‘Izingane Zes’thembu’ S3: Mpumelelo's love life drowns out sibling drama - a disappointing season

Season three of “Izingane Zes’thembu” has officially come to an end, and all I can say is that it will go down in history as the most forgettable season in the show’s history.

From the trailer, which was shared at the beginning of the year, viewers were teased with hints of romantic turmoil, explosive moments and, of course, relationship twists that would make anyone’s head spin. 

The season was presented as another deep dive into the lives of the five older Mseleku siblings, Mpumelelo, Mpilo, Sne, Lwandle and Abongwe, navigating adulthood in a polygamous household.

However, there was barely any of that since the season focused on one dominant storyline: Mpumelelo’s love life.

Why not do a show exclusively on him and his relationships, rather?

Season three offered little beyond Amahle Biyela’s reveal and the questionable proposal between Mpumelelo and Tirelo. We still have no idea what goes on in the lives of the other siblings, as they never reveal much about themselves, even during their very vague confessionals.

Mpumelelo, Tirelo, and the drama

We were constantly reminded of Mpumelelo’s ongoing challenges with his girlfriend and the mother of his child, Tirelo Kale. 

Granted, they gave us gasp-worthy moments when their relationship hit turbulence due to Mpumelelo bringing in a third party into their union, which threatened their bond.

Tirelo mentioned leaving the relationship several times and appeared visibly fed up throughout the season. 

In the finale, which aired on Sunday night, she ultimately accepted Mpumelelo’s dry proposal, despite her parents’ initial reservations.

Tirelo is still choosing to ride with Mpumelelo even after she was kicked to the curb when Amahle was made the mamkhulu (matriarch), despite her automatically being pushed to the number one spot after Vuyokazi Nciweni left the crowded party. 

Enter Amahle Biyela

Midway through the season, a mystery woman was introduced: Amahle Biyela. At first, her face was blurred, and everyone knew it was Mpumelelo’s latest addition to his polygamous relationship, just not who she was. 

Then it was revealed that Amahle is Mpumelelo’s soft-spoken new boo. New to the show, not much was revealed about her yet, but she made a lasting impression simply by being part of Mpumelelo’s expanding romantic life.

Amahle and Tirelo appeared to get along well, showing a surprisingly cordial relationship on and off screen because it’s either that or constant catfights since they share a partner.

The season’s biggest shock came when Mpumelelo paid lobola (bride wealth) for Amahle, officially marking the process of customary marriage.

This move confirmed what fans had speculated during the early days of season three and reinforced Mpumelelo’s path in following his father Musa Mseleku’s footsteps.

Family dynamics and sibling drama

While Mpumelelo’s love life dominated, the siblings offered only a crumb of entertainment amid their tensions.

Sne attempted to assert her place in the family as the older sibling, but unfortunately, she is still not taken seriously. The one positive thing is that she and Mpilo navigated their issues and seem to be in a better place.

When it comes to Mpilo, she only gave opinions during her confessionals but barely spoke when it was time to speak up on the reality show.

Lwandle, on the other hand? I have one word: boring. He did not step out of his shell as promised, but instead still gave zero personality or anything that at least makes you want to stay glued to the screen whenever he comes on.

Abongwe attempted to restore peace during her organised trip but failed because her siblings would rather walk on eggshells instead of expressing how they truly feel about everything and everyone. Sne at least tries when she’s not silenced by Mpumelelo.

The third season of “Izingane Zes’thembu” delivered on some of its promises, but viewers want to know more about other siblings and what they get up to.

It’s supposed to be a reality show about all the Mseleku siblings and not a spin-off show on Mpumelelo and his love interests. What gives?