South African broadcaster Dineo Ranaka seemingly took part in a Christian baptism over the weekend, after footage of the ceremony began circulating widely on social media from Monday.
Photos and clips show a pastor baptising Ranaka. X user @Officialtwinny helped circulate the material, which quickly gained attention across Mzansi, with some users comparing the apparent new phase in her life with older images from her time as a traditional healer.
The original baptism pictures, showing Ranaka smiling, were posted by the Highway Church Centurion Instagram account.
Quick facts
- The baptism reportedly took place over the weekend.
- Footage shows a pastor baptising Dineo Ranaka.
- The ceremony images originated on the Highway Church Centurion Instagram account.
- Ranaka has discussed living with chronic depression, PTSD, temporal lobe epilepsy and hypothyroidism.
- She previously identified as a traditional healer under the name Gogo Somahashe.
Ranaka has spent several years speaking openly about her faith and private battles.
Earlier this year, she described a healing and surrender process that had lasted for about two years. She connected that period to her experiences with chronic depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, temporal lobe epilepsy and hypothyroidism.
Her apparent decision to undergo a Bible-based baptism has prompted an online debate, largely because of her earlier public position on ubungoma and her work as a traditional healer.
In a 2021 interview, Ranaka explained that she accepted her calling 17 years after first discovering that she had the gift. She later completed her training and adopted the traditional name Gogo Somahashe.
At the time, she said the two parts of her identity could coexist alongside her Christian beliefs and media career. Her position was firm: she would “never stop being a traditional healer.”
Asked what the baptism could mean for her future as a traditional healer, Ranaka gave a short reply: “There is nothing to be said.”
She has not offered any further public explanation about the ceremony or what it represents for her.
Related: Dineo Ranaka addresses questions about temporal lobe epilepsy, mental illness and her personal journey.
