South African traditional healer and reality TV personality Gogo Maweni has found herself at the center of a stormy controversy following an eyebrow-raising episode of her reality show Thokoza Gogo. The scandal erupted after a peculiar and unsettling scene aired featuring a pig dressed in women’s underwear — a moment that many viewers have interpreted as a symbolic act of witchcraft linked to allegations of infidelity.
The segment, intended to explore traditional practices and ancestral connections, took a bizarre turn when the pig appeared onscreen, clad in female underwear. This act — seen by some as ritualistic or symbolic — has sparked widespread outrage and reignited public fears and suspicions about the use of dark magic or witchcraft in modern traditional healing.
While Gogo Maweni has since denied any malicious or supernatural intent behind the incident, the damage appears to be done. The controversial clip quickly went viral on social media, polarising public opinion. Some defend her, saying that as a sangoma (traditional healer), her practices are often misunderstood by those unfamiliar with cultural rituals. Others, however, accuse her of crossing the line and promoting fear-driven narratives under the guise of traditional healing.
What particularly ignited the backlash is the alleged context surrounding the scene — a suspected cheating scandal. Speculation suggests that the pig and the underwear were part of a ritual to punish or expose a cheating partner. While Maweni has neither confirmed nor denied this link directly, the association has only deepened suspicions and fueled the narrative of witchcraft.
Many religious and cultural groups have condemned the act, calling it degrading, spiritually manipulative, and a dangerous promotion of superstition. Social media has become a battleground, with hashtags related to the scandal trending across platforms. One side views the display as a creative expression of ancestral culture, while the other sees it as a disturbing display that borders on occult practices.
In response, Gogo Maweni has defended herself, saying critics are deliberately misrepresenting her work and that the scene was taken out of context. She maintains that she is an authentic spiritual healer whose goal is to help people reconnect with their ancestors and heal from trauma — not to scare or manipulate the public.
“I’m not a witch. People are quick to label things they don’t understand,” she said in a recent social media post.
Despite her efforts to clarify, the scandal has already begun to impact her public image. Some brands have reportedly reconsidered partnerships, and there are calls from religious groups for regulatory oversight of traditional healers appearing on media platforms.
As the fallout continues, one thing is certain — the pig-underwear scandal has opened up deeper national conversations about cultural practices, freedom of spiritual expression, and the line between tradition and taboo in South Africa’s evolving society.
