- On Monday Khanyi Mbau announced that she and her businessman boyfriend Kudzai Mushonga have made up after a short-lived breakup.
- This comes less than a month after Mbau announced on 3 February that she had ended her long-time relationship with Mushonga.
- The couple, who had been together for five years, have marked several, public ups and downs.
Reality TV star and actor Khanyi Mbau announced via Instagram on Monday that she and Kudzai Mushonga are back together again.
Earlier this month, Mbau sent shockwaves across social media when she announced their split.
The pair who dated for five years and became one of the most popular couples in SA during that time, have now buried the hatchet, yet again.
“Don’t ask!! he didn’t entertain my rubbish. We are adults!!! (listen don’t judge). Besides where would I go with a thigh laminated in bold with his name,” she wrote.
Here’s a look back at the couple’s tumultuous dating life following these developments:
The beginning: January 2021
January 2021 marked the beginning of what would be a rollercoaster relationship for Mbau and Mushonga.
After having been single for a while following her public split from Kwela Tebza musician Tebogo Lerole, South Africans caught glimpses of Mbau’s new man when she started posting the then mystery man on Instagram.
The man was later revealed as Terrence Kudzai Mushonga, a Zimbabwean-born controversial millionaire.
Extravagant love and controversy: February 2021
The couple made their relationship public in February.
Soon after that, the TV personality started posting her bae, showing off her expensive Valentine’s Day gifts, which included a hotel room filled with 1 250 individually staged red roses and Louis Vuitton bags.
That same month Zimbabwe Republic Police Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi told City Press that Mushonga had been on the run for almost five years.
“Please be advised that our criminal investigation department has advised us that Mushonga is a wanted person in connection with a report of fraud made by Margaret Chipunza of African Century Limited in 2016,” Nyathi said in a statement.
According to a report in The Herald, a state-owned newspaper in Zimbabwe, Mushonga and three accomplices defrauded the microlender of $166 000 (R3.1 million).
Love tattoo: March 2021
Despite the controversy surrounding Mushonga, Mbau continued to stand by her man and even went as a far as getting a tattoo of his name on her thigh.
“When you showed me before bedtime, I was in shock. Love you always. No going back. We will never end,” Mushonga wrote on his Instagram account, which has since been deactivated.
Mbau “flees” Dubai: August 2021
A couple of months went by as the pair served “couple goals”. They continued to share loved-up snaps right until Mushonga set the country in a panic when he claimed that he was unable to locate Mbau in Dubai after dropping her off at a salon.
The actor was on the trends list, with some genuinely worried about her whereabouts.
However, Mbau later in an Instagram post, revealed that she was in Johannesburg, posting a photo of herself at her father’s grave, dispelling allegations that she went missing.
Mbau cleared the air with News24, saying she was “home safe and sound” after her partner expressed concern on Instagram.
“I am home safe and sound. I am so sorry to have worried and stressed the country, my fans, friends, relatives and family. Thank you for all your prayers, support, search parties, and all my friends who pulled major strings to locate me.”
After her whereabouts were confirmed, Mushonga, in a 24-minute Instagram Live broadcast, said: “I don’t know if this is the part where we’re breaking up, or there was something urgent that I didn’t have to know.”
“We didn’t fight; we didn’t argue the same day that she left,” he said about the events that transpired in the lead-up to her departure from Dubai.
He went on to say that he still loved Khanyi.
“You hurt me,” he said to Khanyi. “I never lied to that woman. I told the truth. And Khanyi is the first lady that I never cheated on. In my whole life – I’ve been a bad guy, guys,” he said.
Mushonga later apologised to Khanyi for sharing their personal life on Instagram. “I was hurting. I honestly didn’t know how to deal with my emotions, baby. I love you.”
He added: “I’m not ashamed to stand on top of the world and admit I love you… I love you, and I’m sorry.”
Water under the bridge… or so it seemed: September 2021
The Young, Famous & African star reunited with Mushonga in Dubai after a few weeks in South Africa.
Mushonga later shared on his Instagram stories and videos how he showered Mbau with gifts from Cartier. The couple was later seen sharing a kiss while cosying up in the backseat of a Mercedes-Maybach.
The social media debacle even earned Mbau a ‘Drama Queen of the Year‘ nomination at the 2021 Feather Awards.
Creating a life in Dubai: October 2021 – 2022
For a while after the eventful start to their relationship, the couple seemed to have finally found their rhythm. They relocated to Dubai, with hope of building an empire together.
While the true nature of their love can only be confirmed by the pair, the years 2022 to 2023 were lived away from the spotlight, with Mbau occasionally offering a glimpse into her relationship when she was doing interviews for new projects.
After her debut on Young, Famous & African in 2022, the actor spoke of being in a loving relationship with Mushonga despite their seven-year age gap.
Trouble in paradise? 2023/2024
In the last episode of season three of the reality show, Mbau confirmed cracks in her relationship with Mushonga.
In a scene where she engaged with Naked DJ and offered advice about his relationship, the Metro FM DJ questions Mbau “silence” and why she was portraying a happy relationship with Mushonga on social media.
Mbau revealed she had burnout but did not offer any information of the current state of her relationship.
The end of the road: 3 February 2025
After nearly 5 years, Mbau announced that she had broken up with her boyfriend and said it had been a long time coming.
“He was a good guy, but he did some bad things; he tried everything he could to make it up to me. I did most of my grieving while we were together. I finally got the courage to leave. And, of course, I wish him the best,” she wrote.
“Give everything time. I am grateful for the experience,” she captioned the post that she has since deleted.
The beginning of another chapter? 17 February 2025
While many were sure the pair were done, and others were processing the breakup, Mbau announced that they’ve kissed and made up.
“He called, demanded I address the bad things he did, she wrote, saying she was headed ‘home’.
