DANIEL: It's a typical evening in Soweto. Five million residents are hurrying home from their work in Johannesburg, catching up with friends or making dinner for hungry families.Prince and Matthews at radio station Tonight almost half of them will then put their feet up and tune in to Jozi FM. A radio station that's become a self appointed watchdog for the morals of this community.
Any other time Jozi FM has about half a million listeners. but once a week that number jumps to include almost half of Soweto, all of them tuning in to hear Cheaters.
Tshabalala on air
TSHABALALA: You know I always preach that if somebody's having a problem with his or her partner, why dont you leave that person. Yeah thats why I played the song, Turn it Loose"
DANIEL: Prince Tshabalala and his co-presenter Matthews Montshogang have been running the show since last year. during that time they've been both praised and pilloried by the press and the local community. They've been held hostage by an angry husband with a gun, they've been beaten up, and Matthews had his arm slashed with a bottle when he was trying to break up a domestic. but they're still persisting with the program.
PRINCE TSHABALALA: Im not that much concerned, but then I have to be concerned about my life, Tshabalala.
Super: Prince Tshabalala Jozi FM presenter but you know, when you do something out of love and wanting to help - I believe that the whole program we do help the society you know - so I still believe that yes, there's nothing that's going to harm me. I can just continue and do it.
DANIEL: Tonight Zinhle Mlambo is the central character in the drama that's about to be relayed to homes across Soweto. She accuses her husband of three years, of cheating on her, and she's come to Jozi FM in a last desperate attempt to save her marriage.
Tshabalala: What is it that you are hoping to happen tonight?
Zinhle: Okay, for me at least let my marriage be back on track because when I took those vows -- when I say, through thick and thin in everything I knew this was what I wanted which is why I decided I dont want a divorce.
DANIEL: Zinhles case brings up another issue worthy of discussion in Soweto domestic violence. She says her husband locked her up while he spent time with his mistress in the marital home, and she was beaten when she complained.
Tshabalala: My sister, what exactly is happening within your marriage that makes you feel that its wrong , theres so many things thats not going your way or the relationship's way?
Zinhle: If he can bring girlfriends into the house in front of me when I talk get punished -- you know, every time when you talk you complain you get beaten and there's nothing you can do. 03:08
DANIEL: Cheaters recruits friends and family to investigate accusations like Zinhle's . Their identity is kept secret and they're referred to during the program by code names like K1, K9 and C14. But other than that, the program has few boundaries.
Presenter Prince Tshabalala works with the investigators to track and monitor the behaviour of the partner accused of cheating -- the team has no qualms about secretly taping conversations or even filming people having sex.PRINCE
TSHABALALA: They can even get a taxi and be taxi drivers
Prince Tshabalala and drop you off wherever youre working, so that they can see oh this guys working here and inside the taxi itself there will be other passengers who happen to be investigators; maybe they might be sitting around you, maybe wanting to hear what is it that you are saying - your conversations.
DANIEL: Somehow the program manages to get all the key players to the studio to face the audience. Sometimes theyre tricked into it. Other times theyre brought in by force. Tonight theyve succeeded yet again. Zinhles husband Vincent is in the hot seat.
Tshabalala: Have you even locked your woman in your bedroom and you were with the other girl?
Vincent: No. How do I do that?
Tshabalala: You refuse?
Vincent: Yes.
DANIEL: Vincent thinks his wife is at home asleep. But hes in for a surprise.
Vincent: Do you want to make me fight with my wife?
Tshabalala: Can we call your wife? Look at me, man.
Vincent: You are disturbing her she is tired, shes sleeping.
Tshabalala: Whos this?
Vincent: Zinhle. What do you want here?
Tshabalala: Is this your wife? 05:22
Vincent: Yes, its true.
DANIEL: In Soweto, the mere sight of a Jozi FM staff member or vehicle is enough to scatter a crowd of people, all fearing they may be the target of a Cheaters investigation. But often the investigators find out more than the partner making the accusations wants to know. And this frequently breaks up families when the information is publicly revealed. The radio show can be a dangerous ingredient to an already violent society, leading to claims that the program goes too far.
Man: Cheaters breaks families it doesnt solve things it makes things worse, you know. Its something just to sell the station or something, nothing else.
Man 2: Listen, if Ive got a nyati (mistress), and move out and cheaters follow me out then coming back and report to my wife, it destroy my family. Ive got a family thats my family, its my nyati, people must understand that this is an African thing, having a nyati is not a problem to our culture.
DANIEL: But Prince Tshabalala says a break up can change people's lives for the better.
TSHABALALA : When somebody is doing wrong on you, you dont need to stand and say yes its going to be fine. Last year it was you were saying the very same thing that it was going to be fine, this year youre still saying it, the next day youre still going to say it, and then where you going to end up? Sometimes you might end up in hospital, hospitalised, you might end up suicidal, you might end up hurt very badly you know. So hence why I say people talk about this, people make awarenesses amongst each other and definitely that's why I believe that it changes people's life
Radio promo: Cheaters its not for sensitive listeners it carries strong language , it challenges your emotions.
DANIEL: Back in the studio, the surprises keep on coming. The programs also tracked down Vincents girlfriend, Nthando.
Nthando in studio with Vincent Tshabalala: Who is this -- your man, your honey, your baby?
Nthando: My baby.
Tshabalala: Nthando, we're not playing marbles here. Youre involved with Vincent and Vincent is married to that woman and you coming up here, youre just like Vincent.
Nthando: I do know the wife by looking at her but thats all. I dont know her name.
Tshabalala: What do you do when you go to someone's house and there is a wife already there?
Nthando: Oh nothing,
Tshabalala: Oh nothing. Oh nothing she is saying oh nothing
DANIEL: It makes painful viewing and listening . Nthando is two months pregnant with Vincents child. They've never used contraception, despite the risk of being infected with HIV -- and infecting others, including Vincents wife. Now she expects him to marry her, but he seems to have changed his mind about marrying his drinking partner from the local shebeen.
Vincent: Nthando, you and I are not in love. You and I are not in love.
DANIEL: Outside the station crowds have gathered to listen to the program. They come every week to catch a glimpse of the players in Soweto's real life drama, and they're often angry, because here sleeping around can kill. Confrontation in studio
Zinhle: Another partner, Vincent?
DANIEL: But tonight there's more to come. Yet another woman , Ntokozo Nkabinde, has been having a relationship with Zinhle's husband, even if at first, he wont admit it.
Ntokozo Nkotozo: Whats going on baby?
Vincent: I dont know you. Who are you?
DANIEL: She says she also was pregnant with his child.
Zinhle: I want you to forget.
Vincent; Sure , Thank you.
N
kotozo: Let me tell you, my sister, he made me have an abortion! You must forget, forget. I'm fed up with you.
DANIEL: Zinhle has found out more than she expected - or wanted - to know about her husband's behaviour. and so have his two lovers. Fight erupts in studio
Zinhle: Who are you? Who are you? What do you want here?
Nkotozo: I'm fed up with you! I'm fed up with you!
Vincent: Ill beat you, Ill beat you.
Nkotozo: Beat me beat me beat me!
DANIEL: In this story, none of those involved have had an AIDS test. But previous programs have exposed people who have passed the disease on to their partners after cheating. We were booked to interview one such victim last week, but she died.Man: Theres AIDS now, hey? Vox pop with listeners outside station Plenty, plenty people are dying, because of AIDS, so I must advise our brothers and sisters to stop cheating.
Man 2: I just want to see the culprit who's victimising our sister, yeah because shes so sweet and giving him all the respect and all of a sudden hes just disrespecting her in return by just coming up with all the women and just cheating in front of her. That is so unfair, most especially for the woman , so its so unacceptable so that is why 10:43
Fight continues in studio
DANIEL: It's not unusual for Cheaters to get violent.
Tshabalala: Vincent ,Vincent, did you see that mess?
Vincent: Girls from the shebeen are beating you til you cry.
DANIEL: A move by the station to take the show off air because it was getting out of control caused a furore among members of the audience .who like the entertainment -- and believe in the message.W
Woman: I love it.
Its good, Its good discipline for married men and women. M
Man: It doesnt make you a superstar to have five girlfriends. It doesnt make you a man to have five girlfriends, especially now that we living in a time that is very, very dangerous.
DANIEL: In the studio, the fight is still in full swing, but over the next few days, the lives of everyone in this room change forever. Vincent loses all of his women his wife and his lovers.
ZINHLE: I saw this helpless man being beaten up by his girlfriends Zinhle which was a sight I had never seen, I never seen before, so I was quite shocked and I just thought to myself at home hes just this ruling person and all of a sudden he's turned into this monkey whos just being pulled around. Zinhle, the wronged wife, moves in with her aunt, and plans to enrol to study law at university.
ZINHLE: I just -- a whole lot of stuff went through my mindZinhle and a whole lot of pain just came back and it kind of made me realise of all the times Ive been wasting when he was abusing me and I was just sitting and I would say okay, no its fine it will all be okay the following day.
DANIEL: Nthando, the pregnant girlfriend, decides to go ahead and have her baby alone.
NTHANDO: Thats what I did, I decided to change for the better. Although I knew that I was doing something wrong, but for me to be there I felt I need to change for the better, you know, and I need to inspire other people I need to spread this word about cheating, its not a good thing, yeah.
DANIEL: So do you think youd cheat again with someone's partner?
NTHANDO: No, no,
I dont think so. Like right now Im prepared to have this baby, you know, and go on with my life.
DANIEL: And Ntokozo also vows that shell never cheat again with someone elses husband.
NTOKOZO: She's badly hurt. I can feel her pain because now Im in pain too. Ntokozo So I understand and then I know that Ive done wrong to her by cheating with her husband. So Im sorry, I apologise to her that Im sorry so I wont do that to another woman any more.
DANIEL: But most surprising of all, The three women walk together theres one final twist in this tale of infidelity and betrayal. The three women in the program, after receiving counselling, have now become the best of friends.
ZINHLE: We started talking Zinhle and we did some exercises. We started talking and talking and talking and we actually realised that weve got one thing in common; we just all of us are longing to be loved, all of us are longing to feel safe and cherished and honoured in our relationships. The three women have lunch And we sort of took it from there and we started talking about it and the counsellor suggested that maybe we see each other at a personal level and see what happens, and we did and we just clicked, weve been calling each other and, I dont know, a whole lot has been happening, like we just went out together last night.
DANIEL: Its hard to tell whether thats a happy ending or not. But its precisely the sort of human drama thatll keep millions of Cheaters fans tuning in for more.
Any other time Jozi FM has about half a million listeners. but once a week that number jumps to include almost half of Soweto, all of them tuning in to hear Cheaters.
Tshabalala on air
TSHABALALA: You know I always preach that if somebody's having a problem with his or her partner, why dont you leave that person. Yeah thats why I played the song, Turn it Loose"
DANIEL: Prince Tshabalala and his co-presenter Matthews Montshogang have been running the show since last year. during that time they've been both praised and pilloried by the press and the local community. They've been held hostage by an angry husband with a gun, they've been beaten up, and Matthews had his arm slashed with a bottle when he was trying to break up a domestic. but they're still persisting with the program.
PRINCE TSHABALALA: Im not that much concerned, but then I have to be concerned about my life, Tshabalala.
Super: Prince Tshabalala Jozi FM presenter but you know, when you do something out of love and wanting to help - I believe that the whole program we do help the society you know - so I still believe that yes, there's nothing that's going to harm me. I can just continue and do it.
DANIEL: Tonight Zinhle Mlambo is the central character in the drama that's about to be relayed to homes across Soweto. She accuses her husband of three years, of cheating on her, and she's come to Jozi FM in a last desperate attempt to save her marriage.
Tshabalala: What is it that you are hoping to happen tonight?
Zinhle: Okay, for me at least let my marriage be back on track because when I took those vows -- when I say, through thick and thin in everything I knew this was what I wanted which is why I decided I dont want a divorce.
DANIEL: Zinhles case brings up another issue worthy of discussion in Soweto domestic violence. She says her husband locked her up while he spent time with his mistress in the marital home, and she was beaten when she complained.
Tshabalala: My sister, what exactly is happening within your marriage that makes you feel that its wrong , theres so many things thats not going your way or the relationship's way?
Zinhle: If he can bring girlfriends into the house in front of me when I talk get punished -- you know, every time when you talk you complain you get beaten and there's nothing you can do. 03:08
DANIEL: Cheaters recruits friends and family to investigate accusations like Zinhle's . Their identity is kept secret and they're referred to during the program by code names like K1, K9 and C14. But other than that, the program has few boundaries.
Presenter Prince Tshabalala works with the investigators to track and monitor the behaviour of the partner accused of cheating -- the team has no qualms about secretly taping conversations or even filming people having sex.PRINCE
TSHABALALA: They can even get a taxi and be taxi drivers
Prince Tshabalala and drop you off wherever youre working, so that they can see oh this guys working here and inside the taxi itself there will be other passengers who happen to be investigators; maybe they might be sitting around you, maybe wanting to hear what is it that you are saying - your conversations.
DANIEL: Somehow the program manages to get all the key players to the studio to face the audience. Sometimes theyre tricked into it. Other times theyre brought in by force. Tonight theyve succeeded yet again. Zinhles husband Vincent is in the hot seat.
Tshabalala: Have you even locked your woman in your bedroom and you were with the other girl?
Vincent: No. How do I do that?
Tshabalala: You refuse?
Vincent: Yes.
DANIEL: Vincent thinks his wife is at home asleep. But hes in for a surprise.
Vincent: Do you want to make me fight with my wife?
Tshabalala: Can we call your wife? Look at me, man.
Vincent: You are disturbing her she is tired, shes sleeping.
Tshabalala: Whos this?
Vincent: Zinhle. What do you want here?
Tshabalala: Is this your wife? 05:22
Vincent: Yes, its true.
DANIEL: In Soweto, the mere sight of a Jozi FM staff member or vehicle is enough to scatter a crowd of people, all fearing they may be the target of a Cheaters investigation. But often the investigators find out more than the partner making the accusations wants to know. And this frequently breaks up families when the information is publicly revealed. The radio show can be a dangerous ingredient to an already violent society, leading to claims that the program goes too far.
Man: Cheaters breaks families it doesnt solve things it makes things worse, you know. Its something just to sell the station or something, nothing else.
Man 2: Listen, if Ive got a nyati (mistress), and move out and cheaters follow me out then coming back and report to my wife, it destroy my family. Ive got a family thats my family, its my nyati, people must understand that this is an African thing, having a nyati is not a problem to our culture.
DANIEL: But Prince Tshabalala says a break up can change people's lives for the better.
TSHABALALA : When somebody is doing wrong on you, you dont need to stand and say yes its going to be fine. Last year it was you were saying the very same thing that it was going to be fine, this year youre still saying it, the next day youre still going to say it, and then where you going to end up? Sometimes you might end up in hospital, hospitalised, you might end up suicidal, you might end up hurt very badly you know. So hence why I say people talk about this, people make awarenesses amongst each other and definitely that's why I believe that it changes people's life
Radio promo: Cheaters its not for sensitive listeners it carries strong language , it challenges your emotions.
DANIEL: Back in the studio, the surprises keep on coming. The programs also tracked down Vincents girlfriend, Nthando.
Nthando in studio with Vincent Tshabalala: Who is this -- your man, your honey, your baby?
Nthando: My baby.
Tshabalala: Nthando, we're not playing marbles here. Youre involved with Vincent and Vincent is married to that woman and you coming up here, youre just like Vincent.
Nthando: I do know the wife by looking at her but thats all. I dont know her name.
Tshabalala: What do you do when you go to someone's house and there is a wife already there?
Nthando: Oh nothing,
Tshabalala: Oh nothing. Oh nothing she is saying oh nothing
DANIEL: It makes painful viewing and listening . Nthando is two months pregnant with Vincents child. They've never used contraception, despite the risk of being infected with HIV -- and infecting others, including Vincents wife. Now she expects him to marry her, but he seems to have changed his mind about marrying his drinking partner from the local shebeen.
Vincent: Nthando, you and I are not in love. You and I are not in love.
DANIEL: Outside the station crowds have gathered to listen to the program. They come every week to catch a glimpse of the players in Soweto's real life drama, and they're often angry, because here sleeping around can kill. Confrontation in studio
Zinhle: Another partner, Vincent?
DANIEL: But tonight there's more to come. Yet another woman , Ntokozo Nkabinde, has been having a relationship with Zinhle's husband, even if at first, he wont admit it.
Ntokozo Nkotozo: Whats going on baby?
Vincent: I dont know you. Who are you?
DANIEL: She says she also was pregnant with his child.
Zinhle: I want you to forget.
Vincent; Sure , Thank you.
N
kotozo: Let me tell you, my sister, he made me have an abortion! You must forget, forget. I'm fed up with you.
DANIEL: Zinhle has found out more than she expected - or wanted - to know about her husband's behaviour. and so have his two lovers. Fight erupts in studio
Zinhle: Who are you? Who are you? What do you want here?
Nkotozo: I'm fed up with you! I'm fed up with you!
Vincent: Ill beat you, Ill beat you.
Nkotozo: Beat me beat me beat me!
DANIEL: In this story, none of those involved have had an AIDS test. But previous programs have exposed people who have passed the disease on to their partners after cheating. We were booked to interview one such victim last week, but she died.Man: Theres AIDS now, hey? Vox pop with listeners outside station Plenty, plenty people are dying, because of AIDS, so I must advise our brothers and sisters to stop cheating.
Man 2: I just want to see the culprit who's victimising our sister, yeah because shes so sweet and giving him all the respect and all of a sudden hes just disrespecting her in return by just coming up with all the women and just cheating in front of her. That is so unfair, most especially for the woman , so its so unacceptable so that is why 10:43
Fight continues in studio
DANIEL: It's not unusual for Cheaters to get violent.
Tshabalala: Vincent ,Vincent, did you see that mess?
Vincent: Girls from the shebeen are beating you til you cry.
DANIEL: A move by the station to take the show off air because it was getting out of control caused a furore among members of the audience .who like the entertainment -- and believe in the message.W
Woman: I love it.
Its good, Its good discipline for married men and women. M
Man: It doesnt make you a superstar to have five girlfriends. It doesnt make you a man to have five girlfriends, especially now that we living in a time that is very, very dangerous.
DANIEL: In the studio, the fight is still in full swing, but over the next few days, the lives of everyone in this room change forever. Vincent loses all of his women his wife and his lovers.
ZINHLE: I saw this helpless man being beaten up by his girlfriends Zinhle which was a sight I had never seen, I never seen before, so I was quite shocked and I just thought to myself at home hes just this ruling person and all of a sudden he's turned into this monkey whos just being pulled around. Zinhle, the wronged wife, moves in with her aunt, and plans to enrol to study law at university.
ZINHLE: I just -- a whole lot of stuff went through my mindZinhle and a whole lot of pain just came back and it kind of made me realise of all the times Ive been wasting when he was abusing me and I was just sitting and I would say okay, no its fine it will all be okay the following day.
DANIEL: Nthando, the pregnant girlfriend, decides to go ahead and have her baby alone.
NTHANDO: Thats what I did, I decided to change for the better. Although I knew that I was doing something wrong, but for me to be there I felt I need to change for the better, you know, and I need to inspire other people I need to spread this word about cheating, its not a good thing, yeah.
DANIEL: So do you think youd cheat again with someone's partner?
NTHANDO: No, no,
I dont think so. Like right now Im prepared to have this baby, you know, and go on with my life.
DANIEL: And Ntokozo also vows that shell never cheat again with someone elses husband.
NTOKOZO: She's badly hurt. I can feel her pain because now Im in pain too. Ntokozo So I understand and then I know that Ive done wrong to her by cheating with her husband. So Im sorry, I apologise to her that Im sorry so I wont do that to another woman any more.
DANIEL: But most surprising of all, The three women walk together theres one final twist in this tale of infidelity and betrayal. The three women in the program, after receiving counselling, have now become the best of friends.
ZINHLE: We started talking Zinhle and we did some exercises. We started talking and talking and talking and we actually realised that weve got one thing in common; we just all of us are longing to be loved, all of us are longing to feel safe and cherished and honoured in our relationships. The three women have lunch And we sort of took it from there and we started talking about it and the counsellor suggested that maybe we see each other at a personal level and see what happens, and we did and we just clicked, weve been calling each other and, I dont know, a whole lot has been happening, like we just went out together last night.
DANIEL: Its hard to tell whether thats a happy ending or not. But its precisely the sort of human drama thatll keep millions of Cheaters fans tuning in for more.