The paternal family of KwaZulu-Natal maskandi artist Mgqumeni Khumalo still believe that he has ‘resurrected’.
|||The paternal family of KwaZulu-Natal maskandi artist Mgqumeni Khumalo, who died two years ago, still believe that the man who recently claimed to be the singer is in fact Khumalo.
Sibisiso John Dlamini-Gcabashe, 29, is expected to appear again in the Nqutu Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday on charges of fraud and perjury.
Khumalo died on December 19, 2009, in Johannesburg, while on his way to a traditional healer.
He was buried in January 2010 in his maternal homestead in the Mpofana area in Nqutu.
Two weeks ago, the “resurrected” Khumalo – since identified as Dlamini-Gcabashe – made headlines when he claimed to have returned from the dead.
He even addressed about 30 000 people in Nqutu, in northern KwaZulu-Natal, who had gathered to see the “resurrection” for themselves.
Khumalo’s maternal family believe that Dlamini-Gcabashe is an impostor.
But on Monday, Khumalo’s uncle, Dalingcebo Khumalo, said traditional healers had predicted his return.
“We looked at his (Dlamini-Gcabashe’s) hands and feet. Everyone in the Khumalo family has similar features and we saw those in him. His body structure from the neck down to the toes is just like my grandfather’s,” Dalingcebo said.
They admitted that Dlamini-Gcabashe did match Khumalo physically and said Khumalo had a scar on his back, a scar on his thigh and a surgical scar on his stomach.
“We found all of these on Dlamini-Gcabashe’s body and we were convinced that it was Mgqumeni. My father was informed about this man and when they met, the first thing my father said was: ‘Mgqumeni, what are you doing here?’” Dalingcebo said.
Another uncle, Bheki Khumalo, said the results of a DNA test and exhumation were the only things that could give them closure.
“At the moment, there is nothing indicating to the family that it is not Mgqumeni, so we will continue to stand behind him 100 percent,” he said.
Khumalo’s two fiancées, who live at the family’s residence, also confirmed that it was him.
Nonhlanhla Majola, 32, was in the car when Khumalo died.
“When paramedics arrived, an oxygen mask was put on him. The paramedics said he was faintly pulling oxygen, but he was not gaining consciousness. After that we were informed that he was dead,” Majola said.
Another fiancée, Lamulile Ngema, 20, said she was able to identify similar physical characteristics between Dlamini-Gcabashe and Khumalo.
The singer left 13 children and six fiancées known to the family. - Daily News
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