In a world where love can be unpredictable, Khumo entered the Married at First Sight (MAFS) experiment with one hope: to find someone she could connect with on a deep level. The couple, who have been open about their personal struggles, recently sat down with Drum Magazine to reflect on their journey and how it has shaped their relationship.
“Sometimes it leads to a long-term monogamous relationship, sometimes it leads to something more casual but equally fulfilling,” Khumo shared. “Sometimes it leads to a whole lot of drama, and sometimes it doesn’t lead to anything. In truth, though, I needed to feel safe as I have intense trust issues.”
On the other side, Thabang had been single for two years, referring to his previous relationships as mere “internships.” These brief encounters, according to him, were unstable and nothing worth proclaiming. However, with time, the need for companionship grew stronger. “I felt that I’m at an age and stage in my life where I need to have a wife of my own. That will, in turn, breed discipline and reduce my street life,” Thabang explained.
A week before the MAFS experiment, Khumo had to break off a situationship she had been in. She knew that marriage would be a challenge, describing it as “two worlds amalgamating to form a beautiful union” while emphasising the importance of mental health in the relationship. Both Thabang and Khumo agreed they didn’t want to end up “mentally bruised due to the relationship or its stresses.”
Despite being the youngest couple in the experiment, Khumo and Thabang’s relationship was packed with fun, but when things went south, they really went south. One moment they’ll never forget is their first meeting at the aisle. Thabang, dressed in a tuxedo, couldn’t help but admire how beautiful Khumo looked. Khumo, on the other hand, joked that her focus was more on how cold the day was. “Although I normally go for dark men, I didn’t mind having my coffee with a little bit of milk,” she quipped.
Over time, their bond grew stronger. “Thabang is patient and gentle,” Khumo said, recalling the little things he did, like waking up early to walk her to the car and staying on the phone until she arrived at work. “That was rare,” she admitted.
Thabang, too, fell in love with Khumo’s emotional intelligence. “I was always stunned by how well she could express her feelings,” he shared. “She listens with love but will not spare you in her responses – a giver of tough love.”
But as the experiment wore on, the couple started to drift apart. Miscommunication and busy schedules took a toll, and they found themselves spending less time together. “We were so focused on shooting and trying to figure out the unimportant factors that we forgot about each other,” they admitted.
The turning point came when Thabang discovered that Khumo had been entertaining her past lover, giving him hope for a future together. Thabang felt blindsided. “At no point in the experiment was I suspicious of a third party until she brought it up,” he said. “My trust shattered.”
In a tense moment at a brunch table with the other couples, Thabang confronted Khumo, feeling lonely and jealous. “It took a lot of emotions for me to reach that breaking point,” Thabang reflected. “Looking back, I wish I could’ve handled the situation better.”
Despite the drama, Thabang clarified that Khumo did not have sexual relations with the third party during the experiment. Khumo, too, expressed regret, wishing she had allowed Thabang to love her more openly. “My insecurities always stood in his way,” she said.
As the first season of MAFS wrapped up with a two-hour reunion special, the future still looked hopeful for Khumo and Thabang. Khumo is preparing to launch a podcast, pursue a music career, and do motivational speaking on her YouTube channel. Meanwhile, Thabang is excited about officially introducing Khumo to the world and expanding his event, Bangers Braai, which now includes a new artist management branch.
“I don’t know what this new phase of life will bring,” Khumo concluded, “but I’m ready to embrace it all.”
