Real Housewives of Durban star Jojo Robinson recently shared an emotional message on Instagram about losing her close friend and co-star, Nonku Williams. In a heartfelt Instagram Story, Jojo opened up about the pain of their broken friendship and her wish to make things right, even though she knows it’s too late.
Jojo said, “I felt it got to a point where I just had to address everything. I hadn’t watched that video in quite a while and I think I just realised I haven’t dealt with it and I haven’t spoken about it or said anything. I’ve just kept quiet and the truth is I miss her. I just can’t have her.”
She shared how painful it is to let go, saying: “How do you get over something like this? I told myself I’m not going to say anything, but seeing comments saying it wasn’t real… Though it’s ended, it was very real. I just pushed it to the side a lot. Now I want to reach out but I know that it’s done. I want to fix it but I know I can’t. When I found out things that were said, I blocked her. I told her I’m done, then I blocked her. People say ugly things all the time. I should’ve understood better.”
Jojo admitted both she and Nonku hurt each other: “I think we just both upset each other so much. I don’t know how to come back from it. I guess this is life.”
Her emotional post came just after part two of the RHOD Season 5 reunion aired on Friday, 11 July. On the show, the other cast members spoke about the fall of the popular friendship known as “Joku” — a mix of Jojo and Nonku’s names.
Jojo later posted more on Instagram, along with sweet photos of the two of them during happier times. She said:
“The way I’ve avoided this post… but it’s gotten to the point where I just want to address it. Seeing comments saying this friendship didn’t matter, that it was just for work, is really hard to see. It was very real and it was filled with love and sisterhood.”
She then wrote a direct message to Nonku: “Dear Nonkie Nonks, I hope you find peace and love with whoever you choose in this life. I loved every second we spent together and I’m forever grateful for the friendship we shared… I understand that you are going in a different direction, and I hope one day we get to talk again in person.”
Jojo ended her post with a message to fans of their friendship, known as “Joku Nation”: “Thank you for believing in love and friendship… I’m sorry we let you down.”
Tension between the two had been growing during the season. Some cast members, like Sorisha Naidoo, called Jojo a “back-up singer” to Nonku, suggesting she didn’t have her own voice. Things got worse when fans noticed they had unfollowed each other on social media.
Nonku didn’t attend the reunion, but Jojo did — and shared just how hurt and confused she still feels.
“It’s been a lot, especially from people on social media. I feel like no one believed in us. And just when people started calling us ‘Joku’… I don’t know what happened. I still don’t understand.”
