Mandla Mthembu’s story: How he built his wealth and life beyond the spotlight

For some time now, people have been asking about the whereabouts of Mandla Mthembu, the South African businessman best remembered as Khanyi Mbau’s ex-husband and baby daddy. Mandla passed away in September 2025. He married Khanyi in 2006 before their highly publicized divorce in 2009.

Key takeaways

• Mandla Mthembu built his wealth primarily through printing businesses.
• He was known for his love for fast and luxurious cars.
• The late businessman had six children, including reality TV star Khanukani Mbau.
• Khanukani had reportedly not seen her dad in years before his demise in September 2025.

Profile summary

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Who was Mandla Mthembu?

Mandla Mthembu was a former journalist, entrepreneur, and socialite. He became more famous after getting into a relationship with Khanyi Mbau, a South African actress, musician, television presenter, and socialite.

Is Mandla Mthembu still alive?

The entrepreneur and socialite passed away in September 2025. He passed away after suffering complications related to a stroke. His family reported that he died in a hospital in New York, and was survived by six children named Melusi, Nelisiwe, Onentando, Ntando, Khanukani, and Sibongile.

Following his demise, his family issued a statement that read:

t is with profound sadness that we confirm the passing of Mr Mandla Elliot Mthembu, esteemed business mogul and long-standing member of the ANC. Mthembu was admitted to the hospital, where he suffered a second stroke. Despite the tireless efforts of medical professionals, he succumbed to complications related to the stroke.

Khanyi Mbau and Mandla Mthembu's age gap

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When Khanyi and her ex-husband started dating, there was plenty of uproar because of their age gap. In an interview on the PodcastAndChill podcast, Khanyi revealed she was 30 years younger than her ex-husband, Mthembu.

The actress questioned Mthembu's decision to marry her despite their age gap. She said:

I'm now 32. I would never date a 21-year-old because I feel that the conversation would not be the same. Now, Mandla was 30 years older than me. What would he possibly think he would get out of me?

She went on to say:

But then I understand he was a political prisoner. He went to prison when he was 22 as well. So literally his life was put on hold, and he was literally living his 22-year-old life through me.

Khanyi Mbau's age is 41 years as of March 2026. She was born on 15 October 1984, and her Zodiac sign is Libra. When he died, reports said Mandla was 68 years old.

How did Mandla Mthembu become rich?

In the early 2000s, Mthembu operated a regular printing firm in Johannesburg called Sechaba Photoscan, which he co-managed with William Peterson. He reportedly drove around in an old BMW, and he would often ask for petrol money from his friends.

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Where did Mandla Mthembu get money?

The late South African businessman became rich when Sechaba Printing successfully sued Transnet Parastatal after selling its printing business, Transnet Production House, to Skotaville Press. Skotavile Press reportedly had links to the ANC. The sale bid was placed in 1998.

Following the sale, Mthembu received a payout of around R57,650,554 after the court deducted 5% for contingencies. Using this payout, he established Umsobo Investment Holdings, which imported Saudi crude and resold it to the local oil firm.

Unlike earlier, Mandla became wealthy and could afford to rent a luxurious 6-million-Rand Melrose Arch penthouse in Rosebank. He also purchased other houses and properties.

The former journalist and successful entrepreneur started cruising in expensive cars, including Porsches and Ferraris. He owned Martial Eagle Investments, which bid for a 55% controlling stake in Johnnic Communications.

He was also interested in investing in banking and financial services in 2007. At his peak, Mandla Mthembu's net worth was rumoured to be about R2.5 billion. He bought a house worth R1.5 million for Khanyi's father, who operated a taxi business.

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Was Mandla Mthembu still rich when he died?

There are reports that Mandla went broke, hence his disappearance from the limelight. In 2007, Mandla Mthembu's ex-wife, Dolly described him as broke to the extent of being unable to pay for a textbook for their daughter.

In his defence, Mthembu claimed to have arranged with his ex-wife to purchase the book before travelling to the United States and gave her R18,000.

Mandla Mthembu's financial challenges became clear in August 2008 when he failed to pay for one of the two identical Lamborghinis worth millions of Rand that he had bought on credit for Khanyi Mbau, his second wife, and himself.

Even though he managed to pay the bank R76,000, that was not the end of his money issues. Around the same time, the Johannesburg family court ordered Mthembu's arrest for failing to pay maintenance for his children.

Since Mthembu was in London, Khanyi Mbau gave out R16,000 for child maintenance for his kids with his first wife, Dolly Matshabe.

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It is not a train smash. We are aware of the matter. We have had too much on our plate and that is why some of these responsibilities slipped our minds. Mandla gave me an instruction to deposit R16000 into Dolly's account and I have just done that.

His troubles did not end there. The South African businessman owed the Johannesburg Metro Police Department R78,000 in outstanding traffic fines. At one point, he was thrown out of a hotel for failing to pay R300 daily for accommodation.

Due to his financial issues, his properties, including houses and exotic cars, were sold or repossessed.

Who is Khanyi Mbau’s ex-husband?

Mandla Mthembu is Khanyi Mbau’s ex-husband. The two got married in 2006 and divorced in 2009. The two were blessed with one daughter named Khanukani.

The businessman was 30 years older than Khanyi when they started dating. The two tied the knot in a traditional wedding late in 2006, when Mbau was about 21. The ceremony was conducted by three-time world flyweight boxing champion Masibulele ‘Hawk’ Makepula.

Khanyi once alleged that her ex-husband was a violent man who hit her when she was pregnant and caused her depression for over two decades.

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After separating, Khanyi claimed she never loved Mandla. She also mentioned Mandla Mthembu and Zodwa Wabuntu's affair, suggesting that Mandla was the father of Zodwa's son. However, Wabuntu clarified that Khanyi's ex-husband was not her baby daddy.

Before Khanyi, Mandla was Dolly Matshabe's husband. The two have two daughters together. Mandla and Dolly got divorced soon after having their second child. The South African businessman gave his first wife an R3 million fully-furnished cluster home in Bedfordview and a monthly allowance of R10,000 after their divorce.

Mandla Mthembu's kids

Mthembu was a father of six. He had three daughters with his two ex-wives. He had two daughters with Dolly Matshabe, one named Nelisiwe.

Mandla Mthembu's daughter with Khanyi is Khanukani Mbau. She was born on 24 December 2006. Khanyi had revealed that her daughter had not seen her father in a long time and that Khanukani does not know where he is. She told Zimoja:

I don't know where Mandla is. My daughter does not know her father. She has not seen him ever since she was a baby. She has no recollection of him. All she has is old pictures from when we were young.

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When Mandla died in September 2025, it was said that he was survived by six children. Their names are Melusi, Nelisiwe, Onentando, Ntando, Khanukani, and Sibongile.

What happened to Mandla Mthembu?

There were speculations that Khanyi Mbau's ex-husband went broke. He retreated from the limelight after it was revealed that he was no longer affluent. Mandla Mthembu's latest news is that he passed away in September 2025, following a second stroke.

Trivia

• Mandla Mthembu went to prison when he was 22.
• He enjoyed globe-trotting in his heyday.
• His daughter, Khanukani, passed her matric with an A-aggregate and 80% admission points score (APS).
• Lasizwe Dambuza is his daughter's uncle.
• Mthembu deactivated all his social media pages before his demise.

Mandla Mthembu will be remembered for his expensive lifestyle, which attracted celebrities like Khanyi Mbau and Zodwa Wabuntu to him. He passed away in September 2025 following a stroke.

Briefly.co.za recently published Arrie Rautenbach's biography. Rautenbach has worked in banking and finance for about three decades.

He became Absa Group's CEO in 2022 but announced his retirement unexpectedly. Before getting the top job at one of South Africa's leading financial institutions, Arrie Rautenbach was a result-driven banker who had spent almost his entire career at Absa.

Source: Briefly News