The late film producer and renowned playwright Mbongeni Ngema’s family has initiated legal proceedings to exhume his remains for reburial in his chosen cemetery.
Close associates who spoke anonymously due to concerns of potential backlash revealed this to the media.
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Why Mbongeni Ngema’s Family Wants To Exhume Him
The Sarafina producer passed away in an accident while en route to a funeral in the Eastern Cape in January. His family buried him at Chesterville Heroes’ Acre in Red Hill Cemetery, Durban, on 5 January, following the wishes of his disputed legal wife, Mpumelelo Gumede.
Sunday World revealed that Ngema’s family has decided to relocate his remains to eMfana. He wished to be buried there among his ancestors. The family found Ngema’s marriage certificate from the Department of Home Affairs, which indicated he was single when he perished.
Accompanying the certificate was a song titled “Mhla Ngifayo” (When I Die), which Ngema recorded with Baobab Sisters before his passing. The song explicitly stated his wish to rest in eMfana. Some of its lyrics included, “Please bury me in eMfana kwaNgema eNhlwathi and do not deviate from this.”
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The Funeral Drama
This move to exhume Ngema’s remains wasn’t unexpected. Tensions arose between his family, supported by his customary wife Yolanda “Wanda” Moncho, and Gumede following his burial in Red Hill. Yolanda, who was three months pregnant with Ngema’s child at the time, had reached out to KwaZulu-Natal Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube, requesting involvement in the funeral arrangements. She claimed customary marriage status, stating that Ngema’s delegation had paid Lobola for her in 2021.
Yolanda and Ngema’s family have now tasked their lawyer, Advocate Christopher Shabangu, with initiating the legal process for the exhumation and reburial at eMfana.
When approached for comment, Shabangu stated, “It is premature for me to talk about this matter. Therefore I cannot comment at the moment.”