Despite facing a trial for alleged assault, traditional healer and reality TV star Gogo Maweni is refusing to let her challenges define her. Instead, she’s focusing on her pregnancy, marriage, and giving back to the community.
In a candid interview with the publication, Gogo Maweni spoke about her challenges and endeavours.
In January, Gogo Maweni — whose real name is Lee-Anne Makgotso Mofokeng — spent some time in Sun City prison before being granted bail. The charges were related to a 2019 assault case, where she allegedly attacked someone with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
Gogo Maweni
Her time behind bars opened her eyes to the challenges that women face in prison which has led to her starting an initiative to support incarcerated mothers.
The popular sangoma is hosting a unique competition where 10 winners will enjoy a luxurious five-star lunch date with her, complete with a herbal goody bag from her store. To enter, they have to purchase a R100 raffle ticket and all proceeds will go towards supporting pregnant women and new mothers in need by providing essential hampers and baby clothes.
“I’ve been doing things since I got out of prison because I felt like the women in prison needed help. There are a lot of foreigners as well that are arrested for things like [not having] passports and don’t have people who visit them or assist them with food. These women are pregnant and depend on the government for pampers and baby clothes, so I felt the need to assist,” she said.
“For me, it’s not about benefiting from my supporters, it’s about giving a helping hand. I’ve always been someone that gives back. From buying school shoes to assisting where I can. So I just felt the need to help. Not a lot of people see what’s happening in prisons but there is a cry for help and there is a need to help people if you can.”
Gogo Maweni has three children — her first-born son from her previous relationship with an unidentified American man, her second son with actor Sthembiso Khoza and another with former soccer star Siyabonga Zulu.
She is now pregnant with twins.
“I won’t lie, being pregnant and going for this assault charge that was opened in 2019 is a bit stressful, it’s not something that I want to go through but I’ve always believed that God wouldn’t put me in a situation that I can’t handle. And my ancestors are there as well.
“I just want it over and done with, hence workwise I’ve decided that from June I will be taking a break from seeing clients because that is very stressful while I’m pregnant. And places like court and prisons are places where you can obtain bad spirits or dark omens and being pregnant with pure souls, you don’t want to attract any bad omen.”
With her reality show Thokoza Gogo on the horizon, Gogo Maweni says she is gearing up to show viewers a different side of herself this June on Moja Love.
“People can just expect me to do what I do. This year, because of my pregnancy, there will be less traditional things, because when you’re pregnant, there’s certain things that you can’t do.
“Last year I experienced a miscarriage because I didn’t want to stop working and I continued as per normal. So this year I decided, when we found out we were pregnant, I needed to take a back seat and put my pregnancy first, especially because my husband and I just got married officially the traditional way on the August 24 2024, and being pregnant this year is something that I know he really wanted. Besides doing this for our marriage and building our family, I felt that this was more important to me.
“This show is just going to show how I live, what I’ve been doing throughout the pregnancy, the trials and tribulations of my life.”
In other news – WATCH: Thobeka Majozi opens up about her son Khutso’s healing from cancer
South African media personality and influencer Thobeka Majozi has opened up in an emotional Instagram post, revealing her son Khotso’s battle with cancer and his miraculous healing journey.
Khotso, whom she shares with rapper Cassper Nyovest, had undergone chemotherapy but has now been declared cancer-free. In a heartfelt video post, Thobeka shared intimate moments of reflection and gratitude, detailing how the past year has deepened her faith. Read More
