The streets of Durban are buzzing with whispers, and social media is ablaze with scandal. In May 2025, Samkelo Shezi, the 23-year-old son of music mogul DJ Tira, sent Mzansi into a frenzy when he paid lobola for his influencer girlfriend, Mbali Dlamini, 28. Six cows, two sheep, and a viral ceremony later, their love seemed unshakeable.
But now, a bombshell has dropped: MaWhoo’s younger sister, Amahle Ngema, is pregnant, and rumors are swirling that Samkelo is the father. Photos of Mbali crying hysterically at a recent event have only poured fuel on the fire, with fans speculating she’s heartbroken over a betrayal. What’s the truth behind this tangled web?
The saga began on May 17, 2025, when Samkelo, a rising TikTok star, shared photos of his lobola ceremony for Mbali in Umthwalume, KZN. The images, posted on Instagram, showed the couple beaming amidst elders, with Mbali radiant in traditional attire. “I’m broke now, angina mali,” Samkelo joked in a video, admitting the lobola—six cows and two sheep—drained his pockets.
Fans were divided. “Halala MaDlamini ka Shezi!” cheered @Zayen30, while @Thomas216848426 sniped, “That girlfriend looks ugly for a superstar’s son.” Others, like @DM_KeeyRSA, questioned if it was just content creation: “They really dating?” The post racked up 200,000 views, cementing their status as Mzansi’s new it-couple.
Fast forward to September 2025, and the narrative shifted. Amahle Ngema, sister to amapiano sensation MaWhoo (Thandeka Ngema), announced her pregnancy on Instagram with a glowing bump photo captioned, “A new chapter begins.” The post, liked 50,000 times, drew congratulations—but also speculation.
Amahle, 22, a budding model and MaWhoo’s former assistant, has been linked to Samkelo before. A January 2025 feud with singer Naledi Aphiwe, where Amahle accused Naledi of “sacrificing her mother for fame,” put her in the spotlight, per Daily Sun. Now, X users like @KZNTea whispered: “Is that Samkelo’s baby? Timing’s too close.”
The rumors gained traction when photos surfaced on September 15, 2025, showing Mbali Dlamini sobbing at a Durban fashion event. Captured by @GossipMzansi, the images—Mbali clutching tissues, her makeup streaked—went viral, hitting 300,000 views. “Mbali’s heartbroken,” posted @ZuluHeart, linking it to Amahle’s pregnancy. “Samkelo moved fast from lobola to this?”
Others, like @MzansiShade, speculated: “Did he cheat with MaWhoo’s sister?” The photos, paired with Amahle’s announcement, painted a picture of betrayal, though no proof tied Samkelo to Amahle romantically. Mbali’s silence only deepened the mystery.
Samkelo, known for his flashy TikTok persona and DJ Tira’s legacy, stayed mum on the rumors. His last post, a September 10 clip vibing to MaWhoo’s Umshado, ironically fueled speculation. “He’s too close to that family,” tweeted @JoziGossip.
MaWhoo, 30, a KwaZulu-Natal native who rose to fame with her 2019 hit, has stayed out of the drama, focusing on her music and modeling for brands like Tribe Afrique (Wikipedia). But her sister’s pregnancy has dragged her into the fray, with fans questioning if she’s mediating or ignoring the chaos.
Mbali, a rising influencer with a skincare brand, hasn’t addressed the tears or rumors directly. Her last Instagram story, posted September 16, showed her at a Durban beach, captioned, “Healing in my own time.” Fans read it as a cryptic nod to heartbreak. “She’s strong, but this hurts,” wrote @Nombulelo_Buly, referencing Mbali’s grace during the lobola buzz.
The couple’s love story, once celebrated for its authenticity—Samkelo’s tender glances, their shared meals on TikTok—now feels fragile. A July 2025 SISTA Magazine feature called them “raw, sweet, grounded,” but Mbali’s tears suggest cracks in that narrative.
The speculation isn’t baseless. Samkelo and Amahle were spotted together at a 2024 Durban July afterparty, laughing closely, per Briefly.co.za. Though MaWhoo fired Amahle as her manager in December 2024 after a fallout (Briefly.co.za), their social circles overlap—both tied to KZN’s music scene. “Samkelo’s always at MaWhoo’s gigs,” noted @KZNInsider.
But no concrete evidence, like messages or photos, confirms an affair. The pregnancy’s father remains unnamed, with Amahle dodging questions in her Instagram comments. “Mind your business,” she replied to one probe, per @GossipMzansi.
Mzansi’s reactions are split. “Mbali deserves better if Samkelo did this,” posted @Pinkdoll_love, echoing support for MaKhumalo’s own rumored split from Musa Mseleku over disrespect (Drum). Others, like @FaithfulFanSA, urge caution: “No proof he’s the dad.
Stop jumping to conclusions.” The tragedy of Olebogeng Mosime’s pit bull attack in Bloemfontein, trending alongside this drama, puts the gossip in perspective—real loss overshadows rumors. Yet, the saga grips South Africa, with 70% of X users in a @SARealityCheck poll believing Mbali’s tears stem from Samkelo’s actions.
As Durban’s gossip mills churn, questions linger. Is Amahle’s baby Samkelo’s? Did Mbali’s tears signal betrayal, or was it unrelated pain? Samkelo’s silence, Mbali’s cryptic posts, and Amahle’s defiance leave Mzansi guessing. The lobola, once a symbol of love, now hangs like a question mark. Will Mbali stay, or is her heart too broken to mend? Only time—and perhaps the next viral post—will tell.
