Mamelodi child healer follows ancestral path while pursuing education

A 10-year-old traditional healer from Mamelodi is already making her name known for apparently healing persistent sores, some types of cancer, and helping elderly people with chronic diseases.

Lethabo Nikiwe Mathebula, officially known as ‘Gogo Mahambahleka’, is a Grade 4 learner from Mamelodi East Ext 4 who completed her eight-month-long journey towards becoming a traditional healer. She graduated last weekend.

Mahambahleka is the daughter of the famous traditional healer Baba Mahlasela, who gained popularity for training white Sangoma Kyle Todd. Mahlasela has practised as a Sangoma for over 20 years.

Speaking to her father and trainer (Gobela), Mahlasela said Mahambahleka was a troubling child as she was born premature, and survived both Covid-19 and meningitis.

He said her calling was not something to be ignored and that her ancestors had troubled her at school, to the point where she was forced to change schools every year, despite performing very well and earning good grades.

“At a young age, she started showing an interest in becoming a sangoma, and she was among the 13 sangomas who graduated over the weekend,” said Mahlasela.

“Through my experience as a traditional healer, I knew that she had a calling, but I took her to other traditional healers for consultation and confirmation, as well as psychologists.”

Ancestors from both sides of her family confirmed the calling and agreed to allow her to continue with her journey of becoming a healer.

A cow was then ritually slaughtered, allowing her to start her journey to become the youngest traditional healer in the country to date, showing great insight, reading bones.

Speaking to Gogo Mahambahleka, she said she wants to further her studies and also become a medical doctor, in line with her calling to heal people.

“Training as a traditional healer never interrupted with my school work,” said Mahambahleka.

She said she enjoys working with elderly people, and most of her clients are elderly, above the age of 50.

Mahlasela added that, despite also being a traditional healer, he sometimes cries when he looks at his daughter going through the whole journey of becoming a traditional healer.

He said a lot is happening in the field of traditional healing, which is dangerous for her.

He further described his daughter as a loving person who loves to help her peers, children, and disadvantaged families.

Mahambahleka will continue with her school work, as well as continuing to help her elderly patients.

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