'I Will Not Stop Fighting'

Singer Cici opens up about her volatile relationship with Arthur Mafokate, learning to forgive and why it’s important to take a stand against abuse

- Khosi Biyela

HE’S smart, fun and has a great sense of humour – that’s what attracted R&B singer Cici to music mogul Arthur Mafokate.

And the magnetism was mutual. He was drawn to the sexy, talented songbird and helped her launch her career.

For a while the dynamic duo seemed to be a match made in heaven – and Cici was soon riding the heady wave of success, winning three Metro FM Music Awards, one for her contribution to hit compilation album Summa Ya D’Summa and two for her single Runaway – raking in the rands for Arthur’s 999 Music label.

As their professional relationship bloomed, so did their romance and Cici moved into Arthur’s Midrand mansion.

But as everyone now knows, it would not last – instead it ended in injury and ugliness, with both parties laying charges of assault against each other.

The dream, it seemed, had become a nightmare.

Apart from a few social media posts, Cici all but went to ground after “an incident” left her hospitalised – but she’s finally ready to tell her story.

She walks towards us at our agreed meeting spot, the Hertford Country Hotel in Lanseria, with considerably more ease than she’s managed since Arthur allegedly dragged her down the road while behind the wheel of his car after a heated row in June.

It’s been a week since doctors said she no longer needed the crutches she’d been spotted with on social media posts.

“I’m happy I’m off crutches – I hated every minute of it,” a noticeably skinnier Cici says.

The past few months have taken a toll on her. “The first four weeks were the hardest because I had to be fed, bathed and turned [over in bed]. Some days I couldn’t sleep and other days I wished I could sleep and never wake up,” she says tearfully.