You would expect that after losing her husband, Lerato Sengadi would be allowed to mourn in peace. Unfortunately for the late Jabulani ‘Jabba’ Tsambo’s AKA Hip Hop Pantsula (HHP) widow, she has had to deal with the loss of her partner and the humiliation from her in-laws.
Have you ever had any bad experience with in-laws?
For Ms. Sengadi, it all started when HHP died and his family, the Tsambo’s came out and said that they did not recognize Lerato as their son’s wife saying that the two had not entered a customary marriage.
Following his death, the Tsambo family made funeral arrangements but did not include Lerato in them. In fact, according to her, she learned of her husband’s funeral plans on social media.
Ms. Sengadi then decided to take legal action and made an application to the Gauteng South High Court to halt the funeral proceedings on grounds that he Tsambo family was side-lining her and had told her she was not welcome to the funeral because they did not recognize her as HHP’s widow.
The Gauteng South High Court has made a ruling saying that Lerato Sengadi was indeed the late hip hop star HHP’s customary wife. The Tsambo famliy was ordered to return all of Jabulani’s documents, hard drives and the keys to his Randpark Ridge home to Lerato.
The court however turned down Ms. Lerato’s application to interdict the funeral and Judge Mokgoathleng ruled that his funeral must proceed.
Despite the ruling made by the court that recognized Lerato as HHP’s wife, at the funeral service held today, Ms. Lerato was seated away from the Tsambo family. As if not enough, Jabba’s sister went ahead and acknowledged everyone except Lerato, who was not included in the obituary.
IN FULL | Read the obituary of Jabulani ‘HHP’ Tsambo as written by his family 💔💔💔 #HHPFuneral pic.twitter.com/xZfr39fxL5
— TshisaLIVE (@TshisaLIVE) November 3, 2018
Thousands of social media users have come out to strongly defend Jabba’s wife, Lerato Sengadi against the “treatment” she’s received at her husband’s funeral despite her following the request from the Judge to who implored her to practise the spirit of ubuntu and attend the funeral.
Truly shame on this family!!! His memory and legacy do not deserve this. Not to mention the closure she fought so hard to get. I am ashamed of the Tsambo family for the blatant ignorance of the role Lerato played in his life!!! Ha se yona tsela ena! 💔#HHPFuneral
— Jackie Duwo (@JackieDuwo) November 3, 2018
#HHPFuneral This funeral highlighs horror movies played out when a monied husband dies… Pure evil!!!!!!
— Kedibone Mosenene (@KediboneMosene1) November 3, 2018
Lerato is going through the most 😭😭losing a partner and not being accepted as wife… May The Good Lord bless her ❤️❤️
— sophy Ramalepe (@sophyramalepe) November 3, 2018
The fact that the family is ignoring the fact that she was WITH Jabba for so long and treating her like trash is very vindictive. #HHPFuneral
— Candy 😍🤤🍬 (@suga_Ridge) November 3, 2018
What they did to Lerato is entirely wrong and it should be crystal clear to many women out there, when your man dies they turn their back and even call the ex to be the chief mourner, what level of disrespect is this? And even exclude her in the obituary SIES!! 💔 #HHPFuneral
— Vutivi (@Vutivi_M) November 3, 2018
There is a whole lot of women who are in Lerato’s shoes daily and have to put up with drama from their in-laws long after their husbands have gone and some even while they are still alive. HHP’s fans have however applauded Lerato’s strength and the manner in which she has handled the whole situation despite the ill-treatment accorded to her by the Tsambo family.
SNAPS | #HHPFuneral #LeratoSengadi and her army of friends stand around Jabba’s after everyone leaves pic.twitter.com/c9sfe8bnmH
— TshisaLIVE (@TshisaLIVE) November 3, 2018
After the funeral when everyone had left, Lerato got a moment to mourn her late husband as she surrounded his grave with her friends to pay her last respects to a man who she referred to as “my husband, my best friend and my comedian.’
Rapper HHP died on October 24 in what is believed to have been suicide after a lengthy battle with depression and was laid to rest today at the Heroes Acre at Mmabatho Cemetery in a State funeral.