Gogo Skhotheni breaks silence, speaks on fellow sangoma gogo Maweni's arrest: The truth will come out

The arrest of celebrity sangoma Gogo Maweni (Lee-Ann Makgotso Mofokeng) on assault and murder-related charges continues to dominate headlines, with her former friend and fellow traditional healer, Gogo Skhotheni (Tumi Motsoeneng), now weighing in on the unfolding drama.

While Gogo Skhotheni hasn't issued a formal statement, her comments on social media, shared with her former friend Precious, offer a glimpse into her perspective on the situation.

Gogo Maweni was remanded in custody on Monday, 20 January, following her arrest on Sunday, 19 January, at Mondeor Police Station. The charges stem from an alleged assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, specifically an incident in Moroka, Soweto, in December 2019, where she allegedly struck a woman in the face with a bottle. The case file also reveals a connection to five other murder investigations, opened in Eldorado Park, Mondeor, Moroka, Orange Farm (two cases), and Bekkersdal. These investigations were initiated following allegations made by Gogo Skhotheni.

The allegations include accusations that Gogo Maweni was involved in the shooting death of the husband of Precious, a former friend. Precious alleges that Gogo Maweni hired gunmen to carry out the killing of her husband, Jabu Mahlangu. Despite these serious allegations, Gogo Skhotheni expressed a degree of uncertainty regarding the outcome of the legal proceedings:

"She might walk free," Gogo Skhotheni stated on social media. "I believe she will come out and be free. But the truth will come out one day." She added that there was more to the situation than initially meets the eye: "I feel sorry for her. We did not start this; she is the one who did, but she and I made peace."

Precious, echoing similar sentiments, acknowledged the complexities of the situation: "Despite everything that has happened and my husband's case, I also know her good side," she shared. "Everyone makes mistakes. What is happening is painful for her and her family; she's a mother."

Gogo Maweni's first court appearance on Monday, 20 January, saw her attempt, through her lawyer Marcia Makuse, to prevent media from filming or photographing the proceedings, citing the need to protect her children and an alleged pregnancy. The court ruled to detain her for seven days pending a bail application scheduled for Monday, 27 January, at the Protea Magistrate's Court.

In the meantime, Gogo Maweni's large following, known as "Impande YeZulu," are rallying around her. A WhatsApp group has been established, and a poster proclaiming "Wake Up Traditional Healers – Justice for Gogo Maweni" is circulating among members. One member, choosing to remain anonymous, shared plans for a show of support at the upcoming court appearance:

“We will be wearing black amabhayi (capes/cloths) to show support,” she explained. “It is not a protest to disrupt the court but to show that we stand by our gogo.” The symbolism of the black clothing was further explained by Gogo Makhi, another traditional healer:

“Depending on who you are, your history and ancestry. For some, it can easily be associated with witchcraft and darkness. But needs to be handled carefully due to the intense power it carries. It is a bold statement for izangoma to wear black, it means they are possibly on a spiritual war or mourning – it really all depends.”

Gogo Maweni's PR team has yet to respond to media inquiries regarding the case. The upcoming bail hearing promises to be a significant event, with hundreds of supporters expected to attend, highlighting the intense public interest surrounding this high-profile case.