By Rorisang Modiba
- Music producer Lebo M has won a court order to get back his R1.2-million grand piano.
- His ex-wife Pretty Samuels did not fight the case, but claimed the piano was part of their divorce.
Grammy Award-winning producer Lebohang “Lebo M” Morake has won a court fight against his ex-wife Pretty Samuels over a grand piano worth R1.2-million.
The Johannesburg High Court ordered that the Blüthner Concert Grand Piano must be returned to him after Samuels took it from storage and sold it without his consent.
Lebo M said Samuels removed the piano from a storage facility in Sandton and sold it to a person known only as Erin.
She denied stealing it, saying on social media: “The piano was given to me as part of our divorce settlement, which is a court order.”
But Lebo M provided the court with a copy of the divorce agreement and there was no mention of the piano.
According to the document, Samuels was to receive R550,000 in spousal maintenance, paid over three months. It also clearly stated that Lebo M would keep all furniture and personal items in his possession, Sunday World reported.
Samuels didn’t oppose the court application.
Judge Norman Manoim ruled in Lebo M’s favour and ordered that the grand piano be made available for collection by 16 April 2025.
Lebo M said he bought the piano in 2008 for R80,000 and kept it in storage at Greg Rollinson Pianos. During their marriage, he had allowed Samuels to use his electronic signature as he travelled often, and she later used it to sign the storage contract.
“As the rightful owner and possessor of the grand piano, I did not authorise the first respondent to remove it from the storage facilities without my knowledge and consent,” he said.
He only found out it was missing in March 2025 while preparing for a concert in Cape Town.
“I was about to start preparing for the concert to be held on 18 April 2025 when I discovered the piano was missing,” he said.
He sent an employee to collect it, but was told it had already been taken. The moving company later showed him WhatsApp messages from Samuels arranging for it to be picked up.
The court’s ruling ends a public and legal fight that played out both online and in court.
Pictured above: Lebohang “Lebo M” Morake and Pretty Samuels.
Image source: File
