Family drama unfolds as Zandie weighs in
The ongoing custody saga between South African singer Kelly Khumalo and her former partner, Molemo “Jub Jub” Maarohanye, has taken a new turn. Kelly’s sister, Zandie Khumalo-Gumede, recently spoke out to defend Jub Jub, providing insight into his repeated efforts to reconnect with their shared son, Christian.
Jub Jub Responds to Public Criticism
Maarohanye took to Instagram on November 2, responding to Kelly’s public remarks on podcasts where she accused him of not supporting their child. In a series of heartfelt videos, he denied the claims and asked Kelly to stop portraying him as a “deadbeat father.”
“I want to thank you for raising my boy when I couldn’t, while I was locked up,” he said, expressing gratitude despite the tension.
“Don’t lie about me and assassinate my character. Stop saying that when you look at the boy, he reminds you of me, so you look at him with anger.”
Jub Jub added that while he considered taking legal action to gain access to his son, he preferred to avoid involving Christian in the conflict.
View this post on Instagram
Zandie Offers Perspective
Zandie Khumalo, speaking to Sunday World, confirmed that the custody issues have caused strain but emphasized that the dispute is between Kelly and Jub Jub alone.
“Normally, I wouldn’t comment on this, but because it concerns Christian, I feel compelled to speak,” she said.
“I care about my nephew deeply and treat him as my child. When it comes to him, no one can tell me what to do.”
She revealed that Jub Jub had made multiple attempts to reconnect with Christian, reaching out to both her and their mother for mediation.
“At one point, my mother and I were mediating discussions, but nothing came of it,” she said.
“He even wanted to come and pay damages at home. He spoke to my husband, who then spoke to my mother. Unfortunately, that didn’t work out because there was no cooperation on our side.”
Zandie also stressed that both parents bear responsibility for the public dispute.
“Both Molemo and Kelly have unresolved issues and have hurt each other deeply. They need to resolve their personal conflicts before they can co-parent properly,” she said.
View this post on Instagram
Kelly Khumalo’s Position
The public disagreement follows Kelly’s October interview on “The L-Tido Podcast”, where she described the challenges of raising her children without support from their fathers. She singled out her late partner, Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa, as the exception, calling him “hands-on and responsible” before his tragic death in 2014.
Her candid remarks sparked a social media debate about parental responsibility and co-parenting in the public eye, drawing responses from fans and critics alike.
This custody dispute highlights the delicate balance between public persona and private family matters for South African celebrities. Zandie’s decision to speak out underscores the extended family’s role in mediation, yet also reflects the complexity of co-parenting under the scrutiny of social media.
For now, the spotlight remains on Christian’s best interests, with Jub Jub expressing a continued desire to be present in his son’s life, and Zandie emphasizing that reconciliation between the parents is key.
Source: IOL
Featured Image: X{}
