No stranger to our TV screens and loved for her standout role on Diep City, KwaZulu-Natal’s very own Nompumelelo Vilakazi is back - stepping into her reprised role as Msongelwa’s second (and most stubborn) wife, Senzeni.
Season 2 turns up the heat as Senzeni and her sister wives - Phumzile Mlangeni (MaMzobe) and Thandeka Shangase (Phathekile) find themselves in a shocking predicament. Their husband, Msongelwa (played by Andile Mxakaza), suddenly changes his tune… and his heart. He’s ready to walk away from his polygamous marriage and ride off into the sunset with his high school sweetheart, Asanda.
As the youngest wife, Senzeni shares a deep emotional bond with Msongelwa after all, she’s the one who first bore his children. But with everything on the line this season, Nompumelelo opens up about Senzeni’s journey.
If Senzeni wasn’t a fictional character, what advice would Nompumelelo give her as a friend?
I’d tell her to keep a level head. When you look at her journey, it’s been a long one. As his second wife, she’s been there from the very beginning - she saw Msongelwa and Asanda fall in love and she was there when Asanda left Msongelwa. Senzeni has always been the one picking up the pieces, helping Msongelwa become the man he is today.
What do you admire most about Senzeni?
Her patience, her resilience and her love for Msongelwa. Tradition played a huge role Msongelwa had to take his late brother’s wife, MaMzobe, as his first wife. But Senzeni was always there. In reality, she was THE woman in his life, yet she had to swallow her pride and accept being the second wife.
That’s not easy. But because she’s so strong, she embraced that role and made it her own. And because she loves him so deeply, she continues to fight for her marriage and everything she’s invested in that family. That’s what I respect most about her.
What sets Isithembu sika Msongelwa apart from other local productions?
For starters, it’s funny! Despite being a drama, you’re guaranteed to laugh in every episode. There are so many unexpected, comical moments. But beyond that, what really sets it apart is the emotional core. Here you have a man in a polygamous marriage who begins to realise that his decisions were driven by guilt and duty, not love. Reuniting with Asanda forces him to confront that truth and, for the first time, to choose himself.
Do you think the show presents tradition as empowering, limiting or both?
It’s definitely both. On one hand, tradition influences Msongelwa’s choices, he marries out of obligation and guilt rather than love, especially with Senzeni and Phathekile. But on the other hand, tradition also protects these women. It ensures they are provided for and not left vulnerable. So there’s a balance, and the show really explores both sides of that.
What has Senzeni taught you about womanhood?
She’s taught me that you don’t always get what you want and sometimes life doesn’t go the way you hoped. But she’s also taught me to fight for what you believe you deserve. Even when Msongelwa isn’t showing up the way he should, she continues to love and invest in him.
At the same time, she’s teaching me something even harder this season - acceptance. Because no matter how much you love someone, you can’t force them to love you back. For Senzeni, Season 1 was about fighting. Season 2? It’s about learning when to let go.
In a nutshell, how would you describe Season 2?
Explosive. This time, it’s not just Senzeni fighting for her man, it’s all the wives. There’s unity, tension and serious action as they come together to stop Msongelwa from throwing everything away.
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