Married men, side chicks and gout: ‘Ama Grootman' is KZN's wildest reality show yet!

The Citizen

20-05-2025

While the title 'Ama Grootman' suggests stature, what we really get are men navigating gout, girls young enough to be their daughters, and chaotic relationships.
Now streaming on Showmax and previously on Mzansi Magic, reality show Ama Grootman dives headfirst into the lives of six self-proclaimed gentlemen from Port Shepstone, KwaZulu-Natal.
Viewers are torn between disbelief, laughter and second-hand embarrassment.
Welcome to Mzansi Magic's reality show Ama Grootman, where Peter Pan syndrome meets the South Coast breeze and monogamy is a distant rumour.
'I can't be seen with my daughter's friends' – Bonga walks out
The respect I done gave these two guys on Ep10 is unimaginable!!!! There are still some good black men in our enviable country, South Africa 🇿🇦 , that episode got me saying, "I'm proud to be black." #AmaGrootman pic.twitter.com/SvKLAdJGEK — #blackgirlsrock (@Black_Is_Queen) December 29, 2024
In episode 10, Bonga Madlala drops the kind of line that stops the bottle-popping cold. 'I can't be seen with girls my daughter's age,' he tells the boys before grabbing his keys and exiting stage left, as confused young women sip cocktails in the background.
The rest of the 'groot men', Andile, Bheki, Busani, Mpho and Jackey, are left scrambling to politely usher the barely-legal ladies out. Mpho whispers, 'Yo, these kids still have curfews,' before laughing nervously. But the cameras catch every awkward second.
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When wifey shows up, pot plants fly
In a follow-up episode, the gents take a boys' trip to Joburg, fully booked and bankrolled by their pal Pablo (no surname, just Pablo).
Spirits are high until Bonga's wife, without warning, touches down in Joburg.
Cue tantrum: Bonga flings pot plants from a loft staircase, yelling, 'You had no right to come here unannounced!' before storming off and booking a solo suite elsewhere.
Viewers were left stunned. 'Men will embarrass you at 12 o'clock midday while the sun is 38 degrees Celsius outside… BONGA,' @Ntokozo tweeted.
I'm so disappointed in Bonga. His reaction is uncalled for. What did he want to do that he didn't want his wife to see. Bonga need to learn to control his anger. What we just saw is totally unacceptable. He behaved like a teenager instead of a Grootman #amaGrootman pic.twitter.com/AfWDELlkfT — BMW X5m lover (@Dexigner2) January 16, 2025
iSthembu or just I-sthem-busy?
The men frequently reference isthembu (polygamy) as a sort of traditional Zulu permission slip for late nights, side chicks, and 'business meetings' that end in private lounges.
It's just older men behaving like kids- having multiple baby mamas and broadcasting their infidelity🚮! Badala for lento labantu😑.#Amagrootman — sego.k ᥫ᭡. (@sego_kk) October 24, 2024
But as Twitter user @MsKay puts it: 'The other day I wanted to ask gore, vela vela, their partners are happy with their lifestyle?'
And @Bornqueen adds, 'Childish. We wonder why black families are toxic and apart – it's this very same fake lifestyle we're promoting. Tomorrow we blame bo Van Der Merwe for our problems.'
Why did the wives of Ama grootman agree to this show? 😳😭 Haibo izinto esizibona sonke ba happy ngazo?? #amaGrootman
November 7, 2024
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Groot Men or groot embarrassment?
Despite the backlash, the show has found a loyal (if slightly horrified) viewership.
LMAO why are these men doing this? Are they not embarrassed? 😭 #AmaGrootman — Keitumetse (@KeituSeaketso) October 31, 2024
Netizens have pointed out the title's irony, since most of these men appear to be regular earners. One viewer remarked: 'Grootman? More like Grootboy. They're cheating with energy they don't even have.'
This one deserves a slot on Rekere yakwaMoja love 😂😂😂🚮🚮🚮not 161 please 👏🏾hle😂😂😂#amaGrootman pic.twitter.com/QmF5ipNTLX — PhindileKaGwamanda💛 (@KaPhindile) October 31, 2024
Many are calling out the cast's apparent health issues, one groaning about his gout between shots, another struggling to climb out of a jacuzzi, and wondering how they still manage to chase 22-year-olds with such zeal.
Mseleku's influence?
They all gonna watch #AmaGrootman.
Remember they huffed and puffed about Musa Mseleku but continues to watch his shows. His reality show #UthandoNesthembu became the most watched reality on DStv for few years.
They are complaining but they will watch this show 😇 https://t.co/9siHpuazL3 pic.twitter.com/brSfDHpMRW — Kgopolo (@PhilMphela) September 4, 2024
Some suspect Port Shepstone's most famous polygamist, Musa Mseleku, might be to blame for the rise in unashamed public infidelity. 'These men have taken Mnakwethu and turned it into MnaClownethu,' joked one user.
Season 2? 'Yoh, they must not come back'
While disgust is widespread, so is demand. One viewer posted: 'They must not come back for Season 2. They need to grow up first.'
But another countered: 'Nah fam, I need a reunion episode. I want them to explain themselves. I want the wives on the couch, too. With receipts.'
Ama Grootman may not offer role models, but it's giving Mzansi a front-row seat to some serious midlife madness.
Whether it's tragedy, comedy, or just an episode of 'Men Behaving Badly: SA Edition,' one thing's clear: these groot men are groot content.