South African influencer and media personality Mihlali Ndamase has strongly rejected social media claims that she was romantically involved with Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo.
Ndamase addressed the rumours following Chivayo’s death in a helicopter crash near Harare on Wednesday, 30 September, insisting that she had never dated or even met the businessman.
Influencer Calls Out ‘False Narrative’
Taking to her Instagram Stories, the 29-year-old criticised bloggers for circulating what she described as fabricated claims about her personal life.
Ndamase said she had no issue with public scrutiny but objected to allegations being presented as facts when, according to her, they were untrue.
She accused controversial blogger Musa Khawula of repeatedly using her name to generate attention online and urged people to verify claims before accepting them as truth.
Ndamase Also Denies Ginimbi Romance
The influencer also rejected longstanding speculation that she had previously been romantically involved with Zimbabwean socialite and businessman Genius Kadungure, popularly known as Ginimbi.
Ginimbi died in a car crash in Harare in November 2020.
Ndamase made it clear that she had never dated either Chivayo or Ginimbi, describing the repeated claims as damaging to her reputation.
She said she knows what she has and has not done and would rather protect her peace than constantly respond to rumours, while maintaining that silence should not be interpreted as acceptance of false allegations.
Chivayo Previously Addressed the Rumours
The latest controversy is not the first time Chivayo had been linked publicly to Ndamase.
In 2024, the businessman himself responded to reports suggesting that the pair were dating while he was going through a highly publicised divorce from his first wife, Sonja.
Chivayo dismissed the reports at the time, saying he did not personally know Ndamase or another woman mentioned in the rumours.
Businessman Blamed Online Blogger
Chivayo also accused an X user of creating the story to attract attention, claiming the blogger had used his purchase of a 2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre as an opportunity to manufacture a controversial narrative.
He described the claims as baseless and suggested they were motivated by a desire for online relevance.
His comments at the time therefore closely mirror Ndamase’s latest response, with both publicly denying that a romantic relationship existed.
Chivayo Dies in Helicopter Crash
Chivayo and his wife, Lucy, died in a fatal helicopter crash near Harare on 30 September.
The businessman was widely known for his involvement in energy, infrastructure and public-sector projects, as well as his relationships with prominent political figures across Africa.
He had also faced public scrutiny over some of his business dealings but consistently maintained that his commercial activities were legitimate.
Ndamase Draws a Line Under the Speculation
With the rumours resurfacing following Chivayo’s death, Ndamase has made her position clear: she says there was never a romantic relationship between them.
Her response also highlights the growing tension between public figures and online commentators over the speed at which unverified claims can spread across social media.
For Ndamase, the issue appears to be less about criticism and more about preventing speculation from being treated as established fact
