Humanity has been restored for one woman who had given up on life. The lady, Makhosazana “MaShelembe” Shelembe had viewers of the Mnakwethu show crying. In the much talked about Mashelembe Mnakwethu interview, a pregnant Shelembe spoke about the emotional abuse she was enduring in her marriage.
Shelembe appeared on the controversial reality show hosted by KwaZulu-Natal polygamist Musa Mseleku on Tuesday night. The show tackles the issue of polygamy and gives married men a chance to overcome the fear of introducing the culture to their current wife/wives.
In the much-talked-about episode, which trended on social media, the viewers were introduced to Bheki Langa, from Nquthu in northern KwaZulu-Natal, who wanted Mseleku to assist him in asking his wife, MaShelembe, to accept his mistress Hlengiwe Sithole.
The episode left viewers angry and in tears after Langa revealed that he had already secretly paid lobola for his mistress without seeking permission from his wife first.
A heavily pregnant MaShelembe refused to let her husband take a second wife. Her voice a mere whisper, and tears rolling down her face, Shelembe’s voice cracked as she shared the emotional abuse she was enduring in her marriage. She also revealed that her husband does not support her financially and no longer spends time with her.
Her husband Bheki Langa dropped the bombshell – that his mistress was pregnant and that he already paid lobola for her – and informed her that she would have to accept the second wife.
South Africans took matters into their own hands and decided to bless Mashelembe. Less than 24 hours after the show aired, social media users, mostly women, managed to get Shelembe’s contact details and called her to offer words of solace and support.
Speaking , Ndelu, who has organized a drop and go baby shower in Durban for Shelembe said she was touched by her pain. The baby shower, a drive-through and gift drop, will take place at Durban’s Botanic Gardens on September 26.
She said she was overwhelmed by the number of people who have come on board to spoil Shelembe.
“We have décor from multiple companies, flowers, hair, makeup, clothes, nails and everything in between. I’ve been overwhelmed by the response, but the response has reinforced my belief that women love each other and they are generous.”
Accommodation for Shelembe, baby products, six months worth of diapers, a luxury stroller, baby clothing, and even an outfit for the mom-to-be for the baby shower have been sponsored.