In a dramatic turn of events that has gripped the “Big Brother Mzansi” fanbase, the team representing Season 5 winner Akhonamathemba “Sweet Guluva” Zwane has issued a formal statement to address swirling rumors of his being an “absent father.”
The controversy follows the Valentine’s Day birth announcement by fellow reality star and ex-partner Ash-ley Ogle, who introduced her newborn son, Kenzo-Lu, to her “Ashes” (fans) while keeping the identity of the father a mystery.
The Statement: “Not Absent, But Denied Access”
Sweet Guluva’s management has firmly pushed back against allegations that the star is dodging his paternal responsibilities. According to the release, Zwane has been proactive behind the scenes since early 2025, attempting to follow cultural protocols and resolve the matter with the Ogle family.
Key points from the official statement:
- Cultural Compliance: Zwane has reportedly requested his family to engage Ogle’s family to pay intlawulo (damages)—a Zulu custom where a father acknowledges responsibility for a child born out of wedlock.
- Denied Access: The team alleges that despite repeated efforts, Sweet Guluva has neither met nor seen the child in person, claiming that Ash-ley Ogle has refused to facilitate a meeting.
- Paternity Verification: It has been suggested that Zwane is seeking a paternity test before finalizing legal and cultural responsibilities, a request that is allegedly a point of contention between the two parties.
- Legal Handover: Exhausted by private negotiations, the matter has now been officially handed over to legal representatives to mediate.
The “Jwaang” Mystery & Social Media Clues
The online frenzy reached a fever pitch after a video surfaced showing Ogle responding to paternity questions with the word “jwaang.” Fans quickly connected this to a TikTok video posted by Sweet Guluva earlier this month where he used the same Sesotho term (meaning “how” or “how is it”). While many interpreted this as a coded confirmation of his fatherhood, his team maintains that these assumptions are fuel for a fire they are trying to put out through legal channels.
What is Intlawulo?
Intlawulo (known as Inhlawulo in Zulu) is a customary practice in Southern Africa where a man’s family pays a fine or “damages” to the family of a woman he has impregnated out of wedlock. It serves as a formal acknowledgement of paternity and a prerequisite for the father to have a legal and cultural claim to the child.
