Gagasi FM's Felix Hlophe: lobolo feast demand drove wife to vacate marital home

Being instructed to prepare a celebratory meal following successful lobolo negotiations is alleged to have been the final trigger that drove the wife of embattled Gagasi FM presenter Felix Hlophe to temporarily leave their marital home.

On Monday, the uMhlanga-based radio station announced that Hlophe, host of the breakfast show The Uprising, had been placed on two weeks’ leave to attend to personal matters.

The development follows the circulation of videos on social media showing Hlophe involved in a heated verbal altercation with members of the family of one of his wife’s friends.

Hlophe’s wife, Tracy Smith-Hlophe, reportedly left their home with their children and sought refuge at a friend’s residence in La Lucia, Durban.

Speaking to the Sunday Tribune sister publication, Isolezwe, Sindi Zuma, the mother of Smith-Hlophe’s friend, said the radio presenter’s wife was at work at her salon on December 15 when she received a call from her husband instructing her to return home to prepare a meal to celebrate successful lobolo negotiations for another woman.

Zuma said Smith-Hlophe then began calling friends and acquaintances in search of temporary accommodation for herself and her children.

“She eventually came to my house in La Lucia with the children,” she said. According to Zuma, Smith-Hlophe later told her was deeply distressed by her husband’s decision to pay lobolo for another woman without first discussing it with her.

However, she said what angered her most was being expected to prepare a feast to celebrate the negotiations.

Zuma further alleged that on December 20, Hlophe arrived at his wife’s salon and took her car, leaving her to rely on e-hailing services.

“They said he claimed his own car had broken down, which is why he took Tracy’s. What surprised us was why he didn’t take the car he had given to the other one (wife-to-be),” said Zuma.

She claimed that veteran broadcaster Linda Sibiya had attempted to intervene, and to put out fires for Hlophe, and called for a meeting to defuse the situation.

Zuma said on the day the viral videos were recorded, Hlophe had persuaded his wife to return home, returned her car, and asked her to collect the children from La Lucia.

Abuse allegations

However, when Zuma asked Smith-Hlophe about the planned family meeting, she said they were interrupted by persistent hooting outside the house.

“It was around 10.30pm when Felix arrived and kept hooting until 12am. The police and private security eventually arrived. Only then did I go outside to speak to him, and that’s when he swore at me,” said Zuma.

She described Hlophe as 'abusive and controlling', alleging that Smith-Hlophe struggled to stand up for herself.

“She relies on him financially. She’s desperate, abused and everything,” Zuma claimed.

Zuma further alleged that Hlophe had physically assaulted his wife, leaving her swollen, and said that assets publicly associated with Smith-Hlophe, including vehicles and the salon, were not registered in her name.

“She is forced to post on social media, portraying a happy marriage to maintain an image and hide the abuse,” said Zuma.

Apology and regret

Attempts to obtain comment from Hlophe were unsuccessful. However, in a recent post on Instagram and Facebook he wrote: “Friends. I’m still standing. Barely though. I messed up. I regret it. I’ll do better. I’m ashamed. I apologise to all of you. I doubt I will ever be able to face you.”

In a statement issued over the weekend, Hlophe indicated that he would seek legal advice regarding allegations and statements made against him and denied that he assaulted a gardener at the La Lucia property but acknowledge that emotions ran high on both sides.

Last year DStv's Mzansi Magic premiered the radio personality's reality show, Life with Felix Hlophe, where the woman he recently paid lobolo for was introduced.

The show goes on

On Monday, Gagasi FM announced that The Uprising will, in the interim, be hosted by the dependable, regular stand-in of the show, Siyabonga Madida, popularly known as Heazy and co-host Minnie Ntuli.

For New Year's Eve crossover show, Gagasi FM announced that Linda Sibiya and co-host Selbeyonce will take the listeners into the new year. Sibiya is a veteran of the airwaves as he'd regularly hosted Ukhozi FM's New Year's Eve show. 

The song that ushers in the new year on Gagasi FM gives artists the bragging right equated to song of the year.

SUNDAY TRIBUNE