Mandla Hlatshwayo and his girlfriend, Lexi Van Niekerk, are still together and going strong as a couple. They are now parents to two boys, but it is uncertain if they are married.
The Big Brother Mzansi Season 1 couple, Mandla and Lexi, popularly referred to as ‘MandLexi’, caught viewers’ attention with their steamy make-out on the reality TV show. And hence, became Big Brother’s favorite couple. Even though many people expected their romantic affair to hit a downward spiral after the show ended, Mandla and Lexi’s relationship has stood the test of time and they are currently still together.
Mandla and Lexi’s Big Brother House Whirlwind Romance
On February 2nd, 2014, Mandla and Lexi entered Big Brother Mzansi Season 1 house and hit it off from day one. The two caused a stir when they had unprotected sex in the shower in full view of the cameras. They subsequently became popularly known for having constant sexual relations in the Big Brother House.
After her eviction on March 31st, 2014, as the eighth housemate to leave the show a week before the grand finale, Lexi apologized for her thoughtless behavior in the house, especially having unprotected sex with Mandla which she admitted wasn’t a smart move on her part. While on the show, the couple had breakups every now and then but still managed to convince people that their relationship was complicated and real.
Eventually, at the end of the reality show, Mandla Hlatshwayo walked away with the R1 million grand prize, having emerged as the winner of Big Brother Mzansi Season 1. Afterward, he had a nasty breakup with his baby mama and then focused on growing his relationship with his girlfriend, Lexi Van Niekerk.
Mandla and Lexi’s Reality TV Series Ran for Two Seasons
A few months after Big Brother ended, many people were shocked to see that Mandla and his girlfriend were still together as they arrived on the red carpet of the M-Net’s Galaxy of Stars together at Gallagher Convention Centre in Johannesburg.
Lexi relocated from Cape Town to Joburg to be close to her millionaire boyfriend and equally pursue a career in entertainment. And on March 3rd, 2015, the couple debuted their own reality TV series titled, Mandla and Lexi on Mzansi Magic.
The five-part series gave their fans an up-close view into their relationship and how they try to make it work, having been so different. While Mandla is cool, calm, and collected, Lexi is a firecracker and the kind of girl you don’t mess with. The lovebirds brought their hot-cold dynamics before the camera and the audience fell in love with their journey. Thus, the first season of the reality show was well received by the viewers, leading to the renewal of the show for a second season.
Mandla and Lexi Season 2 premiered on Mzansi Magic on July 13th, 2016. Unlike the first season, the second installment had a strong focus on the couple’s individual lives. And unfortunately, it was not renewed for another season.
What Happened to Mandla and Lexi from Big Brother?
Following the end of their reality show, Big Brother’s famous couple continued with their relationship outside the spotlight. They reportedly had a series of breakups and reconciled thereafter. In early 2019, Lexi shared a photo where Mandla was gently kissing her growing baby bump and captioned it, “Happy Anniversary baby.”
The two welcomed a baby boy named Thingo on May 3rd, 2019. However, they reportedly parted ways shortly after the arrival of their child as they stopped posting each other on social media. After making their last post in July 2019, the couple hinted at getting things back on track when Mandla posted a picture of himself with Lexi and their son a day after 2020 Valentine’s Day with the caption, “My Family.”
Afterward, they started posting about each other. A few years after the birth of their son, Mandla, and Lexi welcomed another boy child and are now doting parents of two children. They are still in each other’s arms, looking happy in love.
