Mbongeni Ngema’s family does not recognise pregnant second wife

The family of renowned playwright, musician and producer Mbongeni Ngema has dismissed claims made by Yolanda “Wanda” Moncho that she is his second wife. Ngema, who was publically married to Nompumelelo Gumede-Ngema, died in hospital after a car crash involving a truck on the R61 in the Mbizana area in the Eastern Cape on 27 December. Speaking to Daily News before the funeral, Ngema’s brother Nhlanhla Ngema said that the family was unaware of the Sarafina! creator’s marriage to Moncho. He said all he had heard was that there was a woman who was managing his brother’s work.

“We heard about the letter which was said to have been written by a woman but we are not aware of her marriage to my brother except hearing that she was his manager.

“For now, we are focusing on burying my brother so we will deal with other things after the funeral,” said Nhlanhla. The response came after Moncho, who claims to be Ngema’s customary wife, threatened to interdict the government from organising the world-famous musician’s burial. She also claims to be four-months pregnant with the 68-year-old’s child.

Moncho had written to the office of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube, who accorded Ngema a provincial funeral at the International Convention Centre (ICC) in Durban.

The letter was also addressed to the office of the president of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa, offices of the KZN provincial government director-general, KZN MEC for sports, arts and culture, KZN police commissioner Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, minister of sports, arts and culture Zizi Kodwa and Nhlanhla Ngema.

When asked if Dube-Ncube responded, Moncho told Sunday World that she was not feeling well and had, therefore, not had the time to check or find out.