Durban – Pinky Gumede, sister of the late gqom music icon Mandla "Mampintsha" Maphumulo, has ignited a controversy by alleging that the reality TV show "Uthando Lodumo," which chronicled Mampintsha's marriage to Bongekile "Babes Wodumo" Simelane, was largely fabricated.
Gumede made the explosive allegations in an interview with Sunday World, casting doubt on the authenticity of the couple's highly publicised journey to the altar. Mampintsha and Babes Wodumo tied the knot in a lavish ceremony in April 2021 at the Ebandla Hotel in Ballito, Durban, a spectacle that captivated audiences across South Africa.
According to Gumede, the production companies poured money into the show to ensure its success, alleging that Mampintsha was broke at the time of the wedding. She claims that the family was largely excluded from the planning process and only learned of the wedding at a late stage.
"Initially, we were never informed about the wedding. We found out very late that they were getting married, and by that time it was too late to discuss anything," Gumede said. She added that the family decided to "go with the flow" to avoid embarrassing Mampintsha.
Gumede further alleged that Showmax and PAP covered the costs of the family's wedding outfits during a rushed shopping trip. "Showmax and the production were paying for those costs. I know this because they were the ones choosing clothes and paying. On top of that, Mandla and Bongekile were broke," she claimed.
She also revealed that a significant family dispute occurred before and after the traditional wedding, stemming from Mampintsha's alleged attempt to marry without the family's blessing. "The fight was about Mandla trying to get married behind our backs and without getting family blessings," Gumede explained. "Mandla was a Zulu man, and he believed in traditions and customs, but in this instance, he seemed to have forgotten about his tradition."
Gumede claims that Mampintsha confided in the family that he lacked the funds for lobola and the wedding. "That is when he explained that he didn't even have money for lobola, let alone for a traditional wedding," she said. "He told us that the wedding was not his idea but PAP's idea; otherwise, he would have discussed it with us as the family."
According to Gumede, Mampintsha admitted to being inebriated on his wedding day and having little recollection of the events. "He said that he was even drunk on the day and had no recollection of what was really happening," she said. "Nonetheless, he agreed to everything that was asked of him because they were desperate for the money. He apologised and emphasised that the entire show was fake."
Gumede further alleges that the production company even purchased Mampintsha's wedding ring, which was reportedly too small and never worn. "We believed Mandla because the ring was too small; it couldn't even fit on his wedding finger. He left it at home, and he never wore it," she said.
Gumede stated that she is speaking out to expose the "lies" presented in the show and to honour Mampintsha's traditional beliefs. "I've always been vocal about this, and we informed Mandla and Babes that they needed to do things properly; otherwise, they would invite the wrath of the ancestors. Mampintsha was a traditional man; he believed in customs and traditions," she said.
Babes Wodumo's spokesperson and manager, Nondumiso Simelane, has vehemently denied Gumede's allegations, stating that Mampintsha paid lobola from his own funds. "Pinky knows nothing about lobola negotiations. Mandla was never broke, and he paid lobola from his own pocket," Nondumiso Simelane said. "I can confirm that, as the Simelanes, we received lobola from Mandla and not from Showmax or PAP. Pinky wouldn't know this because she's never helped Mandla with anything."
A cultural expert, Nomagugu Ngobese, weighed in on the matter, stating that it is culturally inappropriate for a production company to pay lobola. "The channel or production cannot pay lobola for a bride. [If indeed the companies did pay for lobola, it was wrong, and it can upset the ancestors]. The channel and the production distorted the Zulu tradition," Ngobese said. She suggested that if Mampintsha could not afford lobola, he could have used the traditional practice of ukuthwala (bride kidnapping) as a starting point for negotiations. Originally, ukuthwala was designed for people who couldn’t afford lobola.
Showmax has yet to respond to the allegations, despite promising to do so. Sanda Mofokeng from PAP declined to comment, citing confidentiality agreements with talent and their families.
However, a relative of Gumede, who wished to remain anonymous, corroborated her claims, stating, "As much as I wasn't too involved, but I know that Mampintsha didn't have money for lobola. We later learned that the production paid lobola and wedding costs. Had he paid lobola, we'd have burned impepho [incense] as per our tradition and reported everything to the ancestors."
The conflicting accounts and cultural implications have ignited a fierce debate, raising questions about the ethics of reality television and the exploitation of cultural traditions for entertainment purposes. The controversy surrounding "Uthando Lodumo" underscores the complexities of navigating tradition, financial pressures, and the allure of fame in the modern media landscape.
