Feud over singer’s body is over
Wife, Maenetjas reach agreement
The fight over the body of a dead Limpopo gospel artist has been resolved. Phineas Molamodi Maenetja will finally be laid to rest on Friday.
Maenetja, 39, died in a motorbike crash on March 8.
Since his death, his wife and his family have argued over burial rites.
His family had planned to bury him at his home village of GaMakanye, east of Polokwane, at the weekend. But an urgent court interdict awarded to his wife, Maria Mokgotho, put a stop to it.
The two parties finally reached an agreement that Maenetja would be first taken to his home with Mokgotho at GaThoka village on Friday morning before proceeding to Maenetja’s parental home – less than 30 minutes away – later that day.
The office of premier Stanley Mathabatha, together with chairman of the Limpopo Artists’ Movement Mphoza Mashabela, yesterday facilitated a meeting between the two families to ensure a speedy resolution.
Mashabela said he was happy the two families had managed to find each other and that he hoped the late artist would be laid to rest “peacefully”.
Spokesman for the Limpopo government, Phuti Seloba, confirmed the funeral would take place on Friday.
“I can confirm that as per the agreement between the two families, the body of the late artist will proceed to his home in GaThoka on Friday morning before being taken to GaMakanye for burial.
“We are confident that the burial will take place without any further challenges as the differences that had plagued the two families have been resolved,” Seloba said.
He said the agreement also meant the court case, scheduled to be heard today, would only be a formality and that no further arguments would take place.
Approached for comment yesterday, Mokgotho confirmed an agreement had been reached.
“It has always been my wish to bury my husband peacefully. The only problem was that some of the decisions were taken without any prior consultation with me.
“But I’ve now come to an agreement to let bygones be bygones,” said the 32-year-old woman.
Anna Maenetja, the deceased’s sister, said they were happy with the arrangement and hoped her brother would be allowed to rest in peace.
“It has been stressful for us to know that our brother is at the centre of a dispute which resulted in court cases.
“We could not explain the pain that we have been going through as a result of this. But, we are now happy that our differences have been sorted out,” Anna said.
The singer shot to fame when he released an album featuring his hit song, Tshwara Seatla Saka (Hold My Hand). He had worked with well-known producer Faxa Dube, who also produced for Winnie Mashaba, Solly Moholo, Matlakala and the Comforters and Mashabela.