MaKhumalo, The Real Housewives of Durban, on being real on camera

Our favourite housewives from Durbs are back, with three new ladies joining the fray! Londie London, Jojo Robinson and Thobile MaKhumalo Mseleku have added a whole new dynamic to the show. But while we’re expecting more drama than usual, for newcomer Makhumalo, The Real Housewives of Durban Season 2 is an opportunity to show Mzansi the real Thobile.

“Everything is real about me. If you want drama at my expense, you won’t get it,” she said. “I just believe in being genuine. I’ve never wanted to conform, I never wanted to be someone that I’m not.”

MaKhumalo Mseleku (age 32), is no stranger to reality TV. She was first introduced to Mzansi on the hit show Uthando Nes’thembu, where she stars alongside her polygamous husband, Musa Mseleku, and his three other wives. Musa and MaKhumalo Mseleku’s wedding was a contentious issue in October 2021, when viewers of Uthando Nes’thembu saw MaCele interrupting Musa at dinner as he discussed the plans for his wedding to MaKhumalo Mseleku. MaCele wanted him to attend to her needs before he planned his third wedding. This put Musa and MaKhumalo’s wedding on hold for the time being.

With MaKhumalo’s experience, she knows a thing or two about being real in front of the cameras. “Reality has a tendency of catching up with you. If you think you’re gonna lie for the benefit of gaining viewers and gaining people who love you, trust me, viewers are not stupid,” she said.

With her experience, she knows a thing or two about being real in front of the cameras. “Reality has a tendency of catching up with you. If you think you’re gonna lie for the benefit of gaining viewers and gaining people who love you, trust me, viewers are not stupid,” she said.

Thobile MaKhumalo Mseleku made the decision to join The Real Housewives of Durban because she wanted to bring out her individuality more. “Many people know me from Uthando Nesthembu, and they haven’t had the opportunity to know and understand Thobile as an individual,” she said. “Wherever I go, I’m always associated with the family I’m married into, which is not a bad thing and is not something I have a problem with. However, I do have a life outside of the whole family.”

Frequently Asked Questions

Is MaKhumalo still married to Musa Mseleku?

MaKhumalo is the third wife of South African businessman and reality TV star Musa Mseleku. When considering joining The Real Housewives of Durban, MaKhumalo said she discussed the matter in depth with her husband. 

“My husband is someone who is very supportive, especially when it comes to anything that will make you grow in all aspects of your life,” she said. “He obviously has his concerns about some things. We are a polygamous family, and there are certain values and cultural things that could be compromised if you go into a show like this. We did discuss everything and agreed on certain things, but other than that, he was in full support.”

In the fourth episode of The Real Housewives of Durban Season 2, viewers saw MaKhumalo hosting a black-tie event for all the ladies, which quickly went south when Musa and MaKhumalo discussed polygamy. Londie said, after Musa suggested that some of the other ladies’ husbands might want to follow in his footsteps, “Some of us are not in a polygamous marriage, so our blood pressures are raised and we are sweating because he is trying to encourage our men to be polygamists.”

What does MaKhumalo Mseleku do for a living?

In addition to her appearances on Uthando Nes’thembu, she’s a radio personality on Vuma FM, an in-demand motivational speaker, and a businesswoman.

Is Mpilo MaKhumalo’s daughter?

MaKhumalo does not have a biological child of her own but looks after Mpilonhle (Mpilo), her teenage stepdaughter. They are very close and often seen together on social media. 

Why can’t MaKhumalo Mseleku have children?

Despite plenty of news coverage about her struggles with infertility and rumours swirling on social media in the wake of her appearances on Uthando Nes’thembu, we’re not sure why MaKhumalo Mseleku can’t have kids. What we do know is that it’s her greatest dream to have children of her own.

As for joining the The Real Housewives of Durban Season 2 cast, MaKhumalo said: “I’m still getting to know them. I’m getting to understand different versions of them that you won’t normally see when everyone is together. They’re also getting to know me, and naturally when getting to know people, you relate differently with each individual. I also think that the more they get to understand me and not the person on Uthando Nesthembu, the better.”

Catch MaKhumalo on the new season of The Real Housewives of Durban on Showmax, with new episodes every Friday.