It’s a new week and a new episode of Mzansi Magic’s draw-dropping show reality show Mnakwethu.
Episode 5 introduces us to Nkanyiso Makhoba. Nkanysio hopes that Musa Mseleku’s presence will help persuade his wife, Noncebo, to agree to him taking a second wife. However, for this to happen, it seems like an annulment of their civil marriage will have to occur first.
Nkanyiso (33) has had his eye on 20-year-old Lethiwe Ndaba for a year and a half now. Nkanyiso is determined to take Lethiwe as his second wife as he believes the young lady is fit to take on the role.
Like the many men who have appeared on Mnakwethu, Nkanyiso grew up in a polygamous family. He shares that the big and well-respected home that his grandfather built with his four wives is his inspiration for wanting to pursue a polygamous marriage.
“My grandfather had great marriages because all his wives respected each other,” Nkanyiso explains. “They got along well, it was as if they were sisters.”
Now married to Noncebo, it seems like Nkanyiso wants to walk the same marriage path as his grandfather.
Introducing Lethiwe
Nkanyiso introduces Lethiwe Ndaba to Mseleku, and at first glance, Mseleku expresses doubt about this relationship because of MaNdaba’s age.
Mseleku acknowledges that Lethiwe is young and that her age could pose a problem for the union. However, he also gives her the benefit of the doubt and mentions that Lethiwe might thrive in marriage if she is guided on how to carry herself as a young wife.
According to Lethiwe, she and Nkanyiso are in love. He is everything that Lethiwe wants in a man and she does not doubt that she wants to marry him.
Lethiwe says that it does worry her that Nkanyiso has a first wife but insists that she will continue dating Makhoba.
“He told me after we had been dating for a while that he has a wife and kids. I said I didn’t have a problem with that because I love him,” says Lethiwe.
If Noncebo doesn’t allow Nkanyiso to take Lethiwe as a second wife, Lethiwe says she is pretty sure they’re going to keep dating regardless of the marriage. Wow!
A heartbroken Noncebo
In the beginning, Nkanyiso seems very impressed with himself for successfully keeping his relationship a secret from Noncebo. Nkanyiso says that he hinted at taking a second wife to Noncebo a while back.
“She could tell that there was someone in the picture even though she didn’t have proof of her existence,” says Nkanyiso. Seems a lot like gaslighting to us!
Noncebo spends most of her meeting with Mseleku and Nkanyiso with downcast eyes, and finally shows disappointment when her husband tells her that he would like to take a second wife.
“But I told you that I don’t want a sister-wife because having a sister-wife would mean I would have to talk all the time and I don’t like to talk,” Noncebo replies.
Nkanyiso quickly puts her doubts aside and reassures her that Lethiwe is humble and wouldn’t give her any reason to talk. After some reassurance, Noncebo accepts the situation and even when Lethiwe is brought out to speak to her, Noncebo says that as long as Lethiwe keeps her promises to treat Noncebo with respect, everything should be fine.
One marriage has to end for another to begin
After Noncebo accepts Lethiwe as a sister-wife, Mseleku asks for clarity about the type of union Nkanyiso and Noncebo are joined under. The couple explains that they had both a white and traditional wedding. This worries Mseleku.
“He has a problem that I don’t think he’s aware of. He is in a civil marriage, which prohibits you from having more than one wife,” says Mseleku.
Mseleku explains this predicament to the three of them, and after the realisation, both Nkanyiso and Noncebo agree to dismantle their marriage so that Lethiwe can come onboard. Really? That’s your final decision?
We can’t help but feel that Noncebo does not quite understand what needs to happen to her marriage for her husband to marry another woman. By the end of the episode, Noncebo admits that she is extremely heartbroken and just wants to break down. On the other hand, Nkanyiso is quite happy about getting what he wanted.
Watch Mnakwethu S2 now streaming on DStv online. All episodes are available to watch until 26 October 2021.
