The family of the customary wife of the late television actor Seputla Sebogodi is preparing to approach the Limpopo High Court on an urgent basis to stop ANC heavyweight Machwene Rosina Semenya from burying the veteran actor in Polokwane.
The family of Kefiloe Lebethe, with whom Sebogodi had two children, Thapelo and Kgothatso, maintains that their daughter is Sebogodi’s lawful customary wife, should be recognised as his legitimate chief mourner and has the legal right to decide on his burial.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Kefiloe’s brother, Andrew Mogau Lebethe, said the family had resolved on Tuesday 21 July 2026 to seek an urgent court interdict to halt Sebogodi’s burial, arguing that Semenya did not have the legal right to lay the actor to rest.
The Lebethe family said it would not only approach the high court for an urgent interdict, but would also seek pro bono legal representation and ask the court to determine issues relating to the alleged customary marriage in terms of the Recognition of Customary Marriages Act 120 of 1998.
The family said the decision followed a meeting attended by Sebogodi’s children, Kefiloe Lebethe and Andrew Lebethe.
“Our intention is not to create unnecessary conflict but to ensure that justice is done and that the rights of every affected family member are protected through the courts rather than through disputes outside the legal process,” the statement reads.
The family said its legal action should not be misconstrued as an attempt to create conflict.
“This decision is based on our belief that there are serious legal issues that require determination by a court before the burial proceeds. In particular, we seek to protect the legal rights, dignity and reputation of Kefiloe and the Lebethe family,” Andrew Lebethe said.
He said that although the family would have preferred Sebogodi to be buried in one of the cemeteries in Tshwane, they would not object if he were buried in Ga-Mothapo village alongside his ancestors, as requested by his siblings.
The legal move follows a dispute over Sebogodi’s final resting place. His siblings want him buried in Ga-Mothapo village outside Polokwane, where his ancestors are buried, while Semenya, the former chairperson of Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Human Settlements, allegedly wants him buried at Silicon Memorial Park in Polokwane.
Sebogodi and Semenya are understood to have married about six months ago.
The dispute spilled into the public domain after Semenya allegedly circulated a funeral programme setting out the dates and venues for Sebogodi’s memorial services and funeral.
According to the programme, the first memorial service will be held at the South African State Theatre in Pretoria on Thursday, 23 July 2026, followed by a second memorial service at Jack Botes Hall in Polokwane on Friday, 24 July. His funeral service is scheduled to take place at Jack Botes Hall on Saturday, 25 July, before his burial at Silicon Cemetery.
A neighbour, who asked not to be named for fear of reprisals, claimed Sebogodi’s siblings wanted both the memorial service and funeral to be held in Ga-Mothapo village.
The neighbour further alleged that tensions escalated last week after Sebogodi’s siblings and relatives from Ga-Mothapo contacted Semenya requesting a meeting to jointly prepare the funeral. According to the neighbour, they were initially expecting to meet at her home but were later directed to Cycad Shopping Centre in Polokwane, where Semenya allegedly told them that as his civil wife, she had the right to decide where Sebogodi would be buried.
Speaking to Africa Daily, Sebogodi’s sister, Marry Kau, said she was deeply disappointed by the decision to bury her brother at Silicon Cemetery.
Kau said Sebogodi should be buried next to his ancestors.
Sebogodi died last week at a public hospital in Mokopane after a battle with diabetes. He was 63.
Attempts to obtain comment from Semenya drew a blank.
A woman who answered her cellphone said Semenya was in a meeting and would return the call once she was available. However, she had not done so by the time of publication.
