Married at First Sight SA: Makoto spills the tea on the show, her co-stars and being a newlywed

The second season of Married at First Sight South Africa has taken Mzansi by storm. Whether it’s on X, Instagram or TikTok, viewers can’t stop talking about what’s been unfolding and we’re only halfway through the season.

Airing every Sunday at 6.30pm on Mzansi Magic and streaming on Showmax, this season introduces a fresh panel of experts and a bold new group of singles willing to say "I do" to a stranger.

The couples taking part in this social experiment are Palesa Mphaki and Tshepo Miya, Makoto Phumodi and Nkuleleko Mahlangu, Themba Khosa and Nelisa Ntabeni, and Portia Baloyi and Bongani Luvalo. Now legally married, they’re figuring out married life in real time, and it hasn’t been smooth sailing.

From baby mama drama and questions around polygamy to heated conversations about religion and sex, this season is on fire.

In Sunday night’s episode, the wives gathered for drinks at Nelisa’s place and jaws dropped. Bombshells were dropped about their husbands, and the fallout has just begun. The ripple effects are already making waves, and we’re bracing for what’s still to come.

We recently caught up with Makoto Phumodi, who didn’t hold back as she gave us the inside scoop on her Married at First Sight South Africa journey, from why she signed up for the experiment to what really went down with Tshepo, her husband and everything in between.

What made you decide to take part in Married at First Sight South Africa?

I decided to take part in Married at First Sight Season 2 because I wanted to try something different, I wanted to look for love in an unconventional way.

What was going through your mind the moment you saw your husband at the altar?

When I first saw him, I was like, "I've seen this face before." We had seen each other in the past, and that was really interesting to me because I did not know what to expect. 

How did you mentally prepare to get married to a stranger?

I mentally prepared myself to get married to a stranger by simply being open to the unknown, that is all you can do, there is no manual to this experiment.

You and Nkululeko had a disagreement on your wedding night. How did that moment make you feel?

The fight we had on our wedding night started when he said I must leave my church and go serve at his church, so by the time he started being hyper-religious on screen, I was already upset. 

The Bible says that a man must provide and a woman must submit, right? Imagine being asked if you’re willing to submit, but you don’t even know if the guy is willing to provide emotionally, financially, mentally, or physically, so I was taken aback by that. But as you have seen, we moved past that. 

The conversation around sex between you and your husband sparked a major debate online. Is intimacy a dealbreaker for you in a relationship?

Intimacy is important to me. If we can't connect emotionally, it won’t work. My husband didn’t believe in foreplay or kissing when we first met so those are the things we had to learn about each other and overcome. 

Tshepo has made a few comments about you. What’s the story behind the tension between the two of you?

My husband confided in Tshepo a lot. Our argument happened off camera when Tshepo said I shouldn’t be asking my husband about his whereabouts, “Monna ha a botswe o tswa kae.”

He was basically saying Nkululeko can do whatever he wants, whenever he wants, and I shouldn’t ask anything. When I reacted to that comment, he called me disrespectful.

If you could design your ideal husband, what qualities would he have?

My ideal husband is someone who’s going to take the time to know and understand the type of person I am, embracing every scar and helping me grow.

What’s your relationship like with the other cast members?

Besides my husband, Palesa is my girl. We’ve built a beautiful relationship outside of the show. We talk on the phone almost every day. Portia and I still chat here and there, and as for Nelisa, I don’t have a relationship with her. 

How does it feel to watch your own journey unfold on screen?

Watching my journey on screen is amazing. I’m not shocked by anything. People think I’m acting, but little do they know, I react like that in my everyday life.

Why should people keep watching your journey on Married at First Sight South Africa?

People should keep watching the show because there’s so much drama coming. People love drama and this show is packed with it. I would probably say it is one of the best reality shows currently and they do not want to miss out. 

IOL