Johannesburg – Idols South Africa season 12 winner Noma Khumalo recently shared the joyous news of her engagement to long-term partner Ntando Mkhulise, a moment intended for celebration that quickly turned sour amidst accusations and threats of legal action.
The singer, who has maintained a relatively low profile while continuing her musical career and teaching, announced her engagement on social media with a simple yet powerful image: a close-up of her hand showcasing a sparkling engagement ring, accompanied by the caption: “I said yes”.
The seemingly straightforward announcement, however, was immediately met with a wave of speculation and accusations, primarily originating from a social media user identified as Luyanda Zulu. Zulu publicly claimed that Khumalo had “stolen” her partner, Ntando Mkhulise, igniting a firestorm of rumours and negative commentary directed at the Idols winner. The accusations quickly escalated, forcing Khumalo and Mkhulise to issue a formal statement to address the situation and protect their relationship.
In a carefully worded statement released to the media, Khumalo directly refuted Zulu’s claims, providing a detailed timeline to clarify the nature of her relationship with Mkhulise. The statement read: “Her claim that I 'stole' her partner is not true. Our relationship began three years after her fling relationship with my partner had ended.”
This statement aimed to dispel the rumours and provide clarity regarding the timeline of events, thereby countering the accusations of infidelity and relationship interference.
The statement further outlined the couple's intention to pursue legal avenues to protect themselves from further harassment and malicious accusations. Khumalo and Mkhulise made it clear that they would not tolerate the ongoing attacks and would actively seek redress through the legal system.
“We will not tolerate this malicious behaviour. We are exploring legal options, including seeking a restraining order to protect ourselves from further harassment and to prevent contact and protect our safety and wellbeing both social and physical. We will not further be responding to these baseless accusations and will focus on protecting our relationship and moving forward with our lives.”
This strong stance indicates their determination to address the situation decisively and to safeguard their privacy and well-being.
The incident highlights the challenges faced by public figures navigating the complexities of social media and the potential for personal information to be misrepresented or manipulated. Khumalo’s decision to address the situation publicly, while simultaneously threatening legal action, demonstrates a proactive approach to managing the fallout from the accusations. The threat of legal action, including a restraining order, signals a clear intention to protect their relationship from further unwarranted intrusion and harassment.
