Viewers of Married At First Sight Mzansi were stunned this week after Themba Khosa revealed on social media that he was still legally married when he signed up for the popular reality TV show.
Watch: Themba Khosa gets candid about ‘Married At First Sight Mzansi’
The programme, which matches strangers and marries them on-screen, has become a hit with South Africans who tune in to watch the drama of love, trust, and conflict unfold.
In a candid video, Themba admitted that lobola – the traditional bride price – had already been paid for his first marriage before he joined the reality show.
He said he knew the truth would eventually come out.
“Lobola was paid. I was aware that this day would come,” Themba confessed, adding that he tried to “create boundaries” by being honest with the mother of his children and expressing his feelings for his new on-screen wife, Nelisa.
Themba also revealed he was threatened with exposure if he continued with the show, but he decided not to quit.
“I made a choice and told her whatever she does, goes to the show and expose me, I will never lose this person [Nelisa],” he said.
What his reality TV wife revealed about their marriage
Themba’s on-screen wife, Nelisa Ntabeni, has become a fan favourite for her calm and honest approach to love.
She joined Married At First Sight Mzansi because she believed in marriage but wanted the experts to help her find a husband who was serious about commitment.
Nelisa explained that her decision was rooted in faith and preparation.
She prayed, fasted, and told herself to embrace patience and grace before walking down the aisle on TV.
“Saying yes to the experiment was me choosing hope, and reminding myself that love is still worth believing in,” Nelisa shared in an interview.
Despite the shocking revelation about Themba’s past, Nelisa has described her journey as one of growth and resilience.
She said she learned that being vulnerable was not a weakness, and that her honesty helped her through challenges in the marriage experiment.
Nelisa and Themba’s relationship has been described by many viewers as the fairytale of the season, even though questions about Themba’s first marriage have raised eyebrows. Nelisa has said she hopes her story shows others that love, though not perfect, is worth taking risks for.