Fans have shown keen interest in Letoya Makhene’s partner, affectionately dubbed Shaka Zulu for his likeness to Henry Cele, the actor famed for portraying Shaka Zulu in the 1986 television series.
The premiere episode of the eagerly awaited reality series The Makhenes debuted on Sunday, April 12.
LETOYA’S BABY DADDY SPARKS CURIOSITY AMONG VIEWERS
A couple of unexpected details were revealed in the show: Letoya is now a mother to five, her youngest being VusamaZulu, whom she co-parents with “Shaka Zulu,” known off-screen as John Masondo.
During a hospital segment where Letoya was shown preparing for childbirth, viewers caught a fleeting glimpse of him, which sparked further curiosity.
See how viewers reacted on X (formerly Twitter) regarding Letoya’s baby daddy.
X user @TumiK46521661 shared her perplexity regarding Letoya’s relationship, noting her belief that Letoya identifies as a lesbian.
The South African attributes the following content to X user @zahMokoena, highlighting the appearance of “Shaka Zulu.”
From being a lesbian to having a child with “Shaka Zulu”……#themakhenes pic.twitter.com/nOIxLHRyHV
— Zanele Mokoena 🇿🇦 (@zahMokoena) April 12, 2026
A NEW BABY FOR LETOYA
The speculation regarding Letoya’s pregnancy was validated on the show, with the news initially breaking via X user @Zweli_Thixo in March 2026.
Letoya, previously a star on House of Zwide, mentioned that her children currently reside with their fathers while she works on her financial situation.
MORE ON ‘THE MAKHENE’ REALITY TV SHOW
The series kicked off with a segment featuring Letoya’s father, Blondie Makhene, who is also a musician, as he provided insights into the family’s rich musical legacy.
Other family members introduced included Letoya’s elder sister, Pauline Makhene; grandmother Lily Makhene; and uncle Gape.
Future episodes will see the appearance of additional family members, including Letoya’s children and her younger sister Gontse Makhene, who is currently navigating some personal challenges.
In an interview with Sowetan, Blondie mentioned that the reality show acts as a therapeutic avenue for coping with his post-traumatic stress disorder, and he values the family time it fosters.
“It feels good to debrief to be able to look back and meditate on my past. I guess this is my own way of dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder as a South African,” Blondie stated.
“I cherished many aspects, such as enjoying more family get-togethers than we’ve had in a long time, as well as witnessing the crew at work and understanding how everything comes together behind the scenes,” he remarked.
