A reality TV show documenting the lives of a polygamous family in South Africa has ignited a global conversation about marriage, faith and exploitation. Sources confirm that “Our Perfect Family”, which follows a wealthy businessman and his four wives, has become an overnight sensation on streaming platforms, drawing millions of viewers from Johannesburg to London. But behind the glossy production values, uncovered documents and leaked emails reveal a tangled web of financial incentives and potential coercion.
The show centres on 55-year-old property developer Thabo Mokoena, his wives aged 22 to 41, and their 13 children. Mokoena presents himself as a devout Christian who believes polygamy is a biblical mandate. However, forensic analysis of contracts obtained by this newsroom suggests the wives receive a monthly stipend from a trust fund controlled solely by Mokoena. Legal experts argue this creates a power imbalance that undermines claims of consent.
The BBC has now launched an investigation into the production company, Cape Town Media Group, after whistleblowers claimed participants were pressured to sign nondisclosure agreements that silence any criticism of the show. The broadcaster’s documentary, airing tonight, will examine whether the series glamourises a practice that remains legal in South Africa but is increasingly controversial.
Polygamy is estimated to involve 2% of South African families, concentrated in rural areas. Yet the show’s urban setting and lavish lifestyle have sparked accusations of pandering to voyeuristic Western audiences. “This is poverty porn dressed up as progress,” said Dr. Nomvula Dlamini, a sociologist at the University of Cape Town. “It commodifies women’s bodies under the guise of cultural tradition.”
The show’s timing is particularly sensitive. South Africa’s parliament is currently debating a bill that would require all polygamous unions to be registered and impose penalties for coercion. Critics say the show could sway public opinion against reform. “It makes polygamy look aspirational,” said Lindiwe Mbatha of the Women’s Legal Centre. “But behind closed doors, we see cases of abuse disguised as piety.”
Emails leaked to this newsroom show that production executives discussed targeting viewers in the Gulf states, where polygamy is legal but rarely depicted so openly. One producer wrote: “This is our ticket to Emmy nominations. The controversy writes itself.” The show’s creator, a British expatriate named Simon Webb, has refused to comment.
Meanwhile, Mokoena has launched a defamation suit against a local newspaper that called him a “cult leader”. His lawyers argue the show promotes “African family values”. But former cast members paint a different picture. One wife, speaking on condition of anonymity, admitted: “I thought I was joining a loving family. Now I realise I am just a character in his story.”
The BBC report is expected to feature interviews with estranged relatives who claim Mokoena used religion to justify controlling behaviour. The network has defended its decision to cover the show, insisting it aims to “explore the contradictions of modern family life”. However, critics say the platform gives legitimacy to a practice many consider patriarchal.
As the debate rages, the show’s ratings continue to climb. And here is the question that keeps me up at night: Are we watching the evolution of family, or the commodification of women dressed up as entertainment? The money trail suggests the latter. And in my line of work, the money never lies.
