Johannesburg – In a whirlwind romance that captivated Mzansi, media personality Minnie Dlamini and celebrity plastic surgeon Dr Brian Monaisa have called it quits, leaving fans reeling and sparking a fresh round of speculation about the true reasons behind their split.
The break-up, confirmed by Monaisa himself, comes just months after the pair publicly flaunted their affection on social media, leading to a rollercoaster of public adoration, controversy, and ultimately, heartbreak.
The romance between Dlamini, a beloved figure in South African media, and Monaisa, a prominent plastic surgeon, initially seemed like a fairytale. From lavish birthday celebrations to romantic getaways documented on Instagram, the couple appeared inseparable.
The pair's romance peaked during Monaisa's birthday celebrations in March when Dlamini pulled out all the stops with gifts, a fancy party, and another getaway – this time to Nigeria. Teasing playfully, she hinted at high expectations for her own birthday in July.
After the festivities, the former couple were all smiles at the 2025 Forbes Woman Africa Awards at the SunBet Arena in Pretoria, demonstrating a star couple in their prime.
However, trouble in paradise began brewing in late March when eagle-eyed fans noticed that both Dlamini and Monaisa had deleted photos of each other from their Instagram accounts and unfollowed one another. This social media cleanse immediately fuelled break-up rumours, which were later confirmed by Monaisa in a statement.
"Purely Personal Reasons": Monaisa Denies Infidelity Rumours
In a heartfelt post on X, Monaisa clarified the reason behind the pair’s separation, firmly denying allegations of cheating.
“Ms Dlamini and I had a beautiful relationship, which sadly came to an end purely for personal reasons that had nothing to do with infidelity,” he stated.
His words aimed to quash rumours that Dlamini had been unfaithful, a narrative that gained traction after a cryptic Instagram Story he shared while vacationing in Maputo. The message read: “I’m sorry, Brian, I’ll never cheat again,” prompting fans to speculate about Dlamini’s loyalty.
Monaisa released a statement saying they have called it quits.
“I note with deep dismay that a tabloid newspaper published a malicious article regarding the reasons my relationship with Ms Minenhle Dlamini ended. The article, as it acknowledges, is based on rumours and is far from the truth,” he said.
Brian said he doesn’t entertain rumours.
“It’s not in my nature to entertain rumours. However, this specific rumour is malicious and has the potential to taint Ms Dlamini’s reputation in circumstances where rumours are devoid of any truth. It is for this reason that I deem it necessary to set the record straight,” he said.
Brian reflected on how good their relationship was.
“Ms Dlamini and I had a beautiful relationship, which sadly came to an end purely for personal reasons which had nothing to do with infertility by either party."
He said they aren’t fighting either.
“While our romantic relationship has come to an end, there remains mutual respect between Ms Dlamini and I."
When contacted for a comment, Minnie hung up the phone upon realising it was Daily Sun.
"This is How She Stole My Man!": The Ghost of Relationships Past
The break-up has also dredged up past controversies surrounding the couple, particularly accusations from Monaisa's ex-partner, Neema Aloyce, who shares a son with the plastic surgeon.
In January, Minnie trended after Brian's ex-girlfriend Neema Aloyce accused Minnie of stealing her man.
“In Joburg, I had half the closet full of my things and always posted when I was there, and she knew this. She visited the house when I wasn't around, saw my things, knew I lived there, and wanted him to get done with me so she gets to officially take my place.”
Aloyce publicly accused Dlamini of “stealing” Monaisa, the father of her son. "I am saying Dlamini is coming after my family since she knows about me, and Brian made it very clear what we had, our family and our business," Aloyce had stated.
However, days later, Aloyce retracted her allegations, saying: “I also apologise to Dlamini. Even though she was part and parcel of my betrayal, I should have been able to control how I dealt with the situation.”
Despite the apology, the drama left a mark on Dlamini’s public image and continues to fuel speculation about the circumstances surrounding her relationship with Monaisa.
An unnamed source previously told Zimoja that their relationship began as a friendship and grew stronger once both were single.
Dlamini's romantic history includes her 2017 marriage to Quinton Jones, with whom she shares a child. That marriage ended in 2022, with a denial of infidelity rumours in a joint statement.
Silence from Minnie
Dlamini, who has remained silent on the break-up, faced similar scrutiny earlier in 2025 when Monaisa’s ex-partner, Neema Aloyce, accused her of “stealing” Monaisa, the father of her son.
Aloyce later apologised, saying: “I should have been able to control how I dealt with the situation.”
However, the drama left a mark on Dlamini’s public image.
The media personality, who filed for divorce from her estranged husband Quinton Jones in February 2022, posted images of the couple with the caption: “Roses are red. Our favourite colour is blue. Happy Valentine's Day. From me to you. Thank you for loving me and loving me loudly. Happy Valentine's Day, Motho Waka.”
The sudden end to their whirlwind romance has left many wondering what truly transpired behind closed doors. While Monaisa insists on "purely personal reasons" and denies infidelity, the lingering accusations from his ex-partner and the cryptic social media activity continue to fuel speculation.
As Minnie Dlamini remains silent, the public is left to piece together the fragments of a love story that ultimately crumbled under the weight of rumour, controversy, and perhaps, a touch of plastic surgery.
