being part of his funeral preparations as well as memorial and burial services.
Mbongeni died on Wednesday, 27 December in a car crash and will be buried on Friday, 5 January.
His family said they only recognises his wife, Mpumelelo Gumede Ngema.
Yolanda "Wanda" Moncho, who claimed she is Mbongeni’s customary wife and official manager, said she tried everything to be part of the funeral service, but the family allegedly rejected her.
In an attempt to be part of the funeral services, she sent a letter asking for KZN Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube's urgent intervention. Daily Sun has seen the letter.
In the letter, dated 2 January 2024, she revealed that she started being Mbongeni's official manager in May 2019 until his death.
“Over and above my role as Dr Ngema’s official manager, I was also his customary law wife, him having sent a delegation to my family in Diepkloof, Soweto in August 2021.
“As a matter of fact, at this very moment, I'm three months pregnant with his child whose birth he was very much looking forward to,” read the letter.
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The letter further said she decided to direct her correspondence to the Premier’s Office after several unsuccessful attempts to get the Ngema family to involve her in all meetings and other discussions among themselves and with government officials pertaining to the memorial service and burial of her client and husband.
“I write to plead with your office to please facilitate an urgent meeting between myself and the family that will see Dr Ngema’s management company, Diamond Edge and myself being actively involved in the discussions and preparations for my client and husband’s memorial and funeral in much the same way as other spouses of my husband.
“I wish to add here that my husband was not married to any one woman in terms of civil rights, we were all customary law wives. No wife should therefore rank more important over the other so far as planning and executing his last journey," further read the letter.
When Daily Sun contacted Yolanda, she answered her phone. But when she heard it was Daily Sun calling her, she passed her phone to a male person who told the SunTeam she wasn't in good spirits to talk.
Ngema family spokesman Nhlanhla Ngema told Daily Sun the Ngema family only recognises one of Mbongeni’s wives, who is Mpumelelo Gumede Ngema.
Dube-Ncube's spokesman, Bongi Gwala, said the KZN Premier’s Office did received a letter, but the premier has not attended to it as she's still busy with other engagements.
