- Letoya Makhene’s baby daddy, Johnson Masondo, claimed that he had not seen their son for months, despite having custody documents.
- Masondo admitted that he previously struggled with drug use but says he is now clean and focused on rebuilding his life, although he still hopes to pursue full custody.
- Makhene’s ex-wife, Lebo Keswa, has offered to support the baby by providing clothes and formula, while also making explosive allegations about Letoya and Masondo.
Former Generations: The Legacy actor Letoya Makhene is trending on social media amid a public custody dispute with her former partner, Johnson Masondo.
Like Makhene’s ex-wife, Lebo Keswa, before him, Masondo has taken to podcasts to publicly discuss their relationship and ongoing conflict. He has alleged that he has legal custody of their child and claimed that Makhene took their son without his knowledge or consent.
Speaking on the Engineer Your Life with Lungelo KM podcast, Masondo said Makhene left with their child, despite his having custody documents. He further claimed that authorities had been searching for the actor and that he had not seen his son for several months.
“I love my son. She ran away with him. I have custody documents at home,” he alleged.
“I last saw him on 23 December and haven’t seen my child since Letoya left with him.”
The interview quickly gained traction online, dividing opinion. While some social media users expressed sympathy for Masondo and his claims, others defended Makhene and called for the family’s private matters to be kept out of the public eye.
The baby daddy
However, speaking to News24 earlier this week, Masondo said he had since been reunited with his son at Makhene’s grandmother’s home in Soweto.
“I want to be able to raise my son. I want to buy him clothes, take him to good schools and be a present father. That is [in] my blood,” he said.
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Despite the reunion, Masondo said he still intends to pursue full custody, although he acknowledged that financial constraints have complicated the process.
“I want to get a proper house so that my son can live comfortably. I would also like to continue working as a healer and resume my practice so that I can afford to be a good parent,” he said.
Masondo also claimed that he had not been in direct contact with Makhene. He further alleged that he was never paid for his appearances on The Makhenes, the family reality show that airs on Mzansi Magic.
“You know, when you are in love, you look past everything. I didn’t even realise I had not been paid, but I was giving Letoya money,” he alleged.
“She’s the one who wanted us to have a baby, and I would have given her all the money from the show to help raise the baby.”
The ex
The dispute between Makhene and Masondo escalated after he reportedly began communicating with Makhene’s ex-wife, Lebo Keswa.
Keswa, who married Makhene in 2020 before their divorce four years later, has also made a series of allegations about the former couple’s relationship and her interactions with Masondo.
According to Keswa, Masondo contacted her, claiming he wanted to “come clean” about allegedly participating in rituals against her alongside Makhene.
“He called me and told me that they took a picture of me and placed needles and blades on it. They performed some ritual on top of a mountain. Letoya’s baby daddy asked me to meet him so that he could undo the spell. On top of that, he asked me for money,” Keswa alleged.
Makhene did not respond to questions about the allegations made by either Masondo or Keswa.
Keswa also expressed concern about the child’s well-being after Masondo shared a TikTok video showing him spending time with his son.
“That is sad. That is a celebrity baby, and he looked like that? I will buy clothes and baby formula for him. It’s unfair to the baby. He’s just a baby,” she said.
She added that while she no longer wants any relationship with Makhene, she intends to assist the child through a trusted intermediary who can deliver supplies on the baby’s behalf.
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The cousin
Adding another layer to the controversy, Makhene’s cousin, Karabo Ranela, also weighed in on the dispute, making allegations against both parents.
“They both should not have custody of that child. Letoya is on drugs. She’s not a celebrity here. She goes from door to door smoking. Her baby daddy also lives in a shack the size of a toilet and also does drugs,” Ranela alleged.
Responding to the claims, Masondo acknowledged that he had previously struggled with substance abuse. He said he is now sober and focused on rebuilding his life so that he can be a stable and present father to his son.
Makhene did not respond to requests for comment on the allegations.
The Makhenes
Supplied/ Mzansi Magic
Long before the latest custody dispute made headlines, Makhene had already found herself in the spotlight following her highly publicised split from her estranged wife, Lebo Keswa.
Their separation stunned fans in 2024 when Keswa filed for divorce, bringing an end to one of South Africa’s most closely watched celebrity marriages.
What followed were months of public accusations, emotional interviews and social media exchanges, with both women making allegations against each other involving toxic behaviour, financial difficulties, infidelity and substance abuse.
The saga resurfaced earlier this year when Keswa launched another social media tirade against Makhene, accusing her of dishonesty and reigniting public interest in their fractured relationship.
Meanwhile, Makhene’s reality show, The Makhenes, brought further scrutiny. Rather than quieting speculation, the series laid bare family tensions, financial challenges and personal disputes within the well-known family.
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Despite the ongoing controversy, Makhene has continued maintaining a public presence online, often sharing spiritual messages, family moments, and glimpses into her healing journey.
Speaking to News24 previously, Makhene made an emotional plea to industry decision-makers, asking them to “take a chance” on her as she attempts to rebuild her life amid controversial headlines. The actor and singer, most popular for her role as Tshidi Phakade on Generations: The Legacy, implored TV producers and directors to ignore the “noise” from “bitter and toxic” ex-partners.