Pinky Gumede, the sister of late Kwaito legend Mampintsha, has dropped a bombshell, making serious allegations regarding the popular reality show Uthando Lodumo.
According to Gumede, the first two seasons of the show were nothing more than a staged production designed to boost viewership, with the expenses of the lavish wedding between Mampintsha and Babes Wodumo fully covered by the streaming platform Showmax and Parental Advisory Production (PAP).
Allegations of Staged Wedding Costs
Speaking out in an interview, Gumede revealed that Showmax and the production company behind the show handled every detail of the wedding, from the dowry payments (lobola) to the bride and groom’s attire.
Mampintsha and Babes Wodumo, born Bongekile Simelane, tied the knot in a grand ceremony at the Ebandla Hotel in Durban in April 2021.
Gumede claims that the family was kept in the dark about the wedding plans until the last minute.
“We were rushed to a shopping mall, where they bought us outfits for the wedding.
Showmax and the production were paying for those costs,” said Pinky.
“I know this because they were the ones choosing the clothes and paying for everything. On top of that, Mandla (Mampintsha) and Bongekile were broke at the time.”
Babes Wodumo’s Team Denies Claims
However, Babes Wodumo’s team quickly shot down these allegations.
Nondumiso Simelane, Babes Wodumo’s spokesperson and manager, firmly rejected the claims, stating, “Pinky knows nothing about the lobola negotiations.
Mandla was never broke, and he paid the lobola out of his own pocket.” According to Simelane, the Simelane family received the lobola directly from Mampintsha, not from the production company or Showmax.
“Pinky wouldn’t know this because she never helped Mandla with anything,” Simelane added.
Pinky Gumede Threatens Legal Action
The claims against the production company and the streaming service come after Pinky Gumede threatened legal action against Moja Love, the channel that aired Uthando Lodumo.
Gumede expressed frustration over unpaid fees from her participation in the reality show and warned that if the new show set to air on Moja Love in March isn’t compensated for, she will take legal action.
“Hell will break loose if this show is aired without my payment,” she stated.
Gumede also voiced her anger over the mistreatment she and her family allegedly suffered during their involvement with the show, stating that they were poorly paid for their work in earlier seasons and had to fight for what they were owed.
A Bitter Legal Battle Ahead
Pinky Gumede’s claims have brought new attention to the controversial production of Uthando Lodumo.
She revealed that the production company, led by Thomas, approached her family to participate in the show, but they never received the payment they were promised.
Now, as a new season of the show prepares to air, Pinky has vowed to fight back, warning that this battle is far from over.
“We shot two seasons with them, and we were badly paid.
Even then, we were ill-treated and had to fight for our money,” she said, leaving fans wondering what’s next for the future of the Uthando Lodumo franchise and the ongoing dispute with the production company.