Family Feud Erupts Over Seputla Sebogodi’s Final Resting Place Before Polokwane Funeral
As South Africa prepares to bid farewell to one of its most respected actors, a deeply emotional dispute has emerged over where Seputla Sebogodi should be laid to rest.
The acclaimed performer, who died on Wednesday at the age of 63 following complications related to diabetes, will be honoured at a funeral service at Jack Botes Hall in Polokwane on Saturday morning. However, behind the scenes, reports suggest that his family and widow are locked in a painful disagreement over his burial site.
Sebogodi, who was born in Atteridgeville, west of Pretoria, traced his roots to Ga Mothapo, east of Polokwane, where generations of his family are buried.
According to reports, members of the actor’s family want him to be buried at his ancestral home in Ga Mothapo. They believe it is where he belongs and where he should rest alongside his ancestors.
His wife, Machuene Rosina Semenya, has reportedly expressed a different wish. She is said to want her husband buried at Silicon Cemetery in Polokwane instead.
The reported disagreement has intensified because the couple had only been married for six months after tying the knot in February 2026.
Family members reportedly argue that Semenya, having recently married into the family, should not determine where the veteran actor is buried. They also claim she has never visited Sebogodi’s ancestral home in Ga Mothapo.
The dispute has left relatives devastated.
Sebogodi’s 67 year old sister, Mary, reportedly broke down in tears after learning of the proposed burial at Silicon Cemetery. According to reports, she believes her brother should be laid to rest in the place where his ancestors are buried, rather than away from his family home.
Despite the reported disagreement, preparations to honour the late actor continue.
A memorial service is scheduled to take place at the South African State Theatre in Pretoria on 23 July. A second memorial service will be held at Jack Botes Hall in Polokwane on Friday, before mourners gather at the same venue for his funeral on Saturday morning.
Sebogodi’s death has prompted an outpouring of tributes from colleagues, fans and members of the South African entertainment industry, who remember him as one of the country’s most respected and accomplished performers.
As loved ones prepare to say their final goodbye, attention now turns to whether the reported dispute over his final resting place can be resolved before he is laid to rest.
