Legendary kwaai-jazz maestro Don Laka has been accused of neglecting his responsibilities as a grandfather.
The family of a seven-year-old boy who is said to be Laka's grandson wants the musician to assist financially in raising the child. The KwaMakhutha, KwaZulu-Natal, family claimed the boy's father was Laka's son Karabo, who was born in Lesotho.
Karabo died in a car accident last December. A family friend claimed Laka did not even attend the funeral.
The family friend told Sowetan that he had personally tried to reach out to the musician because the family was struggling financially.
"I contacted Don personally so he could assist in raising the boy, who resembles him. I called him shortly after the funeral about the boy but he wanted nothing to do with the child," said the friend.
"I am helping them because the family is poor and survives on grants. The boy's mother is unemployed."
Laka has denied that he was not part of his son's life. He said when Karabo died, he paid for all the funeral expenses.
"I was not there physically, but I made sure that everything was there to bury him."
Asked about his grandson, he confirmed that he's never met the child. Sowetan ran a story in 2008 about Karabo looking for Laka. The father and son were ultimately reunited.
The family friend further claimed that he even paid for Karabo's music studies because Laka did not want to be part of his life.
Laka, however, insisted that he bought his late son a guitar thinking that he was going to be a musician but Karabo chose soccer instead.
Music legend Don Laka accused of neglecting grandchild
Legendary kwaai-jazz maestro Don Laka has been accused of neglecting his responsibilities as a grandfather.
The family of a seven-year-old boy who is said to be Laka's grandson wants the musician to assist financially in raising the child. The KwaMakhutha, KwaZulu-Natal, family claimed the boy's father was Laka's son Karabo, who was born in Lesotho.
Karabo died in a car accident last December. A family friend claimed Laka did not even attend the funeral.
The family friend told Sowetan that he had personally tried to reach out to the musician because the family was struggling financially.
"I contacted Don personally so he could assist in raising the boy, who resembles him. I called him shortly after the funeral about the boy but he wanted nothing to do with the child," said the friend.
"I am helping them because the family is poor and survives on grants. The boy's mother is unemployed."
Laka has denied that he was not part of his son's life. He said when Karabo died, he paid for all the funeral expenses.
"I was not there physically, but I made sure that everything was there to bury him."
Asked about his grandson, he confirmed that he's never met the child. Sowetan ran a story in 2008 about Karabo looking for Laka. The father and son were ultimately reunited.
The family friend further claimed that he even paid for Karabo's music studies because Laka did not want to be part of his life.
Laka, however, insisted that he bought his late son a guitar thinking that he was going to be a musician but Karabo chose soccer instead.