JOHANNESBURG – In a shocking new interview, actress Palesa Madisakwane, the mother of Somizi Mhlongo’s daughter Bahumi, has made explosive allegations against the media personality, claiming he pressured her to abort their child, demanded a DNA test after her birth, and consistently refused to provide adequate financial support.
Somizi is one of the most celebrated media personalities in South Africa. Despite being Palesa’s ex-boyfriend, he is probably the most popular gay in South Africa. He is also a South African music talent show SA Idols Judge and was past of the cast members in the renowned South African musical drama film Safarina that was released in 1992.
Madisakwane’s revelations came during part two of her interview on the Hell and Back podcast, where she detailed what she described as ill-treatment at the hands of the flamboyant celebrity.
According to Madisakwane, the troubles began during her pregnancy. “I was told to abort,” she stated. “When the baby was born he told me he doesn’t love the baby because he doesn’t love me.”
The situation allegedly worsened when Mhlongo refused to provide financial assistance for their child. “He refused to maintain the child and I took him to court. By that time I’d already started acting and I was already a known brand,” Madisakwane explained. “It was so embarrassing but I had no choice. Even then, he insisted that Bahumi was not his child. He wanted a DNA test and it came back positive.”
Madisakwane described the humiliation she felt during the court proceedings. “While we were in court he couldn’t even look at us, he just looked away and stood miles away from us. When the results came out I just cried because I felt humiliated and disgraced,” she said.
Despite the DNA test confirming his paternity, Madisakwane claims Mhlongo continued to neglect his financial responsibilities. “But even after that, he wouldn’t support his child. I’d call him and sometimes he’d pay and sometimes he wouldn’t. My ex-husband had to support Bahumi,” she said.
Madisakwane recounted a particularly distressing incident where she was forced to beg Mhlongo for money to feed their daughter. “I remember at some point Bahumi didn’t have food and I went to his place to ask for money. I found him with his boyfriend and he just stood there and threw R100 at us and went back inside the house,” she alleged.
She further claimed that Bahumi faced significant financial hardship, including being excluded from tertiary school due to unpaid fees.
Madisakwane alleges that even in recent years, Mhlongo has failed to provide adequate support for Bahumi. “Even today, Somizi is still not supporting Bahumi. I’m responsible for her wellbeing. She is 30-years-old but she’s not financially stable. And she’s still living under my roof, I’m the one taking care of her,” she said.
“Sometimes she goes to these parties with Somizi but she comes back with nothing. The following day I have to give her money for transport. She’s hustling just like everyone else. From time to time she gets gigs but she is still under my care,” Madisakwane added.
Madisakwane explained that she is now speaking out because she has made peace with the past. “Back then I couldn’t speak because I was protecting my children and my marriage. But now I have a voice. I’m opening up because I know there are women who are going through the same thing. [Women] who’ve been rejected and rejected by their partners. I want my story to motivate them,” she said.
Meanwhile, Bahumi also spoke on the Engineering Your Life with Lungelo podcast, but was more guarded in her comments. “I feel like my father has some regrets. There are things he did and he regrets those things. I realised this when I was asking him for advice and I knew he was the best person to talk to. But he told me that I mustn’t become like him,” she said.
She further confirmed that Living the Dream with Somizi was not an authentic reality show. “I honestly thought it would be real but I was wrong. The show was pushing a certain narrative and I wasn’t aware. I went blindly into it,” said Bahumi.
As of yet, Somizi Mhlongo has not responded to the allegations made by Palesa Madisakwane.
