The makoti, the mistress & Mr Meyiwa

The makoti, the mistress & Mr Meyiwa

As South Africa prepares to bury its beloved Bafana Bafana captain, we take a look at the love triangle that has many people taking sides and re-evaluating their stance on marriage and fidelity.

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A scuffle between Mandisa Mkhize, the wife of Senzo Meyiwa, and singer Kelly Khumalo on a freeway in Joburg made headlines in August 2013. 

Mandisa accused Kelly of attacking her and opened a case of assault. Kelly blamed Mandisa for the altercation. 

A year later the headlines read: Senzo dies protecting Kelly; Senzo dies in Kelly's arms

As South Africa prepares to bury its beloved Bafana Bafana captain, we take a look at the love triangle that has many people taking sides and re-evaluating their stance on marriage and fidelity. 

Kelly Khumalo was shameless in flaunting her relationship with the married Meyiwa. 

She posted pictures of the soccer star on her Instagram account and her last post - a picture of a smiling Kelly, her sister Zandi and Senzo - was posted just hours before he was killed at her family home in Vosloorus.

 

My sister photo bombing our picture

A photo posted by Kelly Khumalo (@kelly_khumalo) on

At first glance, one might be quick to slam the singer for having a relationship with a married man - and who could blame them, scandal seems to follow Kelly.

She has had a trail of destructive relationships - from an abusive relationship with murder convict Molemo "Jub Jub" Maarohanye and a failed engagement with businessman Prosper.  

In March this year, she gave birth to Senzo's daughter, Thingo. By this stage, Senzo had patched things up with Mandisa. Senzo apologised to his wife and family in Drum magazine, in an article titled 'I'm sorry I lied'. 

But for Kelly there was no turning back; she was still in love with Senzo.

She told True Love magazine in their June issue (that featured her on the cover with Thingo) that she did not know Senzo was married when they first got together. 

"I still maintain that he didn't declare his marital status to me. He gave me no chance to decide whether I wanted to go out with him – married or not...And she, not able to punish her man, blames me, a stranger," she told the magazine. 

But whether Kelly knew or not, Senzo's family - it seems - was not impressed with the relationship. 

Senzo's father, Sam Meyiwa, told eNews that Kelly did not bother to call them and tell them what had happened to his son. But rather she ran to the media, he said. 

He told The New Age that Kelly was not welcome at the funeral, adding that she refused to hand over his ID. He was also furious that Kelly was seen driving Senzo's BMW X6 a day after he was killed.

The Meyiwas have since decided to allow Kelly to attend the funeral

Kelly is just as heartbroken at Senzo's death. She is quoted in The Star newspaper describing the heartbreaking moment Senzo took his last breath in her arms.

Not much has been said about Senzo’s wife, Mandisa following his death. 

Neighbours did however note that she was not "sitting on the mattress", a customary mourning required in African culture after the passing of your spouse.

Is she angry? Is she mourning in her own way? Is she coming to grips with the fact that her husband died in another woman's arms? 

The Meyiwa, Mkhize, Khumalo love triangle is more complicated than a trigonometric equation, but who are we to judge?

It seems Kelly fell in love with the right man at the wrong time. And the love, it seemed, was reciprocated by Senzo Meyiwa as he can be seen in an Instagram video posted by Kelly, supporting his mistress by singing her latest song called Asina which ironically details a woman going to court after being accused of killing her husband.

Asina in Tswana means, “it wasn't me”. 

 

Bhakabhaka on #AsineFEVER this has got to be the sweetest thing ever! #My00000000000000001Fan

A video posted by Kelly Khumalo (@kelly_khumalo) on

But Kelly cannot be entirely blamed for the love affair. Senzo was after all the married one, not her. 

While Kelly is lambasted for her dating a married man, tomorrow Senzo will be buried at Heroes Acre in Chesterville with struggle heroes like Nat Nakasa. 

We can only wonder what might be going through Mandisa's mind. But in all the mayhem let's not forget the three beautiful children Senzo leaves behind. 

*sips tea* 

*Our new weekly column Time for Tea takes a look at celebrity news making headlines. So grab yourself a cuppa, and join the conversation!

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