Mabotja takes centre stage at Married at First Sight SA reunion
Katlego Sekhu
Married at First Sight South Africa returns for a two-hour reunion special.
The highly anticipated broadcast, hosted by TV presenter and actress Relebogile Mabotja, promises to revisit all the drama, heartbreak, love, and unexpected friendships that defined Season 2.
The season ended on a tense note, leaving viewers divided. Now, with the reunion set to air on Sunday, 5 October on Mzansi Magic and Showmax, audiences will finally get the answers they’ve been waiting for.
In the spotlight are four couples: Palesa Mphaki and Tshepo Miya, Makoto Phumodi and Nkuleleko Mahlangu, Themba Khosa and Nelisa Ntabeni, and Portia Baloyi and Bongani Luvalo.
Each pairing brought unique challenges and surprising dynamics, and their updates since filming wrapped are expected to spark even more conversation.
Relebogile Mabotja chats to Kaya 959 about her feelings going into the reunion and what viewers can look forward to.
For the broadcaster, taking on the role of host was an opportunity she simply couldn’t pass up.
“I love the format and the concept of social experiments,” she explains. “I also happen to love this group, which has kept Mzansi glued to their screens for weeks.”
Instead of relying on the noise of online commentary, Relebogile first immersed herself in the couples’ stories.
“I allowed myself to get immersed in the characters and episodes without paying attention to social media commentary,” she says. “Then I scanned through social platforms to get a sense of what people wanted to know. When chatting to the team and gathering context, I made sure to note as much as possible while remaining curious.”
Curiosity, Relebogile insists, is the key to how she approaches any conversation, especially one filled with sensitive and emotional revelations.
“I love exploring what informs human behaviour. I am fascinated by it all, especially behaviour that is often labelled as ‘bad.’ I want to understand what drives it and the person behind it,” she reflects.
She adds that her role is not just about asking questions, but about creating the right environment for the cast to be open.
“My approach to any conversation is to remain curious. What more could there be? What is the person not saying? How can I make the space safe enough for open conversation, no matter how difficult it may be?”
As bold as the Married at First Sight experiment is, Relebogile admits it’s not something she could see herself doing.
“Definitely not!” she laughs. “I am too much of an overthinker and far too private to allow strangers into my vulnerability like that. I have the utmost respect for the participants’ courage.”
With that said, she has nothing but admiration for the couples who laid their hearts bare in front of the nation.
The Married at First Sight South Africa Season 2 reunion airs exclusively on Mzansi Magic and Showmax on Sunday, 5 October at 5:00 PM.
