Showmax has just dropped the highly anticipated trailer for Untied, a bold new talk show that explores the raw and emotional realities of divorce — through the eyes of some of South Africa’s most well-known women. The show is hosted by award-winning broadcaster Relebogile Mabotja, who also co-produces the series. Untied will premiere on Tuesday, 24 June 2025, exclusively on Showmax.
Speaking to Showmax, , Relebogile makes it clear that this isn’t your typical celebrity gossip series. “This show is about healing, not gossip,” she says. “I’ve been very intentional about creating a space where women feel safe to open up, where stories are treated with respect, and where conversations are rooted in truth.”
The first episode will feature businesswoman Norma Gigaba, setting the tone for a deeply personal series. Other big names lined up include Real Housewives stars Nonku Williams and Beverly Steyn, actresses Mona Monyane, Dawn Thandeka King, and Palesa Madisakwane, media personality Zandi Nhlapo, and model Sonia Booth. Each woman shares how their lives changed after ending marriages they once believed would last forever.
For Relebogile, joining the project was destiny. “Funny enough, my company and I actually pitched for this show initially — and didn’t get it,” she laughs. “But then the team came back and asked me to host. It felt like the universe was aligning, and I knew I had to also be part of the production team.”
What sets Untied apart, she says, is its unique focus on divorce — specifically from the woman’s perspective. “These are not just breakups; these are legally binding relationships that ended. And the stories we tell are often not shared openly, especially by public figures.”
She believes a platform like this is long overdue. “There are so many unspoken traumas and disappointments that women carry silently. Divorce is still taboo in many spaces. But Untied gives women the chance to speak freely — and that’s something that resonates not just with women, but with anyone who’s experienced love, loss, or starting over.”
Relebogile admits filming the series wasn’t easy. “There wasn’t a single episode where I wasn’t moved. There was one moment that truly broke me — when one guest spoke about losing a child. As a parent, I just couldn’t hold back the tears.”
But despite the heavy stories, Untied is ultimately about hope. “Yes, we talk about pain, but we also talk about surviving, rebuilding, and rediscovering joy,” she says.
She’s also deeply aware of how differently women are treated after divorce. “Society still judges women more harshly. We’re taught from a young age that our worth is tied to being a wife. So when that identity is ‘lost,’ people act like we’ve failed — while divorced men often walk away unscathed.”
With Untied, Relebogile hopes to challenge that mindset. “This show isn’t here to tear anyone down. It’s about reflecting, healing, and helping others make healthier choices. I want viewers to walk away feeling more empathetic, more informed, and less judgmental.”
As for what the show has taught her? “That no one is exempt from love, heartbreak, and the need to start over. No matter how famous or powerful you are, life can humble you. And that’s what makes these stories so powerful — they remind us of our shared humanity.”
