South African business mogul and socialite Lebo Gunguluza is currently facing one of the most heartbreaking moments of his life as he mourns the tragic loss of his daughter, Kelebogile Keo Mpolokeng. The news of her passing on October 17 has left Gunguluza and his family devastated.
In a brief message to *TshisaLIVE*, Gunguluza confirmed the sad news, saying, “Yes, my daughter Keo passed away on Thursday last week. Please find details of her funeral service at CIC in Sandton tomorrow. We will appreciate your presence.” The family is preparing to say their final goodbyes in a service scheduled to take place in Sandton.
While Gunguluza deals with the overwhelming grief of losing his daughter, he has also found himself having to address another painful issue. A video clip has surfaced on social media, allegedly showing Gunguluza in an altercation with an unidentified woman. The clip has since gone viral, sparking negative commentary from the public.
In response, Gunguluza released a formal statement, strongly denying the allegations connected to the video and condemning the timing of its circulation. According to Gunguluza, the video is over two years old and contains false and defamatory information. The timing of its resurfacing, coinciding with his daughter’s passing, has only added to the distress.
“I unequivocally condemn the circulation of a misleading two-year-old video containing false and defamatory statements. Its timing amidst my daughter’s funeral preparations is particularly distressing. Accompanying this video is an entirely untrue and hurtful statement,” Gunguluza said in his statement.https://x.com/Musa_Khawula/status/1848988119422357714?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1848988119422357714%7Ctwgr%5E1bc420dac0d340a14cd8ede6292fbd5164ac53ad%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.timeslive.co.za%2Ftshisa-live%2Ftshisa-live%2F2024-10-23-lebo-gunguluza-mourns-death-of-his-daughter-denies-claims-regarding-viral-clip%2F
He also made a heartfelt appeal for privacy and respect during this difficult period, urging the public to allow his family the space to grieve without the added burden of false accusations. “I implore respect for my family’s grief and dignity during this agonising period. My family and I appreciate your support, kindness, and understanding as we navigate this unbearable loss of my daughter,” he added.
The viral clip has ignited a wide range of reactions on social media, with some users expressing their condolences while others focused on the claims made in the video. The situation has highlighted the often intrusive nature of social media during times of personal tragedy, with Gunguluza becoming the latest public figure to have to defend himself while mourning a loved one.
This is not the first time Gunguluza has been in the public eye for non-business-related reasons. Just recently, he made headlines with the launch of his highly anticipated book *The Art of Entrepreneurship*. However, the focus now is on supporting Gunguluza and his family as they go through this deeply emotional time.
As they prepare for Kelebogile Keo Mpolokeng’s funeral, Gunguluza’s family continues to request privacy and compassion from the public.