Court resumes hearing into HHP's funeral arrangements

Jabulani ‘HHP’ Tsambo’s partner Lerato Sengadi has asked to be granted access to the late musician’s body and rights to arrange his funeral

Lerato Sengadi during proceedings at the Johannesburg High Court on 2 November 2018. Picture: Kayleen Morgan/EWN

Kgomotso Modise | 320 days ago

JOHANNESBURG - Proceedings related to the application brought by Jabulani ‘HHP’ Tsambo’s partner Lerato Sengadi to be granted access to the late musician’s body and rights to arrange his funeral have resumed in the Johannesburg High Court.

Sengadi has approached the court in a bid to halt HHP’s funeral scheduled for Saturday.

Tsambo was found dead last week at his Randpark Ridge home.

It is still unclear what caused his death but he was vocal about his battle with depression and multiple suicide attempts.

Court has reconvened. Council for Tsambo family says they have tried to negotiate for the matter to be settled by the elders of the families, out of court but #Leratosengadi’s council has refused this. #HHP #HHPfuneral
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) November 2, 2018

Counsel for #Leratosengadi has submitted to the court that the Lobola process did not reach the point of a celebration and only negotiations took place. #HHP #HHPfuneral. KM
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) November 2, 2018

Advocate Andy Bester - who is representing Sengadi - has argued that after the lobola negotiation process was completed in February 2016, Sengadi was dressed in what looked like wedding attire and was welcomed into the Tsambo family.

“It is a matter of whether the substance had taken place and whether the families at the time had accepted that the wedding had taken place.”

A video of the event was then played in court in which HHP is seen being congratulated by family members and ululation can be heard.

#Leratosengadi’s lawyer has argued that sengadi and #HHP had come to be known socially and on social media as husband and wife, he’s asked why this has was not contended by the family. #HHPFuneral. KM
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) November 2, 2018

#Leratosengadi’s wife has argued that the video of her wearing “wedding attire” even though there was no event, shows that she had been presented and introduced. #HHPfuneral #HHP. KM
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) November 2, 2018

Bester argues this was the welcoming of Sengadi as a bride and qualifies her as the late rapper’s customary wife.

He has also pointed out how the late rapper and Sengadi were known as a married couple in their social circle and on social media and questions why the Tsambo family never disputed this.

The judge has questioned whether or not strict practitioners of customary law would take their daughter home if the Lobola process is not completed. He has also pointed out that the couple lived together on and off for 9 years. #HHP #Leratosengadi #HHPfuneral. KM
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) November 2, 2018

#Leratosengadi’s lawyer insists that the #HHP had built a life in Johannesburg at his Randpark Ridge home and so he should be buried in Johannesburg. KM#HHP Funeral.
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) November 2, 2018

#leratosengadi’s lawyer has argued that it cannot be lawful that Robert Tsambo, HHP’s Father changed the locks to the Randpark Ridge house as Lerato had full access to the house where they had lived together and only left because of #HHP’s drug addiction. #HHPfuneral. KM
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) November 2, 2018

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