South African actress Palesa Madisakwane and former partner Somizi Mhlongo. Picture: X/@YouthVillageSA
In the 1990s, South African actress Palesa Madisakwane and media personality Somizi Mhlongo were in a relationship that led to the birth of their daughter, Bahumi.
Reflecting on that time, Madisakwane recently shared that she felt unprepared for motherhood and returned to her grandparents’ home after discovering her pregnancy. “It was a lot. It was a lot that time,” she admitted.
In a video shared on X, she added, “I had a child with a famous gay man, unknowingly. Thirty years later, I can now talk about it.”
Madisakwane faced societal scrutiny, particularly around Mhlongo’s sexuality. Many speculated about their relationship, with some accusing her of trying to “trap” him.
“People said I wanted to trap him,” she recalled, highlighting the curiosity surrounding how a gay man could father a child.
At the time, she was unaware of Mhlongo’s sexual orientation. She explained that he didn’t portray the stereotypical flamboyance associated with being gay, which led her to believe he was heterosexual.
“Funny enough, he didn’t act gay or seem flamboyant,” she said. It was only after speaking with his family that she began to understand.
"I had a child with a famous gay man" pic.twitter.com/8bRSeNJCrD
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In a 2022 interview, Madisakwane admitted that discovering the truth was a confusing experience. “It was a confusing time in my life when I found out that my daughter's father is gay,” she said.
She revealed that it was Mhlongo’s sister and his late mother, Mary Mhlongo, who finally confirmed it for her.
Recalling their conversation, she said his mother told her, “My child, you can see how Somizi is – he isn’t like other boys. Give us the child and go on with your life.”
Over the years, Mhlongo has opened up about his journey of self-discovery. While he initially identified as gay, he later described himself as pansexual, meaning he is attracted to people regardless of gender.
“At some point, I thought I was gay. At some point, I thought I was bi(sexual), but now I think I’m pansexual. Being pansexual ... I am attracted to whomever I am attracted to at the time,” he explained.
Despite their complicated past, Madisakwane and Mhlongo have worked towards understanding and successfully co-parenting their daughter.