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- The South African version of The Ultimatum is now streaming on Netflix SA, captivating audiences as the top show.
- Hosted by Salamina and Howza Mosese, the reality series explores the dynamics of six couples facing ultimatums to marry or part ways.
- Dramatic moments include confrontations and revelations, sparking widespread discussion and reactions on social media platforms.
The South African version of The Ultimatum is now streaming on Netflix SA, and it's got everyone talking. The reality show has the country hooked; since its debut, it's the number 1 show on Netflix in the country and trending on social media.
Hosted by celebrity couple Salamina and Howza Mosese, the 9-episode reality show launched on Friday.
The show follows six different couples who are on the verge of marriage. One partner in each couple issued an ultimatum – they must get married or get out in just over eight weeks. Each will choose new potential partners for a three-week trial marriage; they will return to their original partners for another three-week trial marriage. After the trial marriage, they decide whether to stay with their partner, choose someone else, or leave alone.
Last month, the streaming service released the trailer for the show, and to quote one X (formerly known as Twitter) user, it's a glorious mess.
READ | Marry or move on? Get ready for 'messy' drama as Netflix's The Ultimatum gets SA spin-off
Before we dive into the most buzzworthy highlights, let's introduce the six couples.
Thabi (27) and Genisis (27) together for 7 years. Thabi offered the ultimatum, as they have been together long, and she believes Genisis has seen everything he needs to see to decide whether or not she will make a good wife.
Khanya (34) and Nkateko (30) together for 1 year. Khanya gave Nkateko the ultimatum because 'if you want to take me off the market, you have to do it officially. Nkateko feels like he is not at the point of taking her off the market yet and that they have trust issues.
Ruth (28) and Isaac (28) together for two years. Ruth gave Isaac the ultimatum because she doesn't know who or where he lives, she hasn't met his family or any close friends, and she can't call him, only text. Isaac said that he can't take a woman home in his culture unless she is his wife. He further explained that most of their relationship has been long distance and that they have really been together for 8 months, which isn't long enough to get to know someone to marry them.
Lebo (26) and Nolla (34) together for 1.5 years. Lebo gave Nolla the ultimatum. Her main issues are his poor communication and that he is a flirt. Nolla says that Lebo is insecure because of her past relationships.
Courtney (27) and Aiden (29) have been together for 7 years. Courtney gave Aiden the ultimatum because he is the person she wants to marry. Aiden says that there is a lot about marriage that scares him; there are many people who have been married for decades and then get divorced, which is more complicated than just a breakup.
Sizakele (29) and Lindile (32) together for 5/6 months. Lindile gave Sizakele the ultimatum because he only wants people with whom he can grow in his life right now. He hopes the show will give him the answers he wants.
Warning: if you haven't watched the show, stop reading now, as spoilers are ahead.
After the selection process, the 'new couples' were Thabi and Lindile, Khanya and Isaac, Ruth and Nolla, Siza and Nkateko, Courtney and Genisis and Lebo and Aidan.
We trawled X to see what the most talked about moments of the season are.
1. Don't call me baby
Soon after the original couples had broken up, Lindile and Siza happened to be alone together. When she called him baby, he responded, "Can we refrain from calling each other baby."
Users on X did not take this kindly, seeing that he was the one who had brought Siza to the show after just six months of dating.
"He's the one who gave this girl an ultimatum after being in a relationship with her for six months, and now he has the audacity to tell her to refrain from calling him baby?, wrote DrKhutso_Mhlaba.
"An ultimatum after 6 months from a man?! Who wants you to refrain from sharing your feelings?! Oh, ok.," wrote Thina Thando.
"These people just separated, and Sizakele is telling the poor girl to refrain from calling him "baby" Red flag #1," wrote Queeny Thato.
2. 'Not once, not twice, not thrice'
Sjoe! Where do I start with this one? Ruth and Nolla had sex 'not once, not twice, not thrice'. Ruth decided to come clean and told Lebo that she and Nolla had been intimate. Lebo then confronted Nolla, who kept denying it until he decided to turn the tables on Ruth and admit to it by telling Isaac. A scuffle ensued between the men, but no physical blows were dealt. Lebo and Nolla decided not to complete the experiment and exited the show.
X users had a field day with this one.
"Lebo is such a girl's girl shame literally didn't put the blame on Ruth for her sleeping with Nolla and instead acknowledged that he is the problem and didn't even want Isaac dragged into anything; she's so real, man," wrote mocha_saint.
"Nolla is the most diabolical person I've seen on any and every version of #TheUltimatum because instead of explaining how/why he and Ruth ended up sleeping together, he's trying to call Isaac for revenge," wrote GabwithGwen.
"The scream I scrumpt when Ruth said, 'Nolla and I have had sex not once, not twice, not thrice'. Whew, the way she spilled that tea was so fast to the point. I wasn't ready. And neither was Lebo. She was frozen in shock. This show is nuts," wrote artbecomesyou.
"Actually, Nolla is not a real person; on some, 'Why would you joke and tell her we had sex'. Dude, you lying on national TV," wrote jleeangela.
3. 'Fake laughing for two hours plus'
During a ladies night, Siza was asked by the rest of the women about her and Nkateko's public displays of affection. Khanya said that if he had sex with Siza, he was using her and then went on to imply that Nkateko is faking a connection with her as he 'fake laughed for two hours plus'. When Siza returned home, she told Nkateko about what Khanya said. Nkateko then encouraged Siza to confront Khanya, resulting in a full-on blow-up. When Siza went to Khanya's villa, Nkateko left Siza, who was then verbally abused by Khanya, who called her and screamed derogatory things at her. Siza returned home in tears and asked Nkateko why he left her alone.
Siza told Nkateko:
X users fully agreed with Siza on this one.
"Wow. The way Khanya shouted, insulted and bullied Siza out of their villa was so disgusting. I just wanted to give Siza a hug. Poor girl. She really is a soft babe and didn't deserve that," wrote artbecomesyou.
"Siza deserves better than a man who's conditioned to chaos. I'm glad she told Nkateko off for taking her to Khanya's villa," wrote Mandie Mayniac.
4. 'I am the table': Khanya
Khanya is the most villainous South African reality TV contestant to have ever villained. Wherever she is, Khanya's ears must be burning cause she's been the most talked about woman on social media.
From her interactions with Isaac when he asked her about what she brings to the table, to which she answered, 'I am the table', to her starting a fight with Ruth (which she didn't win) to pouring a glass of wine on Nkateko while he was in bed, to her rejecting his promise ring.
Khanya posted an explanation for her behaviour on her Instagram account on Monday. She wrote: Hi to everyone that has been tuning in to The Ultimatum South Africa, and I understand if some of you may feel like I was out of line with some of my words and actions."
She continued: "It was an intense experience for me, and I handled it the best way I could. Just like how it was not easy for other cast members watching their partners with other people, it wasn't easy for me too. I have apologised already to those that I have wronged and would like to thank everybody for being so invested in the show and sharing their thoughts on the reality show.
REVIEW | Salacious revelations, tearful goodbyes, The Ultimatum SA will leave you hungry for more
"I acknowledge I'm a strong personality and say things that only others dare to think. Making TV aside, we are dealing with real people and real emotions here. It's in the past, and a lot has happened since then, including healing and transformation," she ended the post.
The reunion episode will be available to stream from Friday, 24 May.
