The High Court in Johannesburg has confirmed Lerato Sengadi as the customary wife of deceased Hip Hop artist Jabulani Tsambo, popularly known as HHP.
As long as both parties are 18 years or older, there’s consent and lobola negotiated and agreed, that constitute customary marriage.
The Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng delivered his ruling following an urgent application by Sengadi to stop the funeral planned for Saturday.
“The fact that lobola was fixed and agreed upon, that is what is decisive. It is tried in Customary Law that the payment or part payment of lobola is a ceremony symbolically joining respective spouses and families together.”
HHP died on Wednesday last week at his home in Rand Park Ridge in Johannesburg at the age of 38.
HHP funeral to go ahead
Mokgoatlheng said the couple met the three most crucial requirements of customary marriage and therefore confirmed Sengadi as HHP’s customary wife.
The judge said Sengadi had the right to interdict the funeral, however, he said considering that the funeral arrangements have already been made, and in the spirit of Ubuntu, Sengadi may attend Saturday’s funeral if she so wish.
“I think the court can exercise in these curious circumstance the interdict to stop the funeral is denied. Further this court has an undertaking from the family of the deceased that the applicant, if she so wishes to attend the funeral, is not prevented from doing so.”
