Social Media Star's Affair Claims Reveal Deep-Rooted Issues in South African Entertainment Industry
Yet another scandal has emerged from the grave of late Big Nuz member Mampintsha, as social media influencer Boitumelo Patricia publicly admitted to an affair with the married musician. Her revelations on the reality show Slay Queens have sparked outrage and renewed conversations about the toxic masculinity that continues to plague South Africa's entertainment industry.
Patricia's admission that Mampintsha would compare her to his wife Babes Wodumo, saying she reminded him of "Maboshongo when she was younger," exposes the deeply problematic ways in which Black women are objectified and pitted against each other by men in positions of power within our creative industries.
A Pattern of Exploitation and Abuse
This latest revelation adds to the disturbing legacy of Mandla Maphumulo, whose treatment of women was already well-documented. The 2019 Instagram livestream showing him physically assaulting Babes Wodumo shocked the nation, yet the entertainment industry largely continued to celebrate him without accountability.
The couple's turbulent relationship, broadcast through their reality show Uthando Lodumo, became a spectacle that normalized domestic violence and infidelity within Black relationships. This commodification of Black trauma for entertainment purposes reflects the ongoing colonial mentality that treats our pain as consumable content.
Babes Wodumo, born Bongekile Simelane, endured years of public humiliation as her husband allegedly pursued other women, including her own dancers and female celebrities. She was even forced to demand DNA tests due to rumors of children born outside their marriage.
The Broader Cultural Problem
Patricia's decision to go public with her affair, while expressing hollow remorse, highlights how our community has internalized destructive patterns that undermine Black women's dignity. Her statement that "it happens" when apologizing to Babes Wodumo demonstrates the casual acceptance of behaviors that destroy families and perpetuate cycles of harm.
The online reaction has been telling. Many users expressed frustration with what they see as a trend of mistresses seeking attention and platforms to air their affairs. As one user noted, these women often pursue married men not for the men themselves, but for proximity to the wives they seek to replace or diminish.
Reclaiming Our Narrative
This scandal should serve as a wake-up call for our community. We must reject the normalization of infidelity, abuse, and the public humiliation of Black women. Our entertainment industry, which should be celebrating and uplifting African culture and values, instead often perpetuates the worst aspects of patriarchal oppression.
The late Mampintsha's behavior, now being revealed in full detail, represents everything we must move away from as we build a truly liberated South African society. Our women deserve better than to be treated as interchangeable objects for men's entertainment.
As we continue to grapple with the legacy of apartheid and colonialism, we cannot allow toxic masculinity to further divide and weaken our communities. True liberation means creating spaces where Black women are respected, protected, and valued beyond their utility to men's egos and desires.