Johannesburg – The acrimonious split between actress Letoya Makhene and her estranged wife, Lebo Keswa, has taken a shocking turn, with Keswa accusing Makhene of failing to confront the trauma of past sexual violations, instead turning her anger and pain inwards.
The public spat, which began last week on the popular podcast Sunday World Engage, has spiralled into a bitter war of words, with each woman making serious allegations against the other. Makhene, known for her fiery spirit and captivating performances, accused Keswa of hating her children, kicking them out of their home, and being an alcoholic. She also alleged that Keswa physically assaulted her and scalded her with boiling water, subsequently lying to her family that Makhene had inflicted the burn wounds herself.
Keswa, however, has countered these claims with a chilling revelation: that Makhene has been carrying the heavy burden of five separate sexual violations, including one by a relative, for years.
"What happened at the time, according to her, was that the man’s wife was working in Dubai. So the guy and his wife were having problems while she was in Dubai, so he called Letoya to ask her for a meeting to discuss the issues he was having with his wife. They went somewhere for a late lunch or early dinner. They met there, and the guy drove her back home after that. So he drove her home, parked the car outside her home, and they were talking, and as they were talking, he ripped her pants apart and started violating her," Keswa revealed, recounting Makhene's own words.
Keswa alleges that Makhene never reported the incident to her father or anyone else, choosing to carry the trauma in silence. She also revealed that Makhene was violated by four other men, including a businessman from Pretoria, a former Gladiator, and a businessman with whom Makhene allegedly had an affair.
"We kind of made this public at some point using an influencer’s page on Twitter, and we exposed all of these guys," Keswa said, adding that the men, whose names were published online last year, have denied the allegations.
Keswa's revelations paint a stark picture of the pain and anguish that Makhene has been carrying for years. She alleges that she tried to get counselling for Makhene numerous times, but her efforts were unsuccessful.
"She must find healing from all the pain that those five men installed in her instead of thinking that she can take mphepho and burn it, and their d*cks are going to fall off because of what they did to her. She must see a psychologist," Keswa implored.
Makhene, however, has remained defiant, refusing to engage with Keswa's claims. "I have spoken my truth, and I will not respond to Lebo repeating herself all over the media. She can go around to all the media houses in South Africa; I won’t be joining her. I chose to leave this marriage, and my only focus right now is my music and my family," she stated.
The public nature of this bitter dispute has raised serious concerns about the impact of trauma on relationships and the importance of seeking help. While Makhene's refusal to address the allegations against her raises questions about her own healing process, Keswa's decision to expose these deeply personal details has also sparked debate about the limits of privacy and the potential for re-traumatisation.
