A reality TV show premised on four couples getting married at first sight has gripped South Africa, with some interesting results after the six week long social experiment.
A REALITY TV show premised on four couples getting married at first sight has gripped South Africa, with some interesting results after the six week long social experiment.
In June, Mzansi was introduced to a new show on their screens called ‘Married At First Sight’.
The Mzansi Magic/Showmax special saw viewers follow eight singles on their journey of marriage and finding love.
The marriage however is a bit unconventional as they had no clue who they were going to be married to, only setting out to the show directors and relationship experts the qualities they were looking for in a partner.
The eight singles were paired with pre-determined partners and they sealed the deal with “I do” at an intimate wedding, marrying a complete stranger, before moving in with them for six weeks.
Out of the four on-screen marriages, only one couple got divorced, effectively.
Thabang Mvuyane and Makhumo Ngobeni’s on-screen marriage ended in divorce and the young, outgoing and outspoken couple, went their separate ways at the end of their six-week marriage.
Makhumo was first to say her vows and initially she chose to stay with Thabang, but when Thabang responded with his vows, he did not share the same sentiment.
“Without revealing too much, I have discovered you’re still talking to the man that you were speaking to on the first night that we got married,” Thabang said.
He said he would not be continuing with the relationship because he Makhumo was never fully invested in the relationship.
The other couples, Boitshepo Mashetla and Sebenzile Ngwenya, Thami Nyandeni and Zithobile Sibiya and Kutso Mokoena and Litsoanelo Seturumane, despite having their own trials and tribulations, decided to stay with their respective partners choosing to continue being in relationships with the people they were partnered with.
The couples were paired by four relationship experts, gynaecologist and sexologist Dr Mpume Zenda, clinical psychologist Anele Siswana, and the married couple Bakhe and Nokwanda Dlamini, who are marriage and family therapists.
The newly-weds had six weeks to stay together and get to know each other better. In the six weeks they were married, they lived together and gave viewers front row seats to a look into how they are settling in the marriages.
Following the period of six weeks came decision day. All the couples had to take a moment, observe and reflect on their marriages and their partners to make one important decision.
The decision to stay and continue with the relationship or to end things there and then, leaving the experiment the same way you came in ‘single’.
Viewers now wait for the reunion for updates on how the couples have been coping in their relationships outside of the experiment.
The show is streaming on Showmax until next Sunday, September 8.
