Grammy award winner and Lion King producer Lebo M, born Lebohang Morake, has accused his estranged wife, Pretty Samuels, of being a cheat and a fraudster.
The riveting titbits were revealed by Morake’s acquaintance, who did not want to be named for fear of reprisals.
The acquaintance was re-acting to allegations made by Samuels’ close associate in our story last week that Morake dumped her because he was expecting $10-million (about R187-million) from the sale of his music catalogue in the US.
Morake, according to Samuels’s associates, did not want her to have a stake in the staggering quantum as they were married in community of property, which he disputes.
They said Samuels also wants Morake to pay her R250 000 a month in spousal maintenance pending the finalisation of their divorce and an additional R2.5-million for legal costs.
Speaking to Sunday World this week, Morake’s acquaintance said the musician told them that their union, which lasted for one-and-a-half year, collapsed because of Samuels’ “unfaithfulness” and “untrustworthiness”.
“He said she deserted him as early as July 28, 2023, when she became aware that he was thinking of divorcing her because of her unfaithfulness and untrustworthiness,” said Morake’s acquaintance.
The acquaintance further said that Morake also developed -paranoia after catching Samuels secretly recording a private conversation they were having as husband and wife.
The acquaintance said that since she deserted him in July last year, he has no knowledge of her whereabouts.
The acquaintance said Morake told them he last saw Samuels in Fourways, Johannesburg, driving an expensive car, an indication that she was not as destitute as she claims.
He said that when he met Samuels, she was living in an apartment whose rent was paid by her married boyfriend.
“He told us that before they got married, she was being looked after by a married man. He said he believes that she has gone back to him because when she came back to fetch her stuff in their Waterfall Estate, Midrand, house, she was driving a car he did not know.”
Morake also allegedly said that Samuels’ past in-community-of-property marriage only lasted for nine months, and interestingly, she did not pursue any claim for money or assets as badly as she is currently doing.
Morake, said the acquaintance, also told them that he and Samuels were married out of community of property, saying he would not have wed her in community of property because of her alleged history of fraud.
He alleged that Samuels misappropriated more than R2-million when she was employed by the National Films and Video Foundation, but the matter was resolved peacefully after his intervention.
He then recommended that Samuels forfeit her pension or provident funds to repay the misappropriated funds.
“He said he was instrumental in initiating the settlement negotiations. But when he requested that she furnish him with the settlement agreement after their marriage, she refused,” said the Morake’s acquaintance.
If they divorce, it would be Morake’s fifth failed nuptial.
Before tying the knot with Samuels, he was married to Angela Casara twice but finally broke up with her in 2017.
Prior to marrying Casara, Morake got married to Nandi Ndlovu and had two children with her. But their marriage ended after accusations and counter-accusations of cheating. He got married to Viveca Gibson, but they too divorced.
In between his “I do and I don’t journey” Morake engaged former Generations: The Legacy actress Zoe Mthiyane, and when they broke up, he proposed to Free State belle Malefu “Mel” Ntsala. Ntsala kicked him to the kerb after accusing him of flirting with Casara behind her back. Attempts to solicit comments from Samuels proved fruitlesss.
