In a distressing twist to the saga surrounding the late Afro-pop sensation Zahara, her sisters, Lumka Mkutukana and Bandezwa Mkutukana-Febana, are said to have destroyed her home in Little Falls, Roodepoort, prompting the new owner to consider filing a case of vandalism and malicious damage to property.
According to Sunday World, the sisters left Zahara’s clothes, including dresses, shoes, bags, hats, and belts, scattered throughout the house when they vacated it on Friday night. The late singer passed away on December 11, 2023, after nearly three weeks in the intensive care unit at a private hospital in Johannesburg. She was laid to rest in East London on December 23.
Following her death, the Mkutukana sisters occupied Zahara’s home rent-free for over six months. When evicted last week, they allegedly trashed the residence. Reports claim they stole the built-in stove, removed the ceiling and wooden double garage doors, broke the front gate, and even defecated in the pool.
An estate agent, who wished to remain anonymous, revealed the extent of the damage: “They have caused damage that easily amounts to over R300,000. They stayed at this house rent-free for over six months. What kind of thanks is this? Who does this to someone else’s property?”
Pictures obtained by Sunday World depict a house that appears ransacked. Bathroom cabinet doors are broken and missing, kitchen units have been pulled out, blinds are falling off, and the garage ceiling has been removed. The agent added that while the sisters initially left the house during the day on Friday, they returned at night to allegedly wreak further havoc before leaving again.
“It makes no sense what they did there. It just screams of anger and ungratefulness. The owner is within his rights to open a case and is currently weighing his options,” the agent said.
Efforts to reach the sisters for comment were unsuccessful, as their phones rang unanswered. Sunday World also reported that the Mkutukana sisters were in the process of selling Zahara’s furniture to the highest bidder through WhatsApp messages.
The turmoil extends beyond property damage. Oyama Dyosiba, Zahara’s cousin and former manager, declined to comment, stating that he had been pushed out of Zahara’s affairs shortly after her passing. Zahara’s husband, Mpho Xaba, revealed his own struggles, noting that he had been cut off from any discussions regarding his late wife. “I don’t even know where she was buried, and yet I’m still paying for her medical bills,” Xaba lamented, adding that he had sought counselling due to mistreatment by the family during his time of grief.
