Social activist, radio, and former Trending SA presenter Shaka Sisulu (45) is said to have answered his spiritual calling and is now a traditional healer. Shaka is the grandson of the late ANC veteran Walter Sisulu and the son of former Speaker of Parliament Max Sisulu.

ACCEPTING HIS CALLING

Shaka is said to have been a practising and successful traditional healer and gobela (sangoma trainer). A close friend and client revealed to ZiMoja that Shaka ventured into the world of healing and spirituality some years ago after leaving the show Trending SA. "He is doing amazingly well as a healer. He is at another level and trains people as a gobela too." The friend says he doubts Shaka will return to television, but he continues his work in activism and business. "Being a healer doesn't mean you reject other business ventures; Shaka has always been great at what he does. He launched Cheese Kids many years ago which was a success, so a good balance between both is good."

SUCCESS

Born in exile in Germany, Shaka founded Cheese Kids, an organisation for youth volunteers, which was instrumental in popularising Nelson Mandela Day. During that time, he also became Archbishop Tutu's Leadership-Fellow and an inaugural member of the advisory council of the Public Sector Excellence Awards. He also served on the boards of both Love Life and the Foundation for a Safer South Africa for several years. He started out buying, building, fixing, and selling computers and computer parts while in high school, and he quickly became a respected businessman in the media and technology space. He has invested in various start-up companies across the continent. Shaka could not be reached for a comment.

BALANCE

While many have called those who have accepted their callings depressed or following trends, expert sangoma, Gogo Manzini tells ZiMoja that being a sangoma can never be a trend. "It looks as though it's a trend because many people are starting to accept that it is okay to accept your calling. Unlike our parents and those before who shunned African spirituality. It was often seen as demonic and dirty, but now younger people are embracing who they are," she says. "In essence, people are finding a good balance between African and Western beliefs, while also still keeping their highly corporate jobs."