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Johannesburg, South Africa (Al Jazeera) — A seemingly innocent birthday tribute from gqom star Babes Wodumo to DJ Tira has ignited a firestorm of online speculation, with trolls alleging the DJ is the biological father of her son, Spontshi Wodumo.
The rumors, which first surfaced in 2021 but resurfaced amid recent tributes, have drawn fierce backlash from Babes, who vowed legal action against harassers. As Mzansi reels from the drama, questions swirl: Why do these baseless claims persist, and what toll are they taking on a grieving mother?
Babes Wodumo, born Bongekile Simelane, has been no stranger to scrutiny since her 2016 breakout hit Wololo. The 30-year-old, widowed since her husband Mampintsha’s death in December 2022, has focused on raising Spontshi, born in 2018.
Their bond, often shared on social media, became fodder for gossip when Babes posted affectionate messages for DJ Tira’s birthday on August 25, 2021. Fans flooded the comments: “Now here’s Spontshi’s real father” and “Let him pay child support.” The DJ, a key figure in her early career through his Afrotaiment label, was dragged into the fray despite no evidence of an affair.
The speculation didn’t stop there. A supposed “close friend” of Babes claimed she had confided in Spontshi that DJ Tira might be his dad, adding explosive fuel to the online blaze. Posts on X (formerly Twitter) amplified the chatter, with users like @lovabledaniels_ sharing articles headlined “Babes Wodumo addresses claims DJ Tira is the real father of Spontshi Wodumo.”
The friend’s anonymous revelation, unverified and widely dismissed as fabrication, echoed old tabloid tropes, but it stung deeply for Babes, who has navigated rumors since Mampintsha’s passing.
Babes fired back with raw fury. In a now-deleted Instagram story, she vented: “All the time y’all say Tira is my baby daddy, what about his wife (Gugu Khathi), what is she saying about this sh*t you talk about. You guys make me mad sometimes, honestly. If you do not know what you want to say, leave please.” Gugu Khathi, DJ Tira’s wife and business partner, has remained silent, but the mention highlighted the collateral damage to innocents.
Babes, a mother protecting her child amid grief, called out the insensitivity, especially after trolls targeted her appearance. One user, Miss Tshiamo Ntshudisane, mocked: “When you were still Babes Wodumo, you used to look good, now you look like you are sick.” Babes rallied followers to identify her, promising lawyer letters.
The harassment escalated, prompting Babes to announce legal steps. “I’ve taken screenshots of all the offensive comments,” she warned, vowing to pursue defamation charges. South Africa’s cyberbullying laws, under the Cybercrimes Act of 2020, empower victims like her to seek justice for online abuse. Similar cases, like AKA’s family suing trolls post his 2023 murder, show courts are cracking down.
Babes’ resolve stems from protecting Spontshi, whose life has been public since birth. “No one messes with my son,” she told Briefly.co.za in a 2021 interview, her voice laced with defiance.
DJ Tira, 45, has stayed out of the fray, focusing on his empire. The Durban native, real name Mandla Maphumulo, launched Babes’ career but has faced his own controversies, including a 2025 clash with her over a Mampintsha tribute concert.
In June 2025, Babes accused him of exploiting her late husband’s name for profit, tweeting: “Everyone wants to use his name for their pockets.” The feud, unrelated to paternity claims, underscores strained ties, but Tira’s team dismissed rumors as “baseless.”
Social media’s role in perpetuating this chaos is stark. Platforms like Instagram and X thrive on virality, where unverified gossip spreads faster than facts. A 2021 News365 article detailed the initial backlash, with comments sections turning toxic. Hashtags like #BabesWodumo and #DJTira trended then, and echoes linger in 2025 amid her music comeback.
Experts like media analyst Unathi Mtya note: “Celebrity motherhood invites scrutiny, but this crosses into cruelty.” Babes, who lost Mampintsha to a stroke at 46, has spoken of therapy for Spontshi’s trauma, making the rumors a fresh wound.
As Babes eyes court, the saga exposes Mzansi’s underbelly: envy-fueled trolling in a fame-obsessed society. Will legal wins silence the noise, or fuel more speculation? For now, a mother stands firm, shielding her son from the storm she helped ignite—but never intended.
