She is the widow of award-winning late Kwaito veteran, Mandoza who passed away after losing his battle with pharyngeal cancer in 2016. Since then, Mpho Tshabalala has not shared anything about love, relationships and dating again. She has focused her energies on keeping her husband’s legacy alive.Mpho tells ZiMoja that the reason she has not even mentioned dating is because she fears judgment. The day she decides to open up about possibly dating again, might never come. “As widows, we are not expected to get into relationships or date after our husband passes away,” she says. “My husband died almost ten years ago and If I am ever to say I am dating again, I know I would be judged.Mpho adds that there is a stigma that she fears. “As much as I have overcome a lot. I am still scared of being judged. I don’t think I will ever show myself dating. There is too much judgment. You’d rather keep it private.

 

 

Through the years, her journey as a widow meant telling her husband’s story. But she is ready to also tell her own. “I’m ready to share my story as a widow and being married to the star. It’s amazing and scary. My story is simple, it’s about giving hope to the next widows to say even broken crayons are still colour,” she says.Her son, Tokollo Tshabalala has followed in his father’s footsteps and ventured into music. With her knowledge of what goes on behind the scenes, Mpho says she believes her son is ready. “We taught him well, we groomed him to not make the many mistakes that artists from the past have made.” She believes he can achieve greatness. “I am not nervous, we are well guided, we have learned our lesson.