Kabelo and Gail Mabalane give a glimpse into their love, laughter and life lessons

Katlego Sekhu

To round off an exciting week of celebrity takeovers on The Best T in the City with Tbose, beloved couple Kabelo and Gail Mabalane took to the airwaves.

Shortly after their on-air stint, we caught up with the pair for a quick and fun chat, diving into their relationship dynamics, parenting styles, and wedding memories.

When asked who is more likely to leave dishes in the sink and who is the neat freak, Gail immediately pointed to her husband with a smile. Kabelo, with a guilty look, admitted, “Yoh, me. At least I’ve taken them away from the table.”

Like any couple, they have their lazy days. Gail painted a picture of what those days look like: “A big breakfast, lots of games with the kids—they love board games—pyjamas, music, and watching our kids rehearse whatever they’ve prepared for us.”

What marriage has taught them

Reflecting on what they’ve learned about each other since getting married, Kabelo shared, “The most surprising thing is that she is very strong-natured, but that little girl who needs to be protected and loved is still there.” Gail agreed, adding, “That is still so true.”

Gail also revealed a surprising shift in their parenting roles. “For the longest time, I thought I was the disciplinarian in our household. But I’ve realised I’m a softie compared to him. He’s been great at bringing in that balance. It’s surprising because when the kids were smaller, he was still cuddly—and he still is. But now, when it’s time to dish out discipline, it comes through so much. I think it’s a good thing because it balances itself out.”

The little things that drive them crazy

When asked about habits that drive each other a bit crazy, Gail shared. “It’s the leaving of stuff lying around. Sometimes I get up in the middle of the night to pray or go to the bathroom, and I trip over shoes. Why are they in the middle of the road? Why aren’t they at least next to the wall?”

Kabelo, on the other hand, pointed to Gail’s indecision. “Can we make a decision?” he joked. “Once we’ve made a decision, guess what happens two hours later? She’ll ask if we’re making a decision.”

In her defence, Gail explained, “I just want to be 100% sure. I want his input, and sometimes I feel he was distracted when he made the decision. I want him to look me in the eye and give me the reasons—not when he’s distracted on the phone.”

Memories from their wedding day

Kabelo and Gail tied the knot on 15 February 2013 in Hartswater, surrounded by loved ones. Kabelo fondly recalled a special moment from their wedding day:

“At the end of the ceremony, there was that one moment—I guess every married couple has it—when you’re just sitting at your table, watching the show. That moment when you both go, ‘We’ve done everything. Now we switch off.’ That was quite cool.”

For Gail, the day was filled with meaningful moments. “Having all the significant people in my life present on the biggest day of my life was priceless,” she said. “So many people have passed away since we got married. My dad walked me down the aisle—he’s no longer with us. His dad is also no longer with us, and many others, like Pastor Ray and my grandparents. When I look at my wedding pictures, I’m grateful they could be there.”

She also shared a miraculous weather story. “We had a garden wedding, and it was gloomy with a storm about to erupt. We had no Plan B. I arrived in a horse and carriage, thinking everyone would be soaking wet. But we had a ton of pastors at our wedding, and they started praying. As I came in, the weather cleared—it was windy, and the sun came out all in a matter of minutes.”

Advice for their younger selves

Before wrapping up, we asked the couple to share relationship advice they would give to their younger selves. Gail emphasised not sweating the small stuff.

“It sounds cliché, but we get so caught up in minor things and make them big. Something might rub you the wrong way in the moment, but in the greater scheme of things, it can be such a small thing. I’m learning this even after 12 years of marriage—what to overlook. It’s the same with my kids as a mother.”