Strictly’s Motsi and Oti Mabuse’s family tragedy with brother who took his life
28.03.2023 - 20:17
/ ok.co.uk
Strictly Come Dancing stars judge Motsi and dancer Oti Mabuse suffered an immense family tragedy when their brother took his own life. Sisters Motsi, 41 and Oti, 32, were left devastated after their half-brother Neo took his own life at the age of 18 while they were growing up in the South African township of Mabopane, near the capital, Pretoria. Not only did his death leave the whole family distraught, but it also meant the family were shunned by superstitious locals who thought it would bring bad luck to anyone associating with the family.
Speaking to the Mirror about the tragedy previously, Motsi had said: “He killed himself with a poison. "And because the people of Africa are very religious and superstitious, something bad arose in our neighbourhood. "With the suicide of Neo, our family was seen as one where there was a negative energy.
“Because of this rumour, no one came to us any more, because it was feared that the bad energy applied to the visitor.” Neo was the eldest child of their mum Dudu who was born when she was still a teenager. Oti, Motsi and their middle sister Phemelo have a different dad, making Neo their half brother. When Neo was a baby, Dudu lived with her mother and clergyman father in Kraalhoek, in South Africa’s North West province, until she met young lawyer Peter Mabuse and later became pregnant with Motsi.
They later married, but in the early days were said to be so poor they had to live with an aunt in Mmabatho which was a two-hour drive away. A year later in 1982, when Phemelo was born, the family moved 150 miles away to the township of Mabopane where they lived in relative comfort. Their father's legal career went from strength to strength helping to support the family further.
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