Wednesday night’s episode of “Uthando Nes’thembu” was full of drama and twists that left viewers wanting more.
“Uthando Nes’thembu” is a reality show that has always been filled with drama, with Musa Mseleku giving viewers a candid look into his life as a polygamist with 10 children and now five wives.
However, season eight took the drama to a whole new level, especially because it came with the introduction of Musa Mseleku’s fifth wife, Samke Makhwela.
The episode centred on an ancestral ceremony that Mseleku hosted to give thanks after suffering two strokes in a short period. However, the reason behind the ceremony had a twist, and some of the wives, except for the first wife, MaCele, were not forthcoming about it.
During the ceremony, Mseleku announced that before everyone indulged in the food, he would like for the Duma family, who were in attendance, to go outside for the introduction of “uNumber 5” (fifth wife).
One of the Duma family members suggested that the new wife be introduced in the same house they were all in, instead of outside as Mseleku had planned.
The sudden change did not sit well with the wives, who felt disrespected and disregarded by the family member’s suggestion.
MaYeni, MaKhumalo, and MaNgwabe are among the wives who were not supportive of the idea of Musa introducing the fifth wife during the ancestral ceremony.
The wives have always been vocal about not wanting to meet the new wife, and Mseleku’s announcement felt like a betrayal.
The tension was visible when wives took a stand and refused for the new wife to be introduced in front of them. This episode seemed to have had viewers on the edge of their seats, and the social media reactions tell it all.
The reality show, which now airs Wednesdays and Thursdays on Mzansi Magic, has viewers asking for more and even wishing they lived in Mzumbe with the family just to see the drama live in action.
“My thing is, watching #Uthandonesthembu on TV is not enough. I want to be Mseleku’s neighbour in Mzumbe 😩,” said @GiftSmith_ZA.
My thing is, watching #Uthandonesthembu on tv is not enough. I want to be Mseleku’s neighbour eMzumbe😩
X user @Ntokozo1711 commented: “Thank you MaKhumalo for standing up first and opening up the space for the ladies. 👏🏽Thank you, MaNgwabe, for speaking up and thank you, MaYeni, for destroying him. Thank you for having no filter!! MaCele, I have no words … the other wives' emotions don’t matter to U 🤙🏽”
Thank you MaKhumalo for standing up first and opening up the space for the ladies👏🏽 Thank you MaNgwabe for speaking up.
— Ntokozo Dlamini (@Ntokozo1711) March 12, 2025
Thank you MaYeni for destroying him, Thank you for having no filter!!
MaCele I have no words…the other wives emotions don’t matter to U🤙🏾#UthandoNesithembu
And @SyntaxSavvyy commended MaKhumalo for being the first to speak up: “I’m still not over how MaKhumalo was the first to speak up and gave every other wife the courage to do the same. She set the tone, and they all followed; give that woman her flowers! 👏🏽”
I’m still not over how MaKhumalo was the first to speak up and gave every other wife the courage to do the same. She set the tone, and they all followed; give that woman her flowers!🙌🏼#Uthandonesthembu
— O•Lebo❄ (@SyntaxSavvyy) March 12, 2025
While @hlengiwedongo was not a fan of Mseleku’s move: “This man thinks he’s so slick. He’s telling all the wives about the introduction of number 5 in front of people because he knows they can’t act out.”
I’m still not over how MaKhumalo was the first to speak up and gave every other wife the courage to do the same. She set the tone, and they all followed; give that woman her flowers!🙌🏼#Uthandonesthembu
With each episode, the stakes get higher, the tension builds, and viewers are hooked to the drama.
- Watch "Uthando Nes’thembu" on Wednesdays and Thursdays on Mzansi Magic (Dstv channel 161) at 8pm.