Durban: The marriage of Zandie Khumalo, sister to singer Kelly Khumalo, is reportedly on the rocks after news surfaced that her husband, businessman Mhlonishwa "Mhlo" Gumede, is taking a second wife.
Zandie and Mhlo tied the knot in a traditional ceremony in October 2016, after dating for a year. The couple welcomed their first child, Zenala, in 2021.
Zandie has repeatedly spoken publicly about her love and admiration for her husband, describing him as a supportive and loving partner.
Speaking to Drum magazine at the time, Zandie said she was a “happy woman”.
“Married life is great. He’s a loving guy, supportive and appreciative. I’m a happy woman. He’s hilarious and I get his jokes. I wouldn’t have married him if it wasn’t for that,” she told the publication.
Just a year ago, Zandie took to Instagram to gush over her husband, sharing a picture of her engagement ring and thanking him for his commitment to their marriage. She even joked about choosing a sister-wife for him.
However, the seemingly happy marriage has been thrown into turmoil with the news of Mhlo's impending second marriage.
A close friend of the couple alleged that the new wife-to-be is Nonjabulo Mdluli, the niece and publicist of the late Zanele Mbokazi-Nkambule.
The friend claimed that the families have already met and a welcoming ceremony took place just days before Zanele's passing.
Nonjabulo, who worked closely with Zanele, is said to be struggling to cope with her death. The source added that Mhlo has been supportive of her during this difficult time.
However, when contacted by ZiMoja, Mhlo denied taking a second wife.
"I don't mess around when it comes to my family. My wife would never agree to a second wife. It's a lie; none of it is true, and I am okay with people writing gossip; I just wish people would respect me and my family," he said.
Zandie and Nonjabulo could not be reached for comment.
While Zandie did not publicly disclose the exact challenges that her husband helped her overcome, some believe these issues stem from the ongoing murder trial of Senzo Meyiwa, Kelly Khumalo's former boyfriend and the father of her daughter.
During the trial, which began in September 2022, shocking allegations emerged about a sexual relationship between Senzo Meyiwa and Zandie Khumalo, behind Kelly's back. Tshepo Thobane, the attorney representing four of the five accused, stated that he would call a witness to testify about the alleged affair.
