A Muvhango-type of war has broken out between the family of the late Motswako megastar Hip Hop Pantsula (HHP) and his son's gogo over the custody of the teenager.
Sunday World can exclusively reveal that Mapule Rachel Khanye has applied for a court order that would declare her the legal guardian of the 15-year-old boy.
But it appears as if it was not going to be a walk in the park for Khanye as HHP's family vowed to oppose the court application.
According to the papers seen by Sunday World and filed at the Joburg high court, Khanye, a professional nurse at a Joburg private hospital, said that she was filing the application so that she could have the full parental rights and responsibility for the teenager.
This after the boy's mother, Lerato Khanye, died of natural causes two months after the artist, real name Jabulani Tsambo, allegedly committed suicide at his house in Randpark Ridge, north of Joburg, in October last year.
"The minor child in this application is my maternal grandchild. He has recently lost both his [i.e my daughter] as well as his father to death, and stands to benefit as his late father's heir in terms of his father's existing will.
"I am desirous to safeguard his interests at all times, as he is currently a minor, and am unable to do so effectively until I am appointed his legal guardian. It is for this reason that I bring this application," read the papers.
The grandmother said she was asking for the guardianship of the child as she had direct interest in the boy's wellbeing because he had been living with her since he was born and after the death of his parents.
Families clash over HHP's son
A Muvhango-type of war has broken out between the family of the late Motswako megastar Hip Hop Pantsula (HHP) and his son's gogo over the custody of the teenager.
Sunday World can exclusively reveal that Mapule Rachel Khanye has applied for a court order that would declare her the legal guardian of the 15-year-old boy.
But it appears as if it was not going to be a walk in the park for Khanye as HHP's family vowed to oppose the court application.
According to the papers seen by Sunday World and filed at the Joburg high court, Khanye, a professional nurse at a Joburg private hospital, said that she was filing the application so that she could have the full parental rights and responsibility for the teenager.
This after the boy's mother, Lerato Khanye, died of natural causes two months after the artist, real name Jabulani Tsambo, allegedly committed suicide at his house in Randpark Ridge, north of Joburg, in October last year.
"The minor child in this application is my maternal grandchild. He has recently lost both his [i.e my daughter] as well as his father to death, and stands to benefit as his late father's heir in terms of his father's existing will.
"I am desirous to safeguard his interests at all times, as he is currently a minor, and am unable to do so effectively until I am appointed his legal guardian. It is for this reason that I bring this application," read the papers.
The grandmother said she was asking for the guardianship of the child as she had direct interest in the boy's wellbeing because he had been living with her since he was born and after the death of his parents.
She also said she considered herself the custodian and primary caregiver of the teenager as she took care of his emotional, physical and educational needs since the death of his parents.
"I am not aware of any other person who is in a more capable position than I am to bring this application before this honourable court, and who has better knowledge of the facts than I do.
"I have no financial interest in being appointed the minor child's legal guardian, save for ensuring that the minor's daily financial needs are met," read the documents.
She said that her grandson's life wouldn't be adversely affected if she was granted guardianship because he would continue to live with her and have access to his extended family.
But the spokesperson for the Tsambo family, Nkululeko Ncana, said Khanye would be granted custody of the teenager over their dead bodies, noting that the Tsambos would oppose the application.
"We don't want to go into the merits and the demerits of the case, but we have briefed our lawyers and we will oppose this application," Ncana said.
Speaking to Sunday World yesterday, Khanye said: "So what? They can go and oppose the application."
The matter will be heard in court next month.