Actor Sello Maake Kancube sues as angry wife Pearl Mbewe reveals his HIV positive status, reclaims luxury car he bought for her

Johannesburg – Veteran South African actor Sello Maake kaNcube is embroiled in a bitter legal battle and a very public divorce, after his estranged wife, Pearl Mbewe, revealed details of his alleged HIV status to Sunday World.

The explosive revelation has led to a defamation lawsuit from kaNcube, while simultaneously highlighting the complexities of HIV disclosure, marital discord, and the often-unseen consequences of public feuds.

Mbewe’s account, published in Sunday World, detailed a conversation with a doctor regarding kaNcube’s HIV status. She claimed the doctor informed them that kaNcube’s viral load was approximately 7,000 and his CD4 count was 200, advising immediate treatment to prevent serious illness. Mbewe further stated that the doctor warned her about the risk of contracting HIV if unprotected sex continued. She claimed that since then, they had used protection.

“My test results once more came back negative, and his came back positive again. The doctor told him that his viral load was about 7 000 and his CD4 count was 200. The doctor advised him that if he did not begin treatment immediately, he would get so sick and possibly die. The doctor told me that if I continued to have unprotected sex with him, I might also contract the virus. We have been using protection ever since,” Mbewe told the publication.

KaNcube swiftly responded to the allegations through a statement released by his lawyers, announcing his intention to pursue legal action for defamation. He framed the situation within the context of preserving the African family unit, expressing his commitment to his family.

“Besides what is said about my family by a discredited, backwards and colonised media house whose intention is to destroy African families, I will stand by the African family unit,” his statement read.

“December being a family month, I want to encourage and support family units, me, Sello Maake kaNcube, that they should not be discouraged and humiliated by those who are paid and motivated to destroy African family unit. I am aware of the defamatory statements made about me and I am proceeding with legal action in this regard. This is to protect the African family unit.”

The publication of Mbewe’s claims has sparked a heated debate on social media. Some users criticised her disclosure of kaNcube’s health information, regardless of its veracity, while others used the opportunity to raise awareness about HIV and the importance of destigmatising the virus.

@PrayerTmos commented, “This is extremely defamatory and amounts to character assassination. There should be laws against this by these media companies. You may find that Maake kaNcube is not positive, but the wife said, ‘He cheated without a condom and exposed her to possible HIV’,” highlighting the gravity of the situation and the potential for misrepresentation.

Activist Karabo Magagane offered a different perspective, stating, “HIV can be well managed and prevented in a marriage. One partner cannot be a victim and the other a villain as disease management requires a joint approach. This headline only perpetuates stigma. HIV when managed is not life-threatening,” promoting a more nuanced understanding of the disease and its management.

Adding another layer of complexity to the situation is the ongoing deterioration of kaNcube and Mbewe’s marriage. Reports indicate that Mbewe obtained a protection order against kaNcube, further escalating the tensions between them. Mbewe has reportedly been spending time with Lebo Keswa, adding another dimension to the already complicated situation.

KaNcube, when served with the protection order, commented to Sunday World, “I think my wife is more dramatic than I am. She acts better than me who is an actor and she is the one who has decided that we are no longer going to be working together.”

The tumultuous relationship has also extended to material possessions. KaNcube has reportedly repossessed a Mercedes-Benz he previously gifted to Mbewe, gifting it to his son instead. Sources close to the situation indicate that the car was reclaimed amidst the deteriorating relationship.

“He sometimes drives the car, but it is mostly driven by his son,” a source revealed.

Another source added, “They were using her car for a while then when Maake started making money, he bought a car and a house in Centurion and kicked her out.”

Mbewe reportedly felt entitled to the car, believing she deserved a share of his assets, particularly considering her contributions to his business dealings. However, the car was not registered in her name.

When asked about the car, kaNcube stated, “A divorce is a private matter and I won’t comment about the car issue,” while Mbewe remained unavailable for comment.

KaNcube did, however, comment on the general acrimony of the divorce proceedings, stating, “It is not uncommon for parties in divorce proceedings to maintain a hostile attitude towards each other, at least for a while. The fact that parties are at loggerheads in divorce proceedings is, however, not justification for unlawful conduct resulting in attempts to defame and slander the other remains unlawful,” highlighting the legal implications of the ongoing dispute.