Promiscuity follows boxing champ Dingaan Thobela to the grave as father asks 10 kids to take DNA tests

Johannesburg – Over six months after his death, a legal battle is ranging between the father of legendary South African boxer, Dingaan Thobela and ten of his children, after he demanded DNA tests to see who amongst them were truly his offspring.

Known as the Rose of Soweto, Thobela died on April 29 at the age of 57.

While, it is thought that Thobela was survived by 10 children, his father recently launched a court challenge in which he questioned some of their paternity. Others however, had alleged that the boxing champ had as many as 14 children.

In court papers, the Godfrey Thobela said the legendary boxer expressed “uncertainty and doubts” about fathering some of the children.

“His promiscuous life led to many women claiming he fathered their children but also many were found to be untrue. It is in our culture and tradition that a pregnant lady should report pregnancy to the family of the alleged father of the child.

“Mothers of all the children all failed to comply with this practice. The late Bongani reluctantly supported most if not all his alleged children as he maintained only the mother of the child knows their true paternity.

“He expressed uncertainty and doubts about fathering some of the children.”

Commotion broke out outside the Johannesburg High Court as Thobela’s family was divided on the DNA matter, with the boxer’s father requesting that the matter to be treated as urgent by the court.

“This is because, culturally there was no child that was claimed to be his, and therefore I am not certain. Even if they receive the estate, it needs to be given to his legitimate children. Should they want anything, they need to come via me,” he said.

The matter was removed from the high court’s urgent list and Godfrey was advised to consult legal aid as he is a pensioner.

Sarah, an extended family member told ZiMoja that the late boxer’s children had made their grandfather close down Dingaan’s funeral parlour and are in the process of splitting the assets.

“Even the deceased said some of those children are not his own. But the issue is that Mkhulu could not explain why the matter was urgent.

“But these kids are in the process of winding up the estate. But there are still some properties that they don’t know about,’ Sarah said.