LOVERS TIFF TEARS SOAPIE
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A BOXING match is playing itself out on the set of DStv’s flagship soapie Isibaya.
In the red corner is dimpled darling Nomzamo Mbatha and in the blue corner Jessica Nkosi, the husky-voiced beauty with the megawatt smile.
And the prize? Idols 2012 winner, Khaya Mthethwa.
The two starlets, who shipped from KwaZulu-Natal to Joburg in 2013 when they got their chance to be famous, have gone from best buds to frenemies all because of their exact taste in men.
According to someone close to the production, Mbatha has mobilised other women on the show to freeze out Nkosi. All because of an alleged shared iCloud account that has revealed some backstabbing between them.
Our deep throat revealed how Mbatha, who was rumoured to be engaged to Mthethwa after he made a down payment of R50 000 for her in 2013, discovered damning messages between Nkosi and her man.
The messages, which she discovered in late November/early December, allegedly exposed an uncomfortably close relationship between her friend” and exfiancé”.
Nomzamo received a notification email from iCloud and when she went to check the account, she was shocked by what she saw. I don’t know exactly what was in them, but they were the final nail in their already fragile relationship, said the informant.
When confronted by Sunday World regarding these allegations, Nkosi broke down and sobbed while denying the claims.
I’ve known Khaya for a long time and we are friends. Nomzamo knew and was okay with it. Oh my God, I can’t believe this is happening!” she sobbed.
Mbatha, on the other hand, was the opposite of emotional. Speaking to Sunday World on the phone, she sounded resigned.
I’m so confused. I just lost my sister and I’m not in the right head space for this. I’m not going to say [the allegations about Mthethwa and Nkosi] are true or false. She’ll have to comment on that herself. She’ll give you all those answers. I’m no longer in communication with both of them,” said Mbatha.
Mthethwa also admitted to no longer being in touch with his former fiancée. This, after Sunday World was reliably informed that he had tried to salvage the relationship by staging an intervention at a popular radio station host’s home in Joburg back in December 2013.
I’m not in contact with Miss Mbatha therefore cannot comment on any allegations involving her,” Mthethwa said in an email.
When asked about his relationship with Nkosi and whether they stole kisses behind Mbatha’s back, Mthethwa responded: Jessica and I are friends. We have been for a while and there is nothing wrong with that.”
The rumoured tension between Mbatha and Nkosi is said to have spilt over into their work environment. Mbatha is back on set after leaving to shoot a movie. A close friend of one of their cast mates said Mbatha had recruited Mampho Brescia (Iris) and Ayanda Ngubane (Phumelele) in her corner, but hit a speed hump when they tried to get Celeste Ntuli (Siphokazi) to join in the big Jessica freeze”.
Celeste told Mampho that as a 39-year- old woman, she should behave better than that and get the girls to reconcile. Celeste said she will never choose between Jessica and Nomzamo because she came with them all the way from KZN,” said the friend.
Apparently the relationship between Mbatha and Nkosi started to cool last year after they were both linked to their married co-star Tumisho Masha.
Masha’s wife, Zozi, is said to have found messages between her husband and Mbatha. They supposedly came via an iCloud account registered under Mbatha but which she allegedly shared with Nkosi.
The two actresses have since claimed to have their own separate accounts, which they insist they hardly use.
Nkosi maintained that she and Masha were merely friends and colleagues, and denied set talk that Masha was forever giving her a ride home.
I always go home with the drivers. If I don’t, I would go home with Celeste, who also lives in [my area],” said Nkosi.
Masha confirmed that he had given Nkosi a lift home, but claimed it was only on two occasions. I took her home twice and there was always a bunch of people with us.”
Masha conceded his conversations with his young pretty co-star did verge on the flirtatious, but that it’s the way I am”.
Nkosi was adamant that their conversations have been innocent.
Meanwhile, Nkosi is said to be isolated from most of the cast on the set.
She comes in, sits alone and waits for her scenes to be called. She doesn’t sit with them anymore, said the set insider.
Nkosi would only say: I come here to act and then I go home.”
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