South African Gqom star Babes Wodumo was overcome with emotion during a recent visit to the gravesite of her late husband Mampintsha, after reading a deeply touching letter from her teenage niece. The moment, captured in a video shared on Instagram, resonated powerfully — not only for Babes but also for her fans, who were moved by the raw grief and love on display.
On that somber visit, Babes held a handwritten letter from her niece, who asked that it be buried next to Mampintsha’s tombstone — and asked Babes not to read it aloud. But the singer admitted she couldn’t resist. “She gave me the ‘don’t read my letter’ lecture, but I couldn’t hold myself. Did I not burst into tears because of this letter. Forever missed,” she captioned the post.
The letter itself was full of grief, love and gratitude. The young girl described Mampintsha as a father figure who had showered her with care, guidance and affection — shaping her life in profound ways. She lamented that he passed away before he could see her start high school, something he had looked forward to. And she promised to honor him always.
For Babes Wodumo, the visit and the letter were yet another painful chapter in an ongoing process of mourning. Since Mampintsha’s death on 24 December 2022 — after suffering a stroke — she has often publicly shared memories of their life together and her pain at losing him.
Earlier this year, she opened up about the circumstances surrounding his death. On her reality series, she revealed that they didn’t have medical aid at the time — they paid around R150,000 out of pocket for his treatment. She described the heartbreaking final moments: she waved at him one last time, thinking he was recovering; when she stepped away briefly to bathe, he passed.
Despite the grief, Babes has tried to honour Mampintsha’s memory — both in her music and her life. In 2025, she released a new album titled “Mabheshingo,” a musical tribute to him. She said the album is a way of giving her “all” on stage, and feels like a continuation of the legacy he helped build.
Still, the pain remains raw. In November 2025, she and her fans honoured Mampintsha’s humour and spirit, sharing fond memories of his jokes and his larger-than-life personality.On social media, some fans offered emotional support, while others reflected on the void left by his passing. The letter from her niece, read aloud at his grave, seemed to crystallize that loss — and the lingering love.
Babes’ public breakdown is a reminder that grief does not follow a timeline. Even as she works, performs and moves on with her life, moments like these show how deeply the loss has affected not just her, but those close to her — including a young niece who lost a father figure.
Whether through her music, her memories, or this tear-filled tribute, Babes continues to honour Mampintsha’s legacy. And for many fans, the vulnerability captured in that video felt like a collective moment of mourning and love.
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