‘THE STORY KEPT HAUNTING ME'

Xoliswa Nduneni-Ngema says that only by baring her soul about her toxic marriage has she been able to hea

- GEZZY S SIBISI

THEY met when she was a high school student with a passion for the arts and he a struggling actor on the verge of getting his big break.

Her family had reservations about him, but she was smitten – and when he promised to take care of her and send her to university, they agreed to the marriage.

As his star continued to soar, they started a company that would birth the global musical hit Sarafina! as well as the iconic play Woza Albert! and Asinamali, both of which toured overseas.

She managed the logistics of the company while juggling her studies and he was the creative talent and the breadwinner. Celebrity couple Mbongeni Ngema and Xoliswa Nduneni-Ngema seemed to have it all – fame, a growing empire and wealth.

But behind closed doors the dream soon turned to a nightmare.

The internationally acclaimed playwright was having an affair with the musical’s breakout star, Leleti Khumalo, according to a new book. In Heart of a Strong Woman – From Daveyton to Sarafina! My Story of Triumph, Xoliswa says Mbongeni was bedding the Sarafina! actress. When she found out her husband was trying to marry Leleti behind her back, she had an interdict served on them to stop the wedding.

Written by acclaimed author Fred Khumalo, the memoir contains bombshell revelations of cheating scandals, abuse and sexual violence. Xoliswa claims her ex had a string of affairs and whenever she confronted him, he’d pummel her with his fists. But she wasn’t above using violence either, she says.