Izingane Ze’sthembu’s Mpumelelo Mseleku stands by his polyamorous relationships
Mpumelelo Mseleku is not at all deterred by the public’s opinion on his polyamorous relationships. The 22-year-old, together with his siblings, have been casted on a spin-off reality TV show Izingane Ze’sthembu which is ranked 7th of the most viewed shows on DSTV.
The reality show follows the lives of five of popular polygamist Musa Mseleku’s children, with Mpumelelo getting the most attention.
“I have never considered what people will say or how they will react to my relationships when I joined the show. So I have never been afraid.
“I am showing my life as authentic as it is and I can confidently say that there is no faking there. What is important for me was to show that the journey to getting isithembu. That it all begins at a dating stage, having not been married so that you can get into a polygamous marriage,” he said.
Mpumelelo shares that as someone who was raised in a polygamous marriage, with his father having four wives, that led to him having an appreciation for women and that his decision was never once influenced by his father.
“It wasn’t a planned thing really. With growth, I realised that I have an appreciation for women and I want to follow this route.
“I am always baffled by the many comments that people have about isthembu even though they are not exposed to it like I am. You can’t even give advice about it when you don’t have it. All I know is that there is someone who is watching and benefiting from what they are seeing. I want to educate those who are interested in isthembu and show them how one starts.
“The aim has always been about educating people, how to manage two different personalities and the amount of humility that is needed in this journey” he said.
About his girlfriend, whom he is prepared to make them his wives, he said the two personalities have taught him a lot – especially humbleness because of how he says they are able to press his buttons easily.
“The journey has been a tough rollercoaster, I must admit. There have been moments of not seeing eye-to-eye, sometimes optimistically thinking things will come together and sometimes really seeing doom.
“It’s a journey of patience, with the task of continuously preaching your vision to the ladies and hope they will finally see it. I’ve always told my women what I want and that doesn’t change. That leaves the final decision with them if they see the vision, if they support it and if that can stand for it.
“It is very important to be in a relationship with someone who completely understands you, because although you are bound not to agree on something, the bigger vision is known and maintained,” he said.
The show has closely followed the five eldest’s lives, bouncing between Joburg and Durban.
The biggest lesson that his relationships have taught Mpumelelo is being truthful, being trustworthy and a lot of communication.
“I have learnt how to treat the next person, a lesson I have learnt through my women. I have learnt that as a man, the person you are in a relationship with needs to be treated with the utmost respect so that they in turn can respect you. And others outside of your relationship are able to respect the man that you are because of the women that love and respect you,” he said.
