Gogo Maweni trial begins: complainant testifies about alleged assault

The trial of sangoma and reality TV star Gogo Maweni has started in the Protea magistrate's court, Soweto, with the complainant Celiwe Khulu the first witness to testify.

Gogo Maweni, whose real name is Makhotso Lee-Anne Mofokeng, faces a charge of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm for an alleged incident on December 18 2019.

According to Celiwe, Gogo Maweni appeared from behind her and started hurling insults. She then allegedly attacked her with a beer bottle on the head and mouth.

Celiwe said the attack left her with a broken tooth and a deep cut on her mouth. She had to have stitches in her head as well as her mouth.

“She was hurling insults. When she was insulting me she didn’t give me a chance to respond,” she said.

“She hit my head first, then when I turned around she hit my mouth using a beer bottle. I had a cut on my head. Broken tooth and my sister took me inside the house to see the extent of the injuries. I changed my clothes and went to the police station.”

Celiwe said she was escorted to the Chiawelo Community Health Centre as she needed emergency care but was transferred to Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital. 

“She repeatedly called me a b***h, saying I’m not going to break her up with my brother. She said if I open a case it won’t go anywhere because she’s going to bribe the police to make it go away.”

Celiwe said there were incidents where Maweni threatened her and this was not the first time she had approached the court about her threats.

She recalled an alleged incident where Maweni followed her to her brother's house shouting and kicking doors and was removed by police. 

“She told me she would take care of me as she did my friend.”

The trial was postponed to June 12 for further investigation.