Zahara’s Husband Still Paying Her Hospital Bill Despite Snub by Family
In a heartbreaking revelation, Mpho Xaba, the husband of the late Afro-pop sensation Zahara, has disclosed that he continues to pay her hospital bills even though he has been completely excluded by her family.
Zahara, whose real name was Bulelwa Mtukukana, passed away on December 11 after nearly three weeks in a private hospital in Johannesburg. She was laid to rest in her home province of the Eastern Cape on December 23.
Speaking to Sunday World, Xaba shared the emotional toll he has endured, including months of therapy to cope with the pain of being mistreated by Zahara’s family before she was even buried. He recounted how he was sidelined from all funeral arrangements and excluded from the funeral program, a move that deeply hurt him. “They chased me like a dog from participating in anything relating to my wife’s final honor,” he lamented.
Unsettled Family Matters
Xaba spoke out for the first time following reports that Zahara’s family has been evicted from her house in Roodepoort due to bond arrears. The family is currently selling her furniture on WhatsApp to the highest bidder. Despite his estrangement from her family, Xaba is legally responsible for Zahara’s hospital bill, which stands at around R820,000. Fortunately, medical aid covered R712,000, but he must pay the remaining amount.
Lobola and Family Disputes
Xaba explained that he felt legally obliged to be involved in Zahara’s burial because he had paid lobola for her a few weeks before her death. Despite this, he chose not to engage in legal battles with her family to protect her honor. “I was completely sidelined on funeral arrangements. They did not consult me on anything. Myself and my family were completely sidelined. Our opinions didn’t matter. In fact, we were not allowed to make any opinions,” he said.
A Relationship Soured by Tragedy
Xaba and Zahara made headlines in March last year when he proposed to her. They celebrated an intimate lobola ceremony in November, shortly before her passing. Xaba recalled how warmly he was initially welcomed by Zahara’s family, with her sisters calling him their brother. However, this warmth quickly turned into hostility just days after her death.
A Misguided Crisis
“The funeral I attended was the public ceremony at the ICC. I never went to the graveyard. To this day I don’t know where she is buried because that is how bad things were,” Xaba revealed. He described how Zahara’s family created a crisis, accusing him of claiming her properties. He denied these allegations, emphasizing that he owns three properties and had no interest in her possessions, especially since her house was on the verge of being auctioned again. “I am the one who said, ‘let us get out of that situation,’” he asserted.
Silent Healing
Choosing to leave everything to the family, Xaba started his healing process in silence. Despite the estrangement and the ongoing financial burden, he remains committed to paying off Zahara’s hospital bill. “There is no one to pay for it in the family. Obviously, because they only care about themselves and what they can get from all of this,” he said.
Zahara’s former manager, Oyama Dyosiba, expressed his disgust at the family’s actions but referred all questions to her sisters, Bandezwa and Lumka, who have taken over her estate. Dyosiba commented, “I’m so disgusted and they should be ashamed.”