LISTEN | Gogo Maweni granted bail but says she was the victim as she was defending herself

Renowned traditional healer and reality show star Makhotso Lee-Anne Mofokeng, known as Gogo Maweni, who is accused of assault, told the court she was defending herself against the cousin of her child's father and accomplices who had attacked her. 

Maweni, 38, faces charges of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm for allegedly hitting the cousin of her third child's father, and striking her lip with a bottle. The father of the child is former Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns player Siyabonga Zulu. 

Maweni applied for bail on Monday, which the state did not oppose. 

In her application, which was read by her legal representative. she  said on the day of the alleged incident, she had attended a public appearance in Soweto where the alleged victim was present with her friends or family. 

“About five people approached me in the street and started shouting and screaming at me. The verbal abuse turned violent and I had to defend myself against these attackers. [The alleged victim] was one of them. My phone was stolen during the altercation. Members of the public intervened and pulled the attackers off me. I then left for my home.”

She told the court she had opened a criminal charge against the woman and her accomplices but never heard from the police again, despite calling on a few occasions to enquire about the case. 

“I did not pursue the matter. The incident transpired more than five years ago. The matter served before the court appears to be a classic example of two people having filed countercharges against each other, wherein only one of the complainants is investigated and pursued more than five years after the fact. I submit that I was the victim in the matter and not the complainant.”

She said the woman she is accused of assaulting and Zulu knew her details and whereabouts all along. 

“I vehemently deny committing any offence of any nature. I submit the state has a weak case against me and I will in all probability be acquitted on conclusion of the trial,” Maweni said. 

However, she admitted she had previous cases against her, which she had not disclosed at her first appearance last week as she could not remember them due to being traumatised by the arrest. 

She told the court of her previous conviction for assault GBH from 2017 for which she was given a suspended sentence. 

She also was convicted in 2015 for defrauding her former employer but was sentenced to community service. 

“I also pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol about 15 years ago. I do not recall the sentence handed down.” 

She said during her first appearance, she did not remember the previous convictions which was why they were not disclosed last week. 

“My failure to disclose is not of malice or to mislead the court. I never expected to be arrested and treated this way. I was traumatised and confused subsequent to my arrest.

“I did not intend to mislead the court as my freedom depends on this application.”

In her bail application, she said she went to Mondeor police station after finding out that they were searching for her. 

Maweni said she intended to plead not guilty and would not evade trial. 

She said she has three minor children and a stepdaughter who live with her and her husband Sabelo Mgube. She lives with her mother in Mondeor. 

Maweni told the court that as a traditional healer, she frequently travels across the country in search of traditional medicine and would surrender her passport if necessary. 

She confirmed she was pregnant with twins and attached an ultrasound image confirming her pregnancy. Pregnancy tests were also done after her incarceration and she was moved to the section for pregnant women. 

She said she required medication for her pregnancy and the one supplied in the prison led to vomiting and nausea and suppressed her appetite. 

“My continued incarceration might result in a life-threatening situation for my unborn babies and me.”

The court granted Maweni R5,000 bail and instructed that should she be required to leave the country, she must inform the investigating officer of the itinerary of her trip. 

The matter was postponed to February 11 for disclosure of her docket while a crowd who came to support her cheered as Maweni walked out of the courtroom. 

TimesLIVE