It was recently reported that actress and singer Letoya Makhene-Pulumo was physically abused by her wife Lebogang Pulumo-Makhene and that she had to get two police vans to escort her to fetch her belongings after Lebogang had beaten her last month. But Letoya did not confirm nor deny the reports. Reality TV star, Bubbly Sodela tells ZiMoja that she too, was a victim of abuse at the hands of Lebogang. She is on season two of the Showmax reality series, This Body Works For Me where she shares her life story as a former stripper.

ABUSE ACCUSATION

Bubbly says she was Lebogang’s side chick when she allegedly physically abused her. "Letoya’s wife physically abused me too and took advantage of me," she says. "I was a stripper back then and she would help me with transport from work especially at midnight," she said. This one night, Bubbly says she invited her cousin to come along to save up on meter taxi costs. "We went clubbing and decided to go sleep at Lebo’s house in Honeydew. I introduced my cousin to Lebo and I could see she wanted her and they were flirting. I cried and screamed because I could see that she wanted to sleep with my cousin. She pulled my long wig and slapped me," Bubbly says. She alleges Lebo locked her and her cousin in the spare room while her daughters were in the house. "She locked us up until the next day, hungry and hung over," she said. Bubbly adds that the experience was traumatic. "Then later around 1 pm before her kids came back from school, she sent a driver to drop us by the taxi rank," she adds. "I never wanted to see her after that. I was scared to lay charges because she’s politically connected and I was a side chick. She was engaged to Letoya at the time,"

When called for comment, Lebogang laughed at the matter, saying, "I don’t know this woman, and I have never laid a hand on a woman." 

ANXIETY

Bubbly is currently taking medication for depression and anxiety. She says opening up about her experience is helping her heal. She recently moved back to Gqeberha after the shooting the reality show for her mental wellness. "I just moved to PE, I got a new home and a business place. I decided that I want to go back home because Joburg was too much for me," she says. "I needed tranquillity. I have anxiety and I’m on medication. So, I am always careful not to get triggered. I always need to make sure that I am in a good place in my life." Bubbly also has a spiritual calling. "I am not a sangoma but have more of a prophetic calling. So, I am at a place where I need peace and less drama. I manifest and speak life into myself. I manifested my dream home and how I want my business to operate. There is a space where I opened my business."