Jackie Maarohanye: a closer look at her personal and professional life
Jackie Maarohanye is a well-known South African educator and community leader. She dedicated her life to helping underprivileged youth and improving education in her community. Examining Jackie Maarohanye’s personal and professional life provides insight into her passion, challenges, and the impact she has made on others.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- Jackie Maarohanye is popularly known as Mama Jackie.
- She focused on helping underprivileged youth and improving access to quality education.
- Her strong leadership and passion for education earned her national recognition.
- Maarohanye’s story continues to inspire others to make a positive impact in their communities.
Profile summary
Name: | Jackie “Mama Jackie” Maarohanye |
Date of Birth: | Not publicly available |
Place of Birth: | Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa (unconfirmed) |
Age: | Estimated late 60s to early 70s (as of 2025) |
Nationality | South African |
Ethnicity | Black African |
Religion | Christian (reported) |
Zodiac Sign | Unknown |
Hair Colour | Black |
Eye Colour | Brown |
Marital Status | Divorced |
Spouse | Sydney Maarohanye (1980–2016) |
Children | Four, including Molemo “Jub Jub” Maarohanye |
Profession | Educator, social activist, and founder of Ithuteng Trust School |
Who is Jackie Maarohanye?
Jackie Maarohanye, also known as “Mama Jackie,” is a South African educator, social activist, and founder of the Ithuteng Trust School in Soweto. She gained national attention for her efforts to uplift and educate underprivileged and orphaned children affected by poverty and HIV/AIDS.
Over the years, Maarohanye became known for her dedication to community development and youth empowerment. However, her career has also been marked by controversy, making her a complex and influential figure in South Africa’s social landscape.
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Career
She founded and ran the Ithuteng Trust School in Soweto, South Africa, which purportedly provided education, shelter and support for disadvantaged children, orphans, abuse victims, and juvenile offenders.
Her school gained international attention; it was featured in the 2005 documentary Ithuteng, which showcased the students and her as the leader.
Mama Jackie's work was documented publicly in the 2005 documentary Ithuteng, which portrayed the students and her work at the school. The film was shown on networks such as HBO.
Controversies and legal charges
However, many controversies later emerged. An investigative programme (Carte Blanche) alleged that she instructed students to fabricate stories about their backgrounds, misrepresented their orphan status, and used those narratives to secure sponsorships.
There were legal consequences. She was convicted of kidnapping a former student and found guilty of related charges. In later developments, she was convicted of more serious charges, including child trafficking, related to selling children in alleged adoption / foster arrangements.
She served a prison sentence, with some years of the sentence suspended. She is also reportedly banned from being involved with children for a period after release.
Was Jackie Maarohanye married?
Jackie Maarohanye was married to Sydney Maarohanye, a South African businessman and marketing professional. The couple tied the knot on April 12, 1980, and shared a long marriage that lasted for 36 years.
Jackie Maarohanye's children
Maarohanye is the mother of four children, including musician and TV host Molemo “Jub Jub” Maarohanye. She was married to Sydney Maarohanye, Jub Jub’s father, for 36 years before their 2016 divorce.
Mama Jackie is also a grandmother to Christian Maarohanye Khumalo, Jub Jub’s son with singer Kelly Khumalo.
Does Jub Jub have a wife?
Jub Jub has mentioned in interviews that he is a married man, though he keeps his personal life very private. Reports suggest that his wife is a woman named Zenith “Zee” Mia, but little is publicly known about her. When asked whether he got married before prison or while in prison, he added:
“I am a married man so I don’t know what girlfriend they (the media) are talking about.” “it has been a ‘pretty long time’.“One thing I learnt is not to talk about my private life in media but it’s been pretty long (since he got married).”
Divorce
Mama Jackie Maarohanye and her husband, Sydney Maarohanye, divorced in 2016, after 36 years of marriage. The divorce was marked by legal disputes over spousal maintenance and division of their joint estate, including their matrimonial home.
Their marriage was in community of property, which means all assets and liabilities were shared; this complicates estate division in divorce.
Where is Mama Jackie now?
Jub Jub's mother was convicted in 2016 and sentenced to 12 years in prison (with 5 years suspended) for selling two orphans and other related charges. After her conviction, there’s public reporting of her demanding legal apologies from public figures and denying certain allegations as recently as at least 2023/2024.
Social media presence
Maarohanye has little to no personal social media presence, with no verified accounts on major platforms. Most of Jackie Maarohanye's pictures online come from news articles, interviews, and reports about her work with the Ithuteng Trust or her legal controversies.
Trivia
- She founded the Ithuteng Trust School in Soweto to help underprivileged and abused children rebuild their lives through education and guidance.
- The 2005 documentary Ithuteng highlighted her work and brought international attention to her efforts.
- Her school reportedly received support from international figures, including Oprah Winfrey and Nelson Mandela.
- Jackie later faced criminal charges related to fraud, kidnapping, and child trafficking, which led to her imprisonment.
- She is the mother of South African musician and TV personality Molemo “Jub Jub” Maarohanye.
- She is widely known as “Mama Jackie,” a name reflecting her motherly role toward many children she cared for.
- Despite controversies, many still credit her with changing the lives of countless disadvantaged youths in South Africa.
Jackie Maarohanye’s life shows strength, determination, and compassion. Her work in education and community upliftment continues to inspire many people. By learning about Jackie Maarohanye, we see how one person’s efforts can create lasting change.
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Source: Briefly News
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