She's trending for all the wrong reasons right now.
She found fame as a social media influencer, sangoma, club hostess, and the baby mama to footballer Siyabonga Zulu and actor SK Khoza.
She became even more popular when she joined the cast of the reality show Izangoma Zodumo, a Mzansi Magic reality show that revealed a few closely kept secrets of the sangoma community and gave viewers a fly-on-the-wall look into the lives of the two gobelas – teachers chosen by the ancestors to guide others into becoming a sangoma.
Lee-Ann Makopo (35) also known as Dr. Maweni or Gogo Maweni, is all everyone is talking about right now.
This is after the father of her child SK Khoza was seen in a video screaming and attempting to fight a man outside of Zebula Lodge in Limpopo.
Other videos of SK appearing to behave erratically have resurfaced.
Being a sangoma and traditional healer, social media blamed Dr. Maweni for using her sangoma powers on SK.
Although she has previously admitted that she is capable of using her powers for evil, this is not the case with the father of her child.
“I am not afraid to go into the dark side of my calling. I make it very clear that as much as I can do good, I can also return evil to people,” she said in a previous interview with Drum.
“But nothing goes unjustified. My intention is not to harm anyone, but to heal people.”
The mom of three keeps snakes at home.
“Yes, I have snakes, but it will all be revealed in the show why I have them,” she says.
In a statement released by the management, Dr. Maweni denied having a hand in SK’s breakdown.
“Various accusations have been brought to the attention of Dr. Maweni surrounding a concerning video involving Mr. SK Khoza. These false accusations suggest Dr. Maweni practiced ill-will against Mr. Khoza,” the statement reads.
"As a doctor focused solely on healing all people and empowering women, Dr. Maweni would like to distance herself from all and any malicious accusations. The matter concerning Mr. Khoza is entirely his business and does not involve Dr. Maweni. Furthermore, Dr. Maweni would like to wish the best for Mr. Khoza in order to happily co-parent to their beautiful child. Previous social media posts were said in jest and had no malice to them.”
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Dr. Maweni tells Drum that she would never even think of harming the father of her child.
“You guys give me too much credit. Why would I want to harm the father of my child?” she asks.
Dr. Maweni says SK has not paid child maintenance in over last year, but she would never "bewitch him."
“This guy hasn’t paid maintenance since last year, but I will always protect him. I can’t be going through the same thing over and over, I said I am done a long time ago.”
Since the videos surfaced, Dr. Maweni has not spoken to SK.
“I can’t call him and remind him of his responsibilities. I feel like my son is being ridiculed. When he is drunk, he calls and thanks me for giving him a beautiful and intelligent child. But I don’t need to call him to speak about anything, I am a married woman now. The last time he called was to say he was on the show Kings of Joburg, and he would send money. I have no grudge against him because I make my own money, my husband and family support me,” she says.
“But I truly wish him well. He is the father of my child; I want to see him succeed. I don’t want him to suffer, my son looks just like him and I hope he deals with what he is going through, for himself and his child,” she says.”
Dr. Maweni says she is doing well and all the name-calling is not affecting her in any way.
“I don’t see it as negativity, it's people's assumptions. They don’t know me. Being a public figure has taught me not to take everything to heart. Before, I would take offense. I am no longer bothered. It’s people who have problems themselves that can have a lot to say. I didn’t want to be a sangoma. I even left everything, packed my bags, and went to the USA, but I don’t regret coming back and following my calling. I have people who respect me, a husband and family that loves me.”
Just over a year ago, she got married to her partner of three years Sabelo Mgube and she is happier than ever.
“I have three kids with three different men. I realised that I cannot keep having relationships with people who will leave me. So, I prayed for my husband, nga phahla and he is present and an amazing dad to my kids,” she says.
“We have been together for three years and married over a year. He wants babies, I promised him that next year when we are settled, we will have an IVF,” she says.
“Either than that, my boys, 9, 6, and 4 years old are amazing and growing so fast. It was so weird to have conversations with Rori, who is SK’s son and is not aware of what is happening but asks me what’s happening with his dad, and I couldn’t answer. He could feel something was not okay.”
Dr. Maweni says her son, like her, also has a calling.
“He is very intelligent; and like me, he is gifted with a calling. But I had to allow him to go to school before. I was aware of it. We took him to Mozambique; I had a clear confirmation there. I had to bika emadlozini and right now my focus is being a great mother and raising amazing men who will treat women in a good way.”
She says the bad publicity has brought a few customers, but she was already popular and well respected for her work already.
“Honey, I already had property, cars, not because of all this publicity I’m getting but ngine ntsebenzo. I work hard and business has always been great. I had customers before Izangoma Zodumo. People will say what they want but I know what I’m doing. I sold over 10 000 units of pink waters and it wasn’t going to sell if it wasn’t working.”
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Not long ago, Dr. Maweni took her hard-earned money and paid R285 000 for a breast reduction, tummy tuck, and liposuction.
“It was worth it. I couldn’t be happier,” she says.
“I needed to do the breast reduction because being a 44 DD was affecting my back. It’s not that I really wanted it for my self-esteem, but for health reasons. I am always on my feet working and that put a strain on my back. It was for medical reasons; my boobs were just too much,” she says.
“With the liposuction and tummy tuck; I thought since I’m here I might as well. Having three kids was not easy. It’s only been four weeks now and I’m recovering well. I was already on my feet after three days, which is not allowed. I had to get back to work. I am healing fast; I would have healed faster If I did not rip my stitches during a ceremony. But I am getting there.”
Dr. Maweni has changed from a 44DD cup to a C cup size.
“I'm not sure exactly. But after my surgery, I found so many women who are suffering from large breasts and really need help. When I went for the consultation, I paid the price in full and just went for it. I prayed that everything goes well,” she says.
While she focuses on her family, Dr. Maweni is also preparing for season three of Izangoma Zodumo.
“Season three is coming back. I am also working on another tv show which I can’t yet reveal. I am trying to have multiple income streams. I just bought a farm and want to tap into the agriculture space. There’s a restaurant, KwaMaweni that we are opening in Soweto soon and I am working on opening my third pharmacy and that will happen very soon,” she adds.
