EXCLUSIVE: ‘I Once Loved a Jonasi’: Lukhanyo Kwenene Opens Up About Betrayal, HIV and Choosing Life Again

Jonasi.

A name that opened wounds.
A name that exposed uncomfortable truths.
A name that forced many people to look beyond the stories they see on the surface and confront the realities that exist behind closed doors.

Since the release of Netflix’s The Polygamist on 12 June 2026, Jonasi Gomora has become one of the most talked-about characters in South Africa, sparking debates, criticism and countless conversations across social media and beyond. The character’s complicated relationships and the secrets surrounding his carefully built life have resonated with viewers, leaving many reflecting on the realities of love, trust and betrayal.

But for actor, author and media personality Lukhanyo Kwenene, “Jonasi” is not just a fictional character.

He once loved one.

For Lukhanyo, the name represents a chapter of his own life — a chapter filled with heartbreak, unanswered questions and battles that were fought far away from the public eye.

Behind the smile, the public appearances and the inspirational messages was a man silently trying to survive a storm that threatened his health, his finances, his emotional wellbeing and the person he believed himself to be.

The person he trusted most left him living with an HIV diagnosis , emotional trauma, debt and pain that would take years to confront.

Yet his story goes beyond betrayal. It is a story of resilience, of a man who continues to use his voice to uplift others while navigating his own journey of healing and recovery.

Now, in this moving exclusive Q&A with Africa Jamz FM News, Lukhanyo opens up about love, betrayal, depression, healing and the difficult journey that ultimately taught him the importance of choosing himself again.

Let’s hear what he had to say:

1. Lukhanyo, many people know you as an actor, author, media personality and someone who constantly inspires others. But behind the success and the smile, there was a man fighting for his own survival. Explain to us who Lukhanyo was before meeting his “Jonasi” and what you were dreaming of during that season of your life?

“Before meeting “Jonasi,” I was a very young man full of hope and ambition. I believed deeply in love, loyalty, and building a future with someone who would genuinely choose me. I was focused on growing my career in media and acting while also working hard to create a stable life for myself.

“Like many people, I wanted a healthy relationship, a peaceful home, and a partner who would become my safe place. I never imagined that the very person I trusted the most would become the source of some of the deepest pain I would ever experience. Even then, I still believed that kindness would always win, and that belief has stayed with me despite everything I have been through,” said Lukhanyo.

2. Take us back to the beginning of this relationship. What did this person mean to you, what kind of future were you building together, and at what moment did you start feeling that something was no longer right?

“In the beginning, everything felt genuine. I was introduced to his family, we spoke about the future, and I truly believed I had found my life partner. I invested my heart completely into that relationship because I don’t know how to love halfway. I imagined us building a home, an empire, and growing old together.

“The turning point came when I received anonymous messages warning me about his lifestyle and telling me things I didn’t want to believe. I confronted him, but he denied everything, and I chose to trust the person I loved instead of the warnings from strangers. Looking back now, there were many red flags I ignored because love sometimes makes you believe people will change. Unfortunately, those warnings turned out to be true,” said Lukhanyo.

3. You have openly shared that your world changed after your HIV diagnosis. Explain to us what happened during that period and what was going through your mind emotionally, mentally and spiritually when you realised that the warnings you had once received might have been true?

“Receiving my HIV diagnosis completely shattered me. I felt betrayed, broken, and angry. I kept asking myself why this had happened to me when I had been very faithful in my relationship. Emotionally, I was overwhelmed by heartbreak. Mentally, I couldn’t process what my future would look like. Spiritually, I questioned everything, including God and my ancestors.

“For almost two years, I lived in denial and refused to start treatment because I thought my life was over. During that time, my health deteriorated, and I became sick often. Eventually, I realised that accepting my diagnosis was not the end of my story; it was the beginning of a new chapter. Starting treatment gave me another chance at life, and today I want others to know that HIV is not a death sentence. With treatment, support, and self-love, you can live a healthy and fulfilling life,” said Lukhanyo.

4. You speak candidly about depression, trauma and even reaching a point where you no longer wanted to live. Looking back today, what was the darkest moment for you, and what ultimately gave you the strength to choose life again?

“The darkest moment was when I genuinely believed that dying would be easier than living with the pain I was carrying. The betrayal, the diagnosis, and the emotional abuse had completely broken me. I reached a point where I no longer saw a reason to continue. But surviving that season changed me.

“The compassion shown by healthcare workers, the support from people who refused to give up on me, and the realisation that my story could one day help save someone else’s life gave me hope. I discovered that pain can become purpose. Today, every interview I do, every chapter I write, and every person I encourage is proof that choosing life was the best decision I could have made,” said Lukhanyo.

5. Your upcoming memoir, You Cannot Break The Chosen Ones, feels like more than a book—it feels like a testimony. What do you hope someone who is currently living through their own ‘Jonasi’ takes away from your story after reading it?

“I want them to understand that love should never cost you your peace, your health, or your identity. Abuse doesn’t always leave visible bruises, but emotional manipulation and betrayal can leave deep scars. I hope readers recognise the warning signs much earlier than I did and understand that walking away is not weakness; it’s courage.

“Most importantly, I want them to know that no matter how broken they feel today, they are not beyond healing. Your past does not define your future. You may be wounded, but you are not destroyed. That’s why the book is called You Cannot Break The Chosen Ones, because even after everything life throws at us, we can still rise,” said Lukhanyo.

6. If the version of Lukhanyo who was sitting in that hospital room, battling heartbreak, fear and uncertainty, could see the man you have become today, what do you think he would say to you?

“I think he would cry tears of relief. He would probably say, ‘Thank you for not giving up.’ He would be proud that I found the courage to tell my truth without shame. He would be amazed that the pain which once nearly ended my life has now become a source of healing for others.

“And I think he would finally believe that everything he thought was impossible — joy, peace, purpose, and genuine hope — was still waiting for him. Today, I no longer see myself as a victim of my past. I see myself as someone who survived, healed, and discovered that even the deepest wounds can become a testimony. My story is proof that you can be knocked down by life, but you don’t have to stay there,” said Lukhanyo.

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