{"id":47510,"date":"2026-01-15T06:35:54","date_gmt":"2026-01-15T06:35:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/?p=47510"},"modified":"2026-01-15T06:35:54","modified_gmt":"2026-01-15T06:35:54","slug":"2026-01-15-exclusive-naledi-aphiwe-comes-clean-about-fake-romance-with-mawelele","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/2026\/01\/15\/2026-01-15-exclusive-naledi-aphiwe-comes-clean-about-fake-romance-with-mawelele\/","title":{"rendered":"Naledi Aphiwe comes clean about \u2018fake\u2019 romance with Mawelele"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <script data-jetpack-boost=\"ignore\" async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1669381584671856\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<!-- Africa tv video display -->\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1669381584671856\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"3579572842\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"auto\"\r\n     data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\r\n<script data-jetpack-boost=\"ignore\">\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"\">\n<p class=\"c-paragraph\">Rising star Naledi Aphiwe has confirmed to Sowetan that her celebrity romance with fellow singer Mawelele was fake \u2014 a PR stunt to promote their <i>Romeo &amp; Juliet <\/i>duet<i>.<\/i><\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph\">The stunt paid off, with the chart-topping hit winning <i>Best African Pop Song<\/i> at the Metro FM Music Awards in May. Mawelele had not responded to Sowetan\u2019s calls and texts on the matter.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph\">The 19-year-old exclusively tells Sowetan why she\u2019s coming clean now. <\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph\"><b>Did you and Mawelele really date?<\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph\">We were together [for our music], but we never dated. If you look closely at our pictures, you won\u2019t see any kissing ones; it was all staged. It was all publicity for our music and I thank everyone for believing in it. <\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph\">So, yes, I\u2019m not, and never was, in a relationship with Mawelele. The only thing Mawelele would do was kiss me on the forehead, but that was it. <\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph\">We both have partners and I think it\u2019s time we both respect them by coming clean. We couldn\u2019t carry on like we were dating when we have partners. It was getting to a point where our partners couldn\u2019t understand that we had to do certain things to convince the public we were a couple, especially Mawelele\u2019s partner, who was already tired of the stunt. <\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph\"><b>Will you be collaborating with Mawelele again?<\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph\">Nothing has changed. This was a stunt we had to keep up with for most of 2025. However, we will continue to release music together. We actually have a song titled, <i>Come Duze<\/i>, that we are going to release soon.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"c-media-item b-article-body__image\">\n<div class=\"custom-image-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"custom-image-placeholder\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sowetan.co.za\/resizer\/v2\/SGZ6SFKNCJM3DCEKOIMCXMA7BY.jpg?auth=4c85c692aa4365f1202114be4e6dd333fc6161d61c063d74f406e0b4346ebf19&amp;width=274&amp;height=183&amp;smart=true\" media=\"(max-width: 274px)\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sowetan.co.za\/resizer\/v2\/SGZ6SFKNCJM3DCEKOIMCXMA7BY.jpg?auth=4c85c692aa4365f1202114be4e6dd333fc6161d61c063d74f406e0b4346ebf19&amp;width=400&amp;height=268&amp;smart=true\" media=\"(max-width: 400px)\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sowetan.co.za\/resizer\/v2\/SGZ6SFKNCJM3DCEKOIMCXMA7BY.jpg?auth=4c85c692aa4365f1202114be4e6dd333fc6161d61c063d74f406e0b4346ebf19&amp;width=768&amp;height=515&amp;smart=true\" media=\"(max-width: 768px)\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sowetan.co.za\/resizer\/v2\/SGZ6SFKNCJM3DCEKOIMCXMA7BY.jpg?auth=4c85c692aa4365f1202114be4e6dd333fc6161d61c063d74f406e0b4346ebf19&amp;width=1024&amp;height=686&amp;smart=true\" media=\"(max-width: 1024px)\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sowetan.co.za\/resizer\/v2\/SGZ6SFKNCJM3DCEKOIMCXMA7BY.jpg?auth=4c85c692aa4365f1202114be4e6dd333fc6161d61c063d74f406e0b4346ebf19&amp;width=1440&amp;height=965&amp;smart=true\" media=\"(max-width: 1440px)\"\/><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" alt=\"Naledi Aphiwe and Mawelele.\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Naledi-Aphiwe-comes-clean-about-%E2%80%98fake-romance-with-Mawelele.jpg?w=640&#038;ssl=1\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"c-media-item__fig-caption\"><span class=\"c-media-item__caption\">Naledi Aphiwe and Mawelele. <\/span><span class=\"c-media-item__credit\">(Supplied) <\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"c-media-item b-article-body__image\">\n<div class=\"custom-image-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"custom-image-placeholder\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sowetan.co.za\/resizer\/v2\/R5AIGYUEM5DERFKDV5UU42NAK4.jpg?auth=6a109fb6d3c642aacd9d31d31a7b1676f0c5ef87827f8a18e45e2f3fdde8780a&amp;width=274&amp;height=365&amp;smart=true\" media=\"(max-width: 274px)\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sowetan.co.za\/resizer\/v2\/R5AIGYUEM5DERFKDV5UU42NAK4.jpg?auth=6a109fb6d3c642aacd9d31d31a7b1676f0c5ef87827f8a18e45e2f3fdde8780a&amp;width=400&amp;height=533&amp;smart=true\" media=\"(max-width: 400px)\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sowetan.co.za\/resizer\/v2\/R5AIGYUEM5DERFKDV5UU42NAK4.jpg?auth=6a109fb6d3c642aacd9d31d31a7b1676f0c5ef87827f8a18e45e2f3fdde8780a&amp;width=768&amp;height=1023&amp;smart=true\" media=\"(max-width: 768px)\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sowetan.co.za\/resizer\/v2\/R5AIGYUEM5DERFKDV5UU42NAK4.jpg?auth=6a109fb6d3c642aacd9d31d31a7b1676f0c5ef87827f8a18e45e2f3fdde8780a&amp;width=1024&amp;height=1364&amp;smart=true\" media=\"(max-width: 1024px)\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sowetan.co.za\/resizer\/v2\/R5AIGYUEM5DERFKDV5UU42NAK4.jpg?auth=6a109fb6d3c642aacd9d31d31a7b1676f0c5ef87827f8a18e45e2f3fdde8780a&amp;width=1440&amp;height=1919&amp;smart=true\" media=\"(max-width: 1440px)\"\/><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1768458951_784_Naledi-Aphiwe-comes-clean-about-%E2%80%98fake-romance-with-Mawelele.jpg?w=640&#038;ssl=1\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"c-media-item__fig-caption\"><span class=\"c-media-item__caption\">Naledi Aphiwe and Mawelele. <\/span><span class=\"c-media-item__credit\">(Supplied. ) <\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph\"><b>How would you describe 2025?<\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph\">I\u2019m grateful for all that happened. All that I desired and wanted happened and exceeded my expectations. One standout moment was winning a Metro FM Music Award. It was my first time being nominated and it was a big win for me. <\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph\">It also meant so much for my people back home [in Inanda, KwaZulu-Natal].<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph\"><b>How would you describe your music trajectory?<\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph\">Very humbling, because in 2024, I was in high school and I came to Johannesburg last year. I went from being in a school uniform to being recognised by musicians I used to look up to in the entertainment industry. <\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph\">Their love and support gave me the motivation to keep going and to solidify my voice more with my music.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"c-media-item b-article-body__image\">\n<div class=\"custom-image-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"custom-image-placeholder\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sowetan.co.za\/resizer\/v2\/PPYOXOG2ORAR7D4LXPJLODP5RU.jpeg?auth=a008163c52fd5ca7584cd81eec41695d201242878ae96abe82b3afdd8ecf2d6a&amp;width=274&amp;height=342&amp;smart=true\" media=\"(max-width: 274px)\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sowetan.co.za\/resizer\/v2\/PPYOXOG2ORAR7D4LXPJLODP5RU.jpeg?auth=a008163c52fd5ca7584cd81eec41695d201242878ae96abe82b3afdd8ecf2d6a&amp;width=400&amp;height=500&amp;smart=true\" media=\"(max-width: 400px)\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sowetan.co.za\/resizer\/v2\/PPYOXOG2ORAR7D4LXPJLODP5RU.jpeg?auth=a008163c52fd5ca7584cd81eec41695d201242878ae96abe82b3afdd8ecf2d6a&amp;width=768&amp;height=960&amp;smart=true\" media=\"(max-width: 768px)\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sowetan.co.za\/resizer\/v2\/PPYOXOG2ORAR7D4LXPJLODP5RU.jpeg?auth=a008163c52fd5ca7584cd81eec41695d201242878ae96abe82b3afdd8ecf2d6a&amp;width=1024&amp;height=1280&amp;smart=true\" media=\"(max-width: 1024px)\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sowetan.co.za\/resizer\/v2\/PPYOXOG2ORAR7D4LXPJLODP5RU.jpeg?auth=a008163c52fd5ca7584cd81eec41695d201242878ae96abe82b3afdd8ecf2d6a&amp;width=1440&amp;height=1800&amp;smart=true\" media=\"(max-width: 1440px)\"\/><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Naledi-Aphiwe-comes-clean-about-%E2%80%98fake-romance-with-Mawelele.jpeg?w=640&#038;ssl=1\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"c-media-item__fig-caption\"><span class=\"c-media-item__caption\">Naledi Aphiwe aims for greater heights in 2026. <\/span><span class=\"c-media-item__credit\">(supplied) <\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph\"><b>Who have been your mentors on this journey?<\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph\">Definitely Cici and Blaq Diamond. These are people I looked up to. As a young artist, I\u2019m so grateful that I can share the space with people I used to idolise. I\u2019m happy to say that now I\u2019m friends with them. I even have Cici\u2019s number in my phone. <\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph\">I get to call her when I need any assistance. I also travel often with Blaq Diamond \u2014 they are like my brothers.<\/p>\n<blockquote cite=\"Naledi Aphiwe\" role=\"blockquote\" class=\"c-stack b-article-body__pullquote\" data-style-direction=\"vertical\" data-style-justification=\"start\" data-style-alignment=\"unset\" data-style-inline=\"false\" data-style-wrap=\"nowrap\">\n<p class=\"c-paragraph\">Chris Brown sampling my voice opened so many doors for me \u2014 I wouldn\u2019t be here if he hadn\u2019t recognised my voice.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"b-article-body__citation\">\u2014 \u00a0<span>Naledi Aphiwe<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph\"><b>Who would you like to collaborate with next?<\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph\">I\u2019d like to work with Zee Nxumalo as well as Thatohatsi, Kelvin Momo, Babalwa M, and Nontokozo Mkhize. The plan for this year is to do something new; I\u2019m tired of boxing myself in and singing just R&amp;B. I want people to see a new version of me. <\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph\">I\u2019m going to try out new genres, from amapiano to three-step. <\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph\"><b>How did it affect you when Chris Brown sampled your voice on his <\/b><i><b>11:11<\/b><\/i><b> album?<\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph\">I always say that I\u2019m here all because of Chris Brown. He changed my whole life. Him sampling my voice opened so many doors for me \u2014 I wouldn\u2019t be here if he hadn\u2019t recognised my voice. <\/p>\n<figure class=\"c-media-item b-article-body__image\">\n<div class=\"custom-image-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"custom-image-placeholder\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sowetan.co.za\/resizer\/v2\/QENW233U7ZIIZFEZPOYLS4G2Z4.png?auth=b7588aab9a50c2160a63293c75fcb7e25e70f053e47587288ccae9c9fb6a0b63&amp;width=274&amp;height=254&amp;smart=true\" media=\"(max-width: 274px)\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sowetan.co.za\/resizer\/v2\/QENW233U7ZIIZFEZPOYLS4G2Z4.png?auth=b7588aab9a50c2160a63293c75fcb7e25e70f053e47587288ccae9c9fb6a0b63&amp;width=400&amp;height=370&amp;smart=true\" media=\"(max-width: 400px)\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sowetan.co.za\/resizer\/v2\/QENW233U7ZIIZFEZPOYLS4G2Z4.png?auth=b7588aab9a50c2160a63293c75fcb7e25e70f053e47587288ccae9c9fb6a0b63&amp;width=768&amp;height=712&amp;smart=true\" media=\"(max-width: 768px)\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sowetan.co.za\/resizer\/v2\/QENW233U7ZIIZFEZPOYLS4G2Z4.png?auth=b7588aab9a50c2160a63293c75fcb7e25e70f053e47587288ccae9c9fb6a0b63&amp;width=1024&amp;height=949&amp;smart=true\" media=\"(max-width: 1024px)\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sowetan.co.za\/resizer\/v2\/QENW233U7ZIIZFEZPOYLS4G2Z4.png?auth=b7588aab9a50c2160a63293c75fcb7e25e70f053e47587288ccae9c9fb6a0b63&amp;width=1440&amp;height=1335&amp;smart=true\" media=\"(max-width: 1440px)\"\/><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" alt=\"Singer Naledi Aphiwe honours Winnie Khumalo after she died on Tuesday.\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Naledi-Aphiwe-comes-clean-about-%E2%80%98fake-romance-with-Mawelele.png?w=640&#038;ssl=1\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"c-media-item__fig-caption\"><span class=\"c-media-item__caption\">Singer Naledi Aphiwe honours Winnie Khumalo after she died on Tuesday. <\/span><span class=\"c-media-item__credit\">(Instagram\/ Naledi Aphiwe) <\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"c-media-item b-article-body__image\">\n<div class=\"custom-image-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"custom-image-placeholder\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sowetan.co.za\/resizer\/v2\/YPJKMEIIGNCTPMVSZMDGQDRV7E.jpeg?auth=a03045f83eeaea441f65721a583565ade6882fe5ebc025d120c1a438d3a377a5&amp;width=274&amp;height=326&amp;smart=true\" media=\"(max-width: 274px)\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sowetan.co.za\/resizer\/v2\/YPJKMEIIGNCTPMVSZMDGQDRV7E.jpeg?auth=a03045f83eeaea441f65721a583565ade6882fe5ebc025d120c1a438d3a377a5&amp;width=400&amp;height=476&amp;smart=true\" media=\"(max-width: 400px)\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sowetan.co.za\/resizer\/v2\/YPJKMEIIGNCTPMVSZMDGQDRV7E.jpeg?auth=a03045f83eeaea441f65721a583565ade6882fe5ebc025d120c1a438d3a377a5&amp;width=768&amp;height=914&amp;smart=true\" media=\"(max-width: 768px)\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sowetan.co.za\/resizer\/v2\/YPJKMEIIGNCTPMVSZMDGQDRV7E.jpeg?auth=a03045f83eeaea441f65721a583565ade6882fe5ebc025d120c1a438d3a377a5&amp;width=1024&amp;height=1219&amp;smart=true\" media=\"(max-width: 1024px)\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sowetan.co.za\/resizer\/v2\/YPJKMEIIGNCTPMVSZMDGQDRV7E.jpeg?auth=a03045f83eeaea441f65721a583565ade6882fe5ebc025d120c1a438d3a377a5&amp;width=1440&amp;height=1714&amp;smart=true\" media=\"(max-width: 1440px)\"\/><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1768458953_240_Naledi-Aphiwe-comes-clean-about-%E2%80%98fake-romance-with-Mawelele.jpeg?w=640&#038;ssl=1\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"c-media-item__fig-caption\"><span class=\"c-media-item__caption\">Naledi Aphiwe aims for greater heights in 2026. <\/span><span class=\"c-media-item__credit\">(supplied) <\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p><script data-jetpack-boost=\"ignore\" async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1669381584671856\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<!-- Africa tv video display -->\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1669381584671856\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"3579572842\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"auto\"\r\n     data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\r\n<script data-jetpack-boost=\"ignore\">\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><br \/>\n#Naledi #Aphiwe #clean #fake #romance #Mawelele<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Rising star Naledi Aphiwe has confirmed to Sowetan that her celebrity romance with fellow singer Mawelele was fake \u2014 a&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":47511,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-47510","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mzansi"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47510","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=47510"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47510\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":47512,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47510\/revisions\/47512"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/47511"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=47510"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=47510"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=47510"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}