Somizi Mhlongo appears to be officially closing the chapter on his highly publicised and controversial marriage to his former husband, Mohale Motaung. The flamboyant media personality, known for his bold personality and unapologetic humour, recently sparked conversation online after sharing a satirical yet culturally symbolic video during his solo trip to Paris, France.
On 1 January 2026, Somizi took to social media to post a video filmed at the iconic Pont des Arts, famously known as the Love Lock Bridge. While the location is often associated with romance and everlasting love, Somizi used it as the backdrop for what he jokingly described as a cleansing ritual for his “dead” marriage. Armed with a tree branch, the former *Idols SA* judge theatrically marched across the bridge, announcing that he had come to “fetch” the spirit of his marriage and escort it to its final resting place.
In the video, Somizi humorously addressed the marriage as if it were a departed soul, saying: “We’ve arrived at your home to come fetch you. Come and let’s take you to your final resting place. We are happy to have found you. You can now rest in peace.” He later concluded the ritual with a hymn, adding a dramatic but symbolic touch that many viewers interpreted as his way of finding closure.
Beyond the humour, the ritual carried deeper cultural meaning. In many South African traditions, “fetching the spirit” is a practice performed to ensure that the spirit of a deceased person does not linger at the place of death. The ritual involves guiding the spirit back home so it may rest peacefully among the ancestors. The branch Somizi carried symbolised a vessel for the spirit, while his spoken words mirrored the way families traditionally communicate with departed loved ones.
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Paris holds significant emotional weight in Somizi and Mohale’s love story, as it was the city where Somizi proposed to Mohale in 2018. Their whirlwind romance captured the hearts of many South Africans and culminated in a lavish traditional wedding in 2019, followed by a white wedding in 2020. However, the fairytale was short-lived. Within a year, their marriage was rocked by allegations of domestic abuse, public disputes, and legal battles.
In 2021, Somizi confirmed that the couple was heading for divorce. By 2023, the court ruled that their marriage was invalid due to the absence of a signed civil marriage certificate. Although both have since moved on, the pair have continued to exchange subtle jabs and public commentary about one another online.
Somizi’s Paris video seems to mark a decisive moment — a symbolic farewell to a painful chapter filled with public scrutiny and emotional turmoil. While delivered with satire and drama, the message was clear: he is ready to let go, heal, and move forward. For many fans, the post represented not just humour, but growth, closure, and a fresh start for one of South Africa’s most talked-about celebrities
