“I’ll never get married again” – Mpho Tshabalala, Mandoza’s widow reflects on her spontaneous Christmas wedding with Mandoza.

Mpho Tshabalala, Mandoza’s widow reflects on her spontaneous Christmas wedding with Mandoza

This year would have marked 21 years since philanthropist Mpho Tshabalala and her late husband Mandoza first tied the knot – despite the effects of time, the mother of three remembers her special day as if it were yesterday.

Mpho, a woman considered a strong role model to many in society, knows all about remaining faithful in marriage despite both the highs and lows – so much so, that she recently confessed that she cannot see herself getting married again.

In a recent interview with news and entertainment publication Daily Sun, The Widow’s reality star reflected on the day she and Mandoza spontaneously tied the knot in December 2003, a day before Christmas.

She revealed that she just had her new braids done at one of the salons in Soweto when the Nkalakatha hitmaker suggested that they tie the knot.

“I was so shocked because I didn’t know what he was talking about. It turns out the elders in our family thought a Christmas wedding would be perfect for us to become Mr and Mrs Tshabalala.

“We had a pastor in the family, his uncle. So, we got home from the salon and both our families were there. I remember there was a table with papers which we had to sign,” she said.

On the spur of the moment the two later signed the documents and they were officially husband and wife. She tells Daily Sun that it was then that she realised that the most amazing things in life were these small moments.

This was however not the end of their love story, as the two later had a proper two-day wedding ceremony in 2004 to cater to both of their desires. Mpho wanted a wedding in a beautiful venue, while Mandoza loved the local weddings in the ekasi.

With this year marking 21 years of marriage. Mpho revealed that they had big plans on how they would have celebrated their anniversary.

“We would’ve thrown a bash at a stadium to say we are celebrating a huge milestone,” she said.

Meanwhile, the celebrations will continue as she and her family will use the occasion to reflect on his life.

Mandoza’s widow: I’ll never get married again

THE festive spirit of 24 December 2003 forever remains imprinted in Mpho Tshabalala’s memory.

The late Mandoza’s widow still remembers the day she tied the knot to the kwaito star as clear as day.

Caught off guard and heavily pregnant, Mpho was getting her hair braided in Pimville, Soweto, when her then-boyfriend walked in and announced: “It’s time to go and get married.”

Mpho recalls the day like it was yesterday.

“I was so shocked because I didn’t know what he was talking about. It turns out the elders in our family thought a Christmas wedding would be perfect for us to become Mr and Mrs Tshabalala.

“We had a pastor in the family, his uncle. So, we got home from the salon and both our families were there. I remember there was a table with papers which we had to sign,” she said.

Mpho revealed that Mandoza was happy on the day, even more than her, the bride.

“When I saw the papers, I was surprised that we were really getting married. Because I was wearing hot pants, his mum asked his sister to lend me her long jean skirt. We signed and just like that, we were married.

“They ululated and sang. It was a small ceremony and I realised that the most amazing things are the small things. He was actually more excited than I was,” she said.

They finally had a big wedding on 8 and 9 May 2004.

“I wanted to get a nice venue and get married there. But we had the wedding at his home where we blocked the street. It was because he had seen weddings held ekasi and he loved them, so he wanted his wedding to be like that as well,” Mpho said.

The reality TV star said they would’ve gone all out to celebrate their 21st wedding anniversary in 2024.

“We would’ve thrown a bash at a stadium to say we are celebrating a huge milestone. I actually didn’t realise that I was this old,” she said.

They will, however, still celebrate the wedding anniversary.

“A few weeks ago, the kids and I moved into our new home and all Mduduzi’s things are still there. I still keep them because I’ll never get married again. So, as we were looking at them, we decided to celebrate the anniversary.

“We’ll have both families at home just to celebrate and remember him. We’ll be playing his music in the house and just remembering him as a family,” Mpho said.

Mandoza died of brain cancer in 2016 at the age of 38.