He’s so all over the place that he was late for his own proposal! Not only did Phelo Bala send Moshe Ndiki to the wrong venue, he also left his bae outside in the cold for close to an hour. But Moshe has forgiven his new fiancé.
The celebrity couple announced their engagement on social media earlier this year, spreading happiness at a time when the world needs love. In an exclusive interview with DRUM, Moshe (27) and Phelo (28) dish the details of their romantic engagement. The stylish pair, rocking matching outfits, pull up at our offices in Moshe’s black Jeep.
As the designated driver he needs to make sure Phelo gets to the Barnyard Theatre on time to rehearse for the musical he’s performing in. This is because Moshe is the more organised of the two, Phelo reveals. “I admire so much of his strength and all the things I’m not,” he says.
“He’s organised, and stronger than I’ll ever be. I also love that when he isn’t strong, he can express himself and quickly gets back up.”
Moshe blushes. He believes they balance each other. “We sometimes fight but I love how we talk about everything, and Phelo’s willingness to accept when he is wrong.” But Phelo can do no wrong in Moshe’s eyes since pulling out all the stops for his proposal.
The self-confessed scatterbrain says he wasn’t sure he’d be able to pull it off. “I suck at admin and planning anything, but I wanted the engagement to be perfect.”
READ MORE: Phelo Bala on coming out: 'Living a lie was not what I wanted for my life'
After getting the blessing of both families, Phelo set the date for 1 September. “I know how much he loves spring and it symbolises a new chapter for us. “I’d already envisioned the kind of ring Moshe would love.
But when I arrived at the store, I couldn’t find what I was looking for and it took me a long time to finally decide on what to get him.” Turns out he made the perfect choice. Moshe beams as he flashes his white gold eternity band dotted with diamonds. “I really didn’t see this coming,” he says.
Phelo had been acting strange and slightly moody the week before the proposal, Moshe admits. “He was distant and would make strange comments like, ‘I’m being weird, I know, but you’ll get it one day’.” His unusual behaviour led to a disagreement in which doors were banged. “He came home late the Friday before he proposed, and I was super upset.
Later, I found out it was because he was meeting with his planning committee,” Moshe says. The next morning, he met with a few friends to give Phelo some space. After celebrating Spring Day with his family over a braai they linked up. “He told me to meet him at Northcliff Hill and because he isn’t an admin person, getting there was a mission.
He sent me the wrong location and arrived 45 minutes late. It was dark and cold.” But all was forgotten when he saw what Phelo had planned. “It was very romantic – a blanket and a cute picnic basket.”
But Phelo’s phone kept ringing. “I was so annoyed when he started telling people where we were. Unknown to me, he was talking to a violinist who started playing our favourite song, Fall Again by Glenn Lewis.” Before he knew it, Phelo was on bended knee and a camera person pitched to capture it.
“A proposal was the last thing on my mind because I’d had a terrible morning. Work was hectic, I was fighting with my assistant and someone deposited R450 000 in my account and I had to send it back. It was just a messy day and I didn’t think anything good could come out of it.” When it finally hit him what was happening, he couldn’t hold back his emotion.
“Phelo was on one knee,” he says. “He told me how nervous he was and how he doesn’t want to be with anyone but me. It was a long speech that I barely remember because I was in tears. My hair was a mess, my nails weren’t manicured, but he made my day.”
They met through a friend and have been dating on and off since 2010. “But we reunited forever now,” Phelo says. “We decided to fix things and settle down. “Life’s too short to not be with the one you love.”
The youngest Bala brother is more private than his flamboyant TV presenter fiancé. Earlier this year he refused to discuss whether his brother was homophobic when Loyiso (40) posted a birthday message to his social media.
“Blessed to have spent some quality time with my brother @PheloBala the past few weeks,” Loyiso wrote. “As I said to him, ‘I’m in no position to judge you but to love you and to always point you to Christ.
Your relationship with Him will define your life’s purpose’.” The incident was a storm in a teacup, Phelo now tells DRUM.
“That was exaggerated. Bhut’ Loyiso is such a sweet guy, he wouldn’t harm a fly. People read the caption out of context,” he says. They know they won’t win everyone over, but “our relationship is not for anyone else but us. Our families love us, and they love each other.
It’s turning out to be a great year for him. Earlier this year he started hosting dating show Uyang’thanda Na? and Rea Tsotella Spicey, and recently bagged a deal as a brand ambassador.
He bought his dream car, his dream house, bought his mom a house and is now engaged to the man of his dreams. “What more could one ask for? Things are going so well for me. It’s a lot to juggle but I’m so grateful.” Phelo has started writing new music and plans to record and release it next year, but they’re in no rush to walk down the aisle.
“We’re planning on growing our family,” Moshe says. “We want proper planning, so we don’t bring a child into the world without being prepared financially and emotionally.” They’ll meet with their families to find out what they need for their traditional wedding, which th ey hop e to have next spring.
Phelo is happy to leave their big day in his partner’s hands. “I’ve already reached out to celebrity wedding planner; Precious the Planner,” Moshe says.
READ MORE: Moshe Ndiki on buying his mom a house: “You gave up a whole lot in your life to be my mom”
