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Pyramid Group Funerals CEO, Gentle Maxopani, has apologised following a public altercation with Rustenburg businesswoman and former associate, Julia Semathu, at Rietvlei Cemetery, describing his conduct as “unacceptable” and expressing remorse.
“I am very remorseful for my actions during the altercation and I acknowledge that they were unacceptable. I denounce gender-based violence and have never abused women. I will never abuse a woman or any other human being for that matter,” said Maxopani.
He said, however, that the incident was provoked by ongoing harassment from Semathu and her husband. According to Maxopani, an unedited video shows Semathu allegedly attacking him first with mud, rocks, and stones. Maxopani further confirmed that the Rustenburg Magistrate’s Court has granted him an interim protection order, with the matter set down for hearing on October 20, 2025. He also has a pending High Court defamation case against Semathu.
Semathu, who previously worked with Pyramid Group Funerals as a service provider doing decorations and floral arrangements, later became a business rival after she and her husband opened their own funeral parlour.
In her response, she dismissed Maxopani’s claims and accused him of long-term harassment. She said she lodged a High Court application in May 2025 against him and “a group of men” linked to him.
“The assault that occurred at Rietvlei Cemetery is not an isolated incident,” said Semathu. “He has harassed me on Radio Mafisa multiple times, sent abusive text messages, followed me around and the list is endless. I never attacked him nor followed him. I confronted him after he followed me from Rietvlei.”
Semathu added that her actions were driven by a need to protect her dignity and safety. “Ga ke toy, I have the right to dignity and to feel safe,” she said.
As both parties continue to accuse each other of harassment, the matter is now before the courts, with judgments expected in the coming months.
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