MEETING THE FAMILY

Assisting Qiniso in coming to a final decision was her mother Sibongile and politician sister Phumzile, who was a member of parliament until the end of May. Qiniso is close with both her mother and sister, so their approval in her final pick was crucial. “It’s a huge deal for the man I get in a relationship with to get along with my family as I might marry the person in future. My mother and sister accept everyone. If they don’t like you, it’s already a strike. Strike two is if they don’t feel that you can adapt to my day-to-day life or adjust to my likes and dislikes. You’ll be swimming against the current instead of moving with the stream,” explains Qiniso. “I won’t lie, I value their opinion, second to none. Their observations didn’t sway my decision, but it definitely added value.”

Because her mother and sister know her well, they served as Qiniso’s guides. “I leaned on them and they helped me see things that I hadn’t seen and from a different perspective. They gave me an objective viewpoint according to their knowledge about me. Their support is rare (for most people), and I appreciate them for being part of my journey.”

Qiniso is also thankful to the fans for cheering her on throughout her Bachelorette SA experience. “I knew that I had to do myself, loved ones, and all the people who’ve supported me proud. I will always be grateful for their kind messages that I got on social media. I knew that going into the process I had to move with my gut, and their encouragement [before I started filming] fuelled me to be myself and come to a decision that is right and authentic to me.”