Fans of Skeem Saam were left both shocked and heartbroken after news broke that actor Hungani Ndlovu and his wife, Stephanie Ndlovu, are heading for divorce after six years of marriage. The announcement came at a time when Hungani’s Skeem Saam character, Tbose Maputla, was also facing a troubled marriage on-screen. The eerie similarity between real life and fiction sparked major debate and emotional reactions on social media.
The popular actor joined Skeem Saam as Tbose Maputla, a beloved character who recently discovered that his on-screen wife, Mapitsi, was unfaithful. Viewers who were rooting for him to walk away from the toxic relationship on the soapie expressed disappointment when Tbose decided to forgive Mapitsi. Now, with the revelation of Hungani’s real-life marriage ending, fans can’t help but draw comparisons between the two situations.
The entertainment platform MDNNews confirmed the news on Sunday, 15 June, via X (formerly Twitter), citing News24 as the original source. The couple reportedly reached a settlement agreement, with irreconcilable differences cited as the reason for their split.
Social media quickly lit up with emotional and humorous reactions. One viewer, @life_mabege, captured the mood perfectly by commenting, “He was supposed to divorce Mapitsi man, not Stephanie.” This sentiment reflected the frustration among Skeem Saam followers who wanted a happier ending for both the actor and his character.
Another user, @MonadiTP, expressed disbelief, suggesting that the storyline on Skeem Saam mirrored Hungani’s personal reality: “Skeem Saam did him dirty. Hungani was not acting there.” Others pointed to the couple’s social media content, especially their declining appearances together on their joint YouTube channel, as a possible sign that trouble was brewing in their relationship.
The reactions weren’t all jokes and memes. Some fans shared personal experiences of marital struggles. @Malume_1995 reflected on how marriage can be challenging: “Marriage is tiring, guys. I got married at the age of 25 in 1995… Down the line, you realise yourself and can’t compromise anymore.”
Adding to the online buzz, another commenter, @Thato__M, pointed out: “Ke lenyalo la Skeem Saam, ke lenyalo la mannete,” meaning “His TV marriage and real marriage are both in trouble.”
Hungani and Stephanie Ndlovu had become one of South Africa’s favorite celebrity couples, known for sharing their love journey on social platforms. Their apparent closeness and openness about their relationship made the news of their divorce even more painful for fans who had followed their journey for years.
This latest celebrity split comes after other high-profile South African breakups, including the widely publicized divorce of Siya and Rachel Kolisi in late 2024. Like Hungani and Stephanie, the Kolisis’ separation was met with widespread speculation and media scrutiny.
As Hungani Ndlovu navigates both personal heartbreak and his challenging storyline on Skeem Saam, fans continue to rally behind him, wishing him strength both on and off screen.