Enhle Mbali Mlotshwa opens up about new romance and views on remarrying: 'I'll do it again'

After six years of headlines, courtrooms and a high-profile divorce from DJ Black Coffee that gripped the nation, Enhle Mbali Mlotshwa has finally exhaled.

In a soul-baring interview with "Nounouche", the actress and Essie Apparel founder reveals she is no longer just surviving - she is thriving in a protected new relationship and building a fortress of love for her children.

For the first time, Mlotshwa touched on the new love in her life, but don’t expect a soft launch anytime soon. Healing has taught her that some treasures are meant to be kept under lock and key.

"I’ve realised that the things that are personal to you, you can’t give it to people, so the relationship I am in right now, I’m not going to give to you. I don’t need to prove to you that I’m in a relationship and I’m extremely happy...

"Healing taught me that if you care for something deeply, you keep it close to your heart," she says. 

This protected love extends to her home life as well, where she has been intentional about keeping her dating life separate from her children.

Her sons remain her priority, and she beams when discussing the solid foundation they’ve built through "pizza Fridays" and open conversations about everything from sex to spirituality.

"My kids don't even know I am dating, only recently I am saying 'I'm going out on a date', and then the older one is like 'Yass, okay mom'. I can see how much they appreciate that I've respected them.

"My kids feel loved, and there are little traditions that we have, movie nights, pizza Fridays, we have conversations about sex, we have spiritual conversations, we have such a solid foundation that it's so beautiful.

"I can tell my kids appreciate me because I'm the one who always has to say, 'Hey, you don't have to fight the other side. The other side has a life of their own, just like we have a life, so don't feel guilty if you've eaten on the other side and you're full and you come to my side'. Those lessons liberate them."

Embracing love

Despite the "spiritual muscles" she had to exercise during her messy public split, she hasn't soured on the idea of "I do".

In fact, her recent Essie Apparel bridal capsule is a physical manifestation of her belief in love.

"Everything I do always has some form of messaging ... My bridal capsule that has recently come out, people think, 'Ah, that's a great idea, yes, we didn't see you migrating that way', but for me, it is saying that I've always loved love, I believe in love, I believe in the institution of marriage. 

"Growing up, I would always say I don't want to get married or have kids, but life showed me otherwise. But that capsule, for me, is that I am going to do it again, and I love it. I would definitely get married again. I am wiser, smarter, emotionally well put, and I've healed a lot of my inner-girl traumas."

Returning to her centre

The journey back to herself wasn't easy, she revealed that she required professional reinforcement by getting help from a "psychologist, psychiatrist and a life coach" to navigate life.

"I am able to just be, because Enhle is at a different level than Mbali was. I am ever so grateful that Enhle was able to take Mbali and say, 'I know I left you at 13-years-old, but with your permission, can we go through this together, since I am now in a better place and we can laugh and dance together'. That's where I am."

A message to Black women

Mlotshwa issued a powerful reminder that the world often weaponises the "strong black woman" narrative to justify their pain.

"Black women, no one is out there to save you. Black women, very few people care about you, and those who care are scared to be your saviour. You are the only person who is going to save you.

"The world is going to hate you for standing up for yourself because they think you don't deserve that. They feel you deserve the 'strong' that Black women are of taking pain in. You deserve to be soft, you deserve to be loved correctly...," she said.

Watch the full interview below.