South African actress Buhle Samuels obtained a protection order against her boyfriend, Vuyisa Mqokiyana, in October 2025. The order came after she ended her short-lived marriage to gangster Thando Sonqishe and allegedly began a relationship with Mqokiyana, who is also the ex-husband of actress Asavela Mnqithi.
The protection order was filed by actress Buhle Samuels against Vuyisa Makiyana (also spelled Mqokiyana). The application, filed in the Randburg Magistrate’s Court with the case number 662/2025, alleges the following acts of domestic violence:
- Physical Abuse: The applicant claims to have been physically harmed by the respondent.
- Emotional, Verbal or Psychological Abuse: The documents indicate that the respondent engaged in behavior that caused emotional distress, humiliation, or psychological harm.
- Economic Abuse: The filing suggests that the respondent controlled or misused the applicant’s finances.
- Intimidation: The documents indicate that the respondent’s actions were meant to instill fear in the applicant.
Buhle was married to Thando Sonqishe in a private traditional ceremony in 2022, amid public speculation that he was involved with a “dangerous money heist gang”. The couple divorced less than two years later, as Sonqishe was alleged to be an abusive ex-husband.
In a protection order; Buhle Samuels claims that Asavela Mnqithi’s ex-husband Vuyisa Mqokiyana physically abused, emotionally abused, enocomical abused and intimidated her. This comes after Buhle Samuels had divorced her dangerous husband Thando Sonqishe and immediately dated Asavela Mnqithi’s abusive ex-husband Vuyisa Mqokiyana.
Timeline of the relationship:
- March–May 2022: Buhle Samuels and Thando Sonqishe reportedly had a secret, traditional wedding in the Eastern Cape. News of the marriage emerged in late March, with guests asked to turn off their phones during the proceedings. Local blogs and gossip pages claimed Sonqishe was an alleged “gangster” and “dangerous man,” with some suggesting Samuels married him for money.
- February 2024: After less than two years of marriage, news broke that Samuels and Sonqishe had separated.
- May 2024: Blogger Musa Khawula alleged that Samuels had left Sonqishe and that Sonqishe had confiscated a Porsche he had purchased for her.
- June 2024: Khawula further claimed that Samuels had moved in with another man and left her “dangerous gangster ex-husband Thando Sonqishe who was beating on her”.
- April 2025: A Facebook post reported the divorce of Samuels and Sonqishe, stating they had a child together and had been married for less than two years.
- April 2025: News reports surfaced that Samuels appeared in court on fraud and forgery charges relating to a high-end Porsche, separate from the one allegedly repossessed by Sonqishe.
- Buhle Samuels’ Claim: Buhle Samuels reportedly posted a picture of a Porsche SUV on her social media, captioning it as an “early birthday gift. From me to me.” This suggested she had bought the expensive car for herself.
- Source of the Car: Rumors and reports allege that the Porsche was a gift from Vuyisa Mqokiyana to Buhle Samuels during a time when his marriage to Asavela Mnqithi was reportedly in trouble. The car is widely speculated to be the final reason for Asavela’s departure from her marital home.
- Legal Trouble: The matter escalated into a legal issue when reports surfaced that Buhle Samuels was facing charges of fraud related to the acquisition of the vehicle. Authorities allegedly claimed that she had forged documents and signatures to unlawfully register the car in her name.
- The Car’s Status: The reports state that the Porsche has since been seized by law enforcement and is being held as evidence in a criminal investigation.
