The TV darling and DJ broke up in 2017 shortly after she became pregnant.
Their split seemed friendly enough – Ntando had often posted motivational messages to Junior on social media – so it came as a surprise to fans when she took to Twitter and stopped just short of calling him a deadbeat dad.
Her outrage was sparked by a charity drive where Junior donated computers, Wi-Fi routers, sanitary items and stationery to a school in KZN.
“I don’t even remember him ‘donating’ such essentials for his daughter but Ke askho lapho (we’re not there),” Ntando tweeted.
She also posted a list of requirements totalling R20 000 that she needed for their daughter. “I have addressed the matter with the father of my child that he needs to step up and meet me halfway,” she said.
In response, Junior rubbished the allegations.
“I may have differences with the mother of my child. But the allegations I do not support my child are false, malicious and very hurtful,” he said on social media. He posted proof of payment for five months, each reflecting between R2 500 and R3 500 a month.
But Ntando says she spends R5 000 on a nanny, between R3 000 and R4 000 for medical costs, R2 500 on food and R1 000 on nappies, among other expenses.
The TV presenter faced stiff public backlash when she broadcast her budget – social-media users deemed it lavish and called her excessive, but she says she has no regrets.
“I had to speak up for what’s right for my daughter. I don’t regret speaking up about my baby daddy and anything that’s happened between him and me.”
She doesn’t want to share more about the situation but says Junior has visitation rights.
Ntando didn’t for a minute think her tweet would become the talk of the town. She was at home that day with her daughter and sister, Thando Duma (25), when her fingers fired away. “I didn’t think too much before posting,” she says.
“I just took everything that was going through my mind and my heart.”
She had run her thoughts by her big sister, but Ntando takes full responsibility for airing her baby daddy’s dirty laundry.
“Thando and I live together, she knows what’s happening. I spoke to her before tweeting, but the decision was all up to me. “There are lots of single moms who go through the same thing every day and I had to speak up for them as well.”
She didn’t expect the fallout but the cut-throat industry has taught her to grow a thick skin.
“I’ve learnt to handle criticism like a lady,” Ntando says. “Not all battles are there for me to fight. “But I’m human and sometimes criticism affects me. Sometimes I laugh and brush things off, but I also go through days when I cry.”
Luckily Sbahle is always there to cheer her up. Ntando lives for the little girl, even though being a single mom is challenging.
“Jumping from one job to the other isn’t easy. When I get home I have to cook, clean and make sure I have time to play with my daughter.”
But then there are those moments that make her smile. “Sbahle loves it when I read to her.”
Ntando, the lastborn of four kids, helps support her mom, Thabile (53).
“She’s proud of us for taking care of her as she isn’t working. I just want her to be happy,” she says.
That’s why she’s returning to school this year. Ntando dropped out of Boston Media House in her second year of media studies after landing her breakout role in Rhythm City. It was an opportunity she couldn’t miss but now she wants to finish what she started.
“Lord knows I hate school, but I know the importance of that piece of paper,” she says.
“I see myself wearing a graduation gown and making my mom proud. I also want to be a good role model to my child.”
