Minnie Dlamini breaks silence amidst a nasty break-up storm with a friend's man: I will still be Minnie long after my divorce!

Johannesburg – Media personality and broadcaster Minnie Dlamini has spoken out, addressing the severe criticism she has faced on social media in recent weeks. This comes amidst the fallout from her recent split with celebrity plastic surgeon Dr Brian Monaisa, a whirlwind romance that captivated Mzansi before abruptly ending, leaving fans reeling and sparking a fresh round of speculation.

The 34-year-old Minnie, who first stole Mzansi’s heart as the fresh-faced presenter on Live Amp in 2010, has built a formidable career that spans TV presenting, acting, and business. Hailing from Durban in KZN, Minnie quickly became one of Mzansi's most recognisable faces, establishing herself as a respected sports presenter on SABC1's sports show, Soccer Zone, and during major sporting events.

However, in recent weeks, Minnie has been trending for all the wrong reasons. Trolls have come at her hard, with some dragging her personal life, especially her high-profile divorce from Quinton Jones in 2022, into the spotlight.

Clapping back with grace and fire, Minnie took to Instagram with a powerful message that reminded everyone exactly who she was. “My career has never been, and will never be, defined by my relationship status. I was Minnie before marriage, and I will be Minnie long after my divorce,” wrote Minnie.

The post struck a chord, receiving an outpouring of support from her industry peers and loyal fans who rallied behind the star. Radio personality Dineo Ranaka commented: “Let it be known that your existence is substance.” Babalwa Madlomo Keke wrote: “God has your back, and He will prepare a table for you in front of your enemies. Let your light shine even brighter, you're a diamond.” Former Real Housewives of Durban star Kgomotso Ndungane also weighed in, saying: “You’ve always had your own identity before any relationship. You are definitely not defined by any title.” Other fans echoed the same sentiment, slamming the online hate and praising Minnie’s strength and resilience. Follower Zanele Mkize wrote: “We stand with you honey, and we will forever fight for you. No bullies formed against you shall prosper.”

Despite the noise, Minnie remains unfazed, showing the same boldness and grace that made her a household name. Daily Sun contacted Minnie for additional comments, but she had not replied by the time of publication.

The break-up with Dr Monaisa, 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 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.

Dlamini made their relationship Instagram official on Valentine's Day, posting 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.” On Valentine's Day, Minnie even revealed that Dr Monaisa had gifted her a car. 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.

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."

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. “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. I live in Tanzania, and we have an arrangement of seeing each other every three or four weeks, where one of us would go to the other side,” said Neema. “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.

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