Reality Star Reverend Allegedly Abused by Wife, Family Appeals for Help
Johannesburg – The family of reality star Reverend Mawuzole Mlombi has made a desperate plea for assistance, alleging that he is the victim of ongoing physical abuse at the hands of his wife, Nandipha Mlombi. The allegations come amid growing public concern over the couple's portrayal on their reality show, "Queen Nandi and the Rev".
According to Mawuzole's aunt, Mantombi Slange, the family has witnessed a pattern of physical attacks, leaving the Reverend with bruises, bite marks, and scratches across his body. She recounted a particularly disturbing incident that occurred in the Eastern Cape, stating, "Mawuzole had come to be with the family, and suddenly Nandipha arrived demanding money from him. She picked up an empty beer bottle and threw it at him, aiming for his head, but luckily she missed."
The incident, Slange said, revealed the extent of the alleged abuse. "That's when Mawuzole opened up to the family. He told us he was being physically abused. He said Nandipha constantly insulted him and, at times, even chased him out of the house. At some point he was living in a shack after being forced out of the house. He said he hadn’t told us earlier because he was too embarrassed and didn’t want to burden us. That incident shocked us and made us fear for his life."
The family claims the abuse continued even after Mawuzole returned to Johannesburg. "He was worried about his children, and I think she convinced him to come back. But it didn’t last long, he told us things were even worse than before. Nandipha was still physically attacking him. Our main concern is his wellbeing and that of the children," Mantombi explained.
Adding to the family's concerns, Slange revealed that attempts by social workers to intervene were allegedly met with threats of violence. "At one point, two social workers were called to the house, but Nandipha wouldn’t let them in. She grabbed a kitchen knife and charged at them while boiling water, threatening to attack them if they entered. I had to calm the situation. But the social workers had no choice but to leave without doing their job."
Mawuzole Mlombi is said to have sustained an eye injury following one alleged attack. His cousin, Akhona Slange, corroborated Mantombi's account and shared photographs purportedly showing Mawuzole's injuries. "What he’s going through is extremely painful. We stay in touch, and he keeps me updated. He’s essentially become Nandipha’s punching bag, but at least he’s documenting everything. He recently sent pictures showing bruised eyes and bite marks on his arm. Sadly, these attacks often happen in front of their children," Akhona said.
The family further alleges that Nandipha resorts to biting Mawuzole whenever she becomes angry.
The allegations of abuse come as viewers of "Queen Nandi and the Rev" have voiced growing unease with the show's content, citing concerns over the depiction of emotional and physical abuse. There have even been calls from members of the public for the show's cancellation.
Social worker Queen Chauke weighed in on the allegations, highlighting the stigma surrounding male victims of domestic abuse. "This is assault, and the victim should report it to the police. Unfortunately, there is still a lot of stigma around abuse against men by their wives or partners. So these incidents often go unreported. Men who are abused frequently fall into depression, and in severe cases, they may become suicidal. Statistics show that men are more likely to die by suicide. Because they don’t open up, and when they do, they’re often ridiculed."
Chauke suggested that therapy could help address the underlying issues. "If all else fails, separation may be necessary. Co-parenting arrangements may be handled through family court," she added.
When previously approached for comment regarding concerns about the show's content, Shirley Adonisi, M-Net’s director of local entertainment, stated: “Gender-based violence remains a serious issue in South Africa. And we were mindful of the sensitivities involved. The family is receiving professional support, safeguarding protocols were followed. And we remain committed to responsible storytelling.”
Adonisi was unavailable for further comment at this time.
Attempts to reach Nandipha for comment were also unsuccessful. Her comment will be included in this story once she has responded. Mawuzole redirected all queries to Mzansi Magic, which had not responded by the time of publishing.
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