By: Natasha Archary

Leleti Khumalo has issued a statement on the passing of her ex-husband Mbongeni Ngema, who died on Wednesday evening, 27 December in a car accident in the Eastern Cape.
The 68-year old was returning from a funeral in Lusikisiki, Eastern Cape when the vehicle he was travelling in was involved in a head-on collision.
Ngema, the legendary Sarafina playwright was a passenger in the vehicle, and died after being rushed to the Adelaide and OR Tambo Memorial Hospital in the Eastern Cape.
In a statement, Ngema’s ex-wife Leleti Khumalo expressed her sadness at the tragic news of his passing.
“We are deeply saddened and shocked by the tragic death of Mbongeni Ngema. He was a pioneer of protest theatre and has left a rich legacy in the theatre world.
At this sad time, we send out profound condolences to his family and in the tradition of our culture, we would like to give them the space to grieve.
May the Lord give them strength as they come to terms with this immense loss.
May his soul rest in peace.”
Leleti Khumalo met Ngema whilst filming Sarafina, and although he was married at the time, pursued a romance with him.
The pair married in 1992, and after 14-years of marriage divorced with the seasoned actress claiming he was abusive.
Khumalo wasn’t the only former partner of the playwright to accuse him of being abusive, as in 2022 Ngema’s ex-wife Xoliswa Nduneni-Ngema spoke to Kaya 959 about her abusive marriage too.
Also read: Vusi Nova on Zahara’s death: “It’s going to take me a while to get over this!”



