The other side to Izingane ZeS’thembu’s Vuyokazi Nciweni

The other side to Izingane ZeS’thembu’s Vuyokazi Nciweni

When Izingane ZeS’thembu debuted on Mzansi Magic, a few weeks ago, the show’s shock factor was definitely on Mpumelelo Mseleku’s two girls – if Twitter is anything to go by. 

If you missed it, here’s a little run down. The show is a spin-off from Uthando neS’thembu, which showcases Musa Mseleku’s polygamous marriages to four wives and his many children. Izingane ZeS’thembu, which means children born from a polygamous marriage when directly translated, follows those children’s lives. Mpumelelo being one of them. 

His two girlfriends Vuyokazi Nciweni and Tirelo Kale have slowly become the show’s hot topic and while many have much to say, the pair have their own stories to tell. 

Like in Vuyokazi’s case. Born and raised in Cape Town, the 25-year-old student is pretty shy. So much so that right through our interview, she would evidently sum up all her strength to make sure she answers every question to the best of her ability. With the statement, “I hope I answered you correctly” being her cute, favourite line. 

But behind her reserved natured lady is a determined, caring and beautiful soul that takes getting-to-knowing-her to experience it. The other side of Vuyokazi that is sure to win the hearts of many. 

The introverted young lady shares that the process of getting used to shooting the show was a lot, with tears making an appearance from time to time. 

“When the show idea was presented to me, I thought Mpumelelo was joking. I pushed it aside and just continued as normal. But as time went by, with all the calls that would happen, I realised that it was serious and that scared me. Simply because this has never been my life nor have I ever considered it. It took a lot of talking to myself and guts to get through it because of how private and shy I am,” she said. 

Vuyo, as she is known to many, hails from one of Cape Town’s townships and as someone who led a very simple lifestyle, bringing her life onto the small screens not only shocked her own family but her neighbours too.

“LOL, I’ve been shocking my community. From when I fell pregnant, they were extremely shocked because I was always indoors. Now seeing me on TV is like experiencing two different versions of myself. The reality show has really overturned my entire life, for the better, although there is a lot that I still need to get used to. Like the attention,” she said.

At home, she is a normal young adult. Living with her parents and younger brother, pursuing her studies and taking life one day at a time.

“I won’t lie to you and over inflate my life. I lead a very simple life, and I feel like the reality TV show has really toppled me over,” she said. 

Her entire life, now put on television, means opening her usually closed-off self to public commentary. Mean and all. The young mother has suffered insulting comments from body-shaming to some viewers weighing in on her age versus that of Mpumelelo.

“But the thing that people don’t understand is that one doesn’t choose who they love, nor do you choose how your body reacts to pregnancy. People don’t fully know who I am and yet you’ll find really hurtful things being said about me. 

“I try to ignore those because, well, what else can I do?!”

The happily-in-love youngster has big plans for her life. Including pursuing a career within her chosen field of studies, Corrections Management – specializing in being a juvenile social worker. 

“I desperately wish to help the youth of South Africa redress their lives from that of drugs and of crime. I want to create programmes for them so that when they come out of being incarcerated, they have options in life. I really care about seeing the youth of South Africa do better,” she said.

About the show, she said: “Now that I am on it, I really am grateful for the opportunity and I hope for good things to come out of it. This has proven to me that I am extremely brave and that I can do and be anything that I put my mind on. This is just the beginning of great things, I believe, and I hope viewers would go a little easier on us. We are human too,” she said.

Vuyokazi has many layers to her story that is only beginning.