Tensions remain high following the dramatic Married at First Sight South Africa Season 2 reunion, where cast members began opening up about the struggles in their short-lived marriages.

Among them, Tshepo Miya, who had remained tight-lipped during the reunion, has now spoken out about the breakdown of his marriage to Palesa Mphaki. In an interview with Lungelo KM on Engineer Your Life, Tshepo unpacked the challenges he faced during their time together.

According to Tshepo, one of the major issues in their union was the imbalance in financial contributions and responsibilities. He revealed that he gave Palesa access to his bank card and vehicle, yet when he asked for what he described as “small things” in return, she was unwilling to reciprocate.

Tshepo claimed that while Palesa used his money for household needs and personal expenses, she refused to share her own salary. This disparity became a point of tension in their relationship.

Adding to the financial strain, Tshepo opened up about Palesa’s alleged controlling behavior. He shared that she was often jealous and even restricted him from speaking to female crew members during filming. Tshepo also recounted a particularly heated argument during which he had to flag down a production car for help, fearing the situation could escalate further.

“She was insulting me in the car,” he explained, “and I noticed one of the production cars driving behind me. I flagged them down and asked, ‘There’s a situation brewing in the car, and at the intensity of it, it’s not going to be nice. Can you guys assist me in getting this person out?'”

The fallout from their failed marriage has sparked a social media storm, with fans and viewers taking sides. While some labeled Palesa’s behaviour as explosive, others accused Tshepo of financial manipulation and abuse.

The heated debates have only fueled the ongoing drama surrounding the controversial reality show, which follows strangers matched by relationship experts as they navigate marriage from day one.

Despite the backlash, Tshepo has used this opportunity to reflect on his experience. He shared that joining the show was an attempt to find love in a non-traditional way, but the journey ultimately taught him hard lessons about compatibility, communication, and boundaries.

Meanwhile, Palesa has also hinted in past interviews that her experience with Tshepo was an eye-opener, particularly regarding honesty in relationships.

As the story continues to unfold, viewers remain captivated by the aftermath of Season 2, with many questioning whether reality TV can truly foster genuine connections or if it’s all just entertainment at the participants’ expense.

Tshepo TELL ALL.

“We made an agreement on how to spilt our finances, but when it came to her, it was just silence…”#MarriedAtFirstSightMzansi #EngineerYourLife pic.twitter.com/mDvTEI5tLZ

— Engineer Your Life (@EngineerYLPod) October 6, 2025