‘Married at First Sight Mzansi’: Matsheliso on love, vulnerability and husband Lesiba Tleane

Four episodes into its third season, Married At First Sight Mzansi has viewers thoroughly hooked. As drama, romance and emotional gut-punches play out weekly while four couples attempt to build a marriage with someone they’d never met before saying “I do”, fans tune in to ravenously lap up what Connect TV has cooked up.The social experiment, which airs on Mzansi Magic every Sunday at 6pm, follows Hlulani Ngobeni and Nompumelelo Sobopha, Lesiba Tleane and Matsheliso Maphutse, Obren Masuku and Laurinda Mabunda, and Prince Zwide Zwane and Esethu Seku as they navigate life as newlyweds.Among the four brides, Matsheliso Maphutse has quickly become a fan favourite for her candour. Ahead of the season’s continuation, she spoke to the channel about what drew her to the show, what it’s really like walking down the aisle to a stranger, and how the experience has changed her.

‘My love life needed stakeholder engagement’ Married At First Sight Mzansi: Matsheliso Maphutse opens up about marrying a stranger – As fans raise concerns over Lesiba’s party lifestyle. Picture: Instagram, Connect TV Matsheliso didn’t sugarcoat her reasons for signing up. “I signed up for the show because clearly my love life needs a stakeholder engagement and a new strategic direction, but honestly, I’m at a stage in my life where I’m intentional about love,” she said.

She added that she has spent recent years focused on her career and personal growth, and has lost patience for relationships going nowhere. In addition, the leap into the unknown was equal parts nerve-wracking and thrilling: “The idea of trusting the process, being vulnerable and stepping outside of my comfort zone is both terrifying and exciting. If I’m going to find my person, it might as well be in the most dramatic way possible.” Meeting Lesiba at the altar Married At First Sight Mzansi’s Matsheliso Maphutse and husband Lesiba Tleane.

Picture: Instagram, Connect TV Recalling her first glimpse of husband Lesiba Tleane at the altar, Matsheliso admitted her nerves briefly gave way to relief. “Okay, he’s actually not bad,” was her first thought, she said, adding that while he wasn’t quite the fairytale prince she’d imagined, something about him put her instantly at ease.Walking down the aisle, however, romance was the last thing on her mind. “I wasn’t thinking about romance, vows or finding my soulmate.