In March 2023, Siqokoqela took to social media platforms, including Facebook and X, to appeal for public help in locating his biological mother. He posted a photograph, allegedly provided by an aunt, showing his father, Phelekezela Mphoko, in his youth alongside a woman Siqokoqela believed could be his biological mother. He captioned the post, “I am appealing to anyone who may know who this lady is and where she is. An auntie of mine sent me this pic. This could be my biological mother. So many questions are unanswered. Help me find her.” He expressed a willingness to undergo a DNA test to confirm the truth, indicating his determination to resolve the matter.
TIMELINE
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Phase 1: A Lifetime of Uncertainty (Pre-March 13, 2023)
- Circa 1971/1972: Siqokoqela Mphoko is born, beginning his life with a fundamental unanswered question about his biological mother. This marks the start of a “staggering 52 years of uncertainty.”
- Decades Leading Up to 2023: Mphoko lives his life, likely carrying the emotional burden and curiosity of his unknown origins, while operating within the public eye as the son of a prominent political figure.
Phase 2: The Public Appeal and Initial Scrutiny (March 2023)
- March 13, 2023: In a bold and public move, Mphoko takes to his X (formerly Twitter) account, appealing for assistance to locate a woman he believes to be his biological mother. This unprecedented step garners significant public attention, drawing “mixed reactions” and leading many to “question his state of mind.” He faces immediate “ridicule,” with some accusing him of being “mad or under the influence of drugs.”
Phase 3: Months of Steadfast Perseverance (Late 2023 – Early/Mid 2024)
- Following March 2023 for “Months”: Despite the intense public skepticism and personal attacks, Mphoko “remained steadfast in his quest for the truth.” This period involved relentless “searching and following leads,” a likely arduous process of investigation, networking, and emotional resilience. His “determination and faith never wavered.” Siqokoqela’s search was driven by personal questions about his identity, and he later accused his father of hiding the identity of his biological mother since birth. In a 2022 email exchange with his aunt, Moudy Anakwe, Siqokoqela asked about the woman in the photograph, inquiring if she was his mother and where she might be.
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Laurinda Mphoko, through her lawyers at Calderwood, Bryce Hendrie and Partners Legal Practitioners, firmly asserted that she is Siqokoqela’s biological mother. In a letter dated September 29, 2022, she stated, “We write to you on the instructions of our client Laurinda who instructs us that she is your biological mother, but due to reasons best known to yourself, you have estranged yourself and your family from her and the rest of the family.” Laurinda offered to take a DNA test to prove her maternity and threatened legal action if Siqokoqela continued his claims.
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Siqokoqela’s siblings, Sikhumbuzo and Siduduzile Mphoko, also publicly refuted his claims. Siduduzo pointed to Siqokoqela’s birth certificate, which lists Laurinda Mphoko as his mother, his date of birth as September 7, 1978, and place of birth as Maputo, Mozambique. She noted that Siqokoqela and Sikhumbuzo share a Mozambican vaccine mark on their left forearms, reinforcing their shared maternity. Sikhumbuzo identified the woman in the photograph as Julia Khumalo, a family friend who later married Gibson Mayisa, and clarified that the photo was taken in Zambia in 1968, well before Siqokoqela’s birth. She emphasized that Julia’s children were older than the Mphoko siblings, making it impossible for her to be his mother.
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Phelekezela Mphoko, before his death in December 2024, also condemned Siqokoqela’s claims, stating through his lawyer, Zibusiso Ncube, “Siqokoqela has openly denied us as his parents and went to my brother and requested I show him his real mother before I die because Laurinda is not his mother.” He instructed Siqokoqela not to attend family funerals and to “go to Maputo and look for (your) mysterious mother,” indicating deep familial strain.
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The controversy exacerbated Siqokoqela’s estrangement from his family, culminating in his absence from his father’s funeral in December 2024. He also linked the family feud to other disputes, including allegations that his father orchestrated a rape case against him, which was overturned in October 2024, further complicating the narrative. However, these accusations do not provide clarity on the identity of the alleged “real mother.”
Phase 4: The Breakthrough and Emotional Reunion (Mid-2024)
- Estimated Mid-2024 (Post “Months of Searching”):
The woman in the photograph was identified by his sister as Julia Khumalo, a family friend, not his mother. After his sustained efforts, Mphoko receives the “long-awaited news”—he successfully locates and reunites with his biological mother. This moment marks a “profound milestone” and brings “closure to decades of unanswered questions.”
- Soon After the Reunion: Mphoko conducts an “exclusive interview with Ezra Tshisa” where he expresses his “overwhelming joy,” stating, “People thought I was insane, but the God of my ancestors has fought for me.” This interview would have been conducted and published following the reunion, making the news public.
Phase 5: The Ongoing Journey (July 28, 2025 – Present)
- As of Today, Monday, July 28, 2025: The heartwarming story of Siqokoqela Mphoko finding his mother is now a celebrated event in his personal history. Despite the skepticism surrounding his search, Mphoko remained steadfast in his quest for the truth. He faced ridicule, with some claiming he was mad or under the influence of drugs. However, his determination and faith never wavered. After months of searching and following leads, Mphoko has received the long-awaited news—he has found his mother.
