We’re in this together: Mmusi and Natalie Maimane on falling in love and facing the future

On their wedding day nine years ago Natalie Maimane knew that life with her husband wouldn’t be dull – but never in her wildest dreams did she imagine he’d some day be heading for parliament. He’s always been a guy who knows how to spring surprises.

Within six months of dating, he popped the question and eight months later they were married. On their wedding day nine years ago Natalie Maimane knew that life with her husband wouldn’t be dull – but never in her wildest dreams did she imagine he’d some day be heading for parliament after landing one of the most high-profile political party jobs in the country.

We don’t know what this new life will be like,” she says. “I’m taking things one day at a time.” Mmusi’s appointment means she and their children, Kgalaletso (3) and Daniel (19 months), will be seeing less of him. Instead of moving to Cape Town where parliament is situated, they’re staying in Roodepoort, leaving the commuting to Dad. They believe this makes better sense as their family are in Gauteng to support Natalie while Mmusi gets to grips with his demanding new job. Although it’ll require adjustment, Mmusi reckons the family will manage because they share the same goal – to build a better South Africa. “The best advice I’ve ever been given is that as a family we must acknowledge we love our country and will serve it and its people. Then everything’s a privilege – it’s a privilege to lead, it’s a privilege to travel, it’s a privilege to be a member of parliament.”

We can hear their kids playing outside his office. Mmusi and Natalie have turned down our request to photograph the children because they don’t want to expose them too much. That’s also why they didn’t do interviews together in the run-up to the recent election.

But she made the effort to fit in with the family right from the start, he adds. “I realised they no longer saw Natalie’s colour when my grandmother took her to task for standing in line for food at a funeral reception, instead of helping the women to prepare the food, as happens in our culture.”

The families’ shared faith and churchgoing backgrounds helped a lot. “Your faith drives your beliefs, which tells you that racism is wrong,” Mmusi says. “One day we’ll write a book about relationships across the colour line,” Mmusi adds with a wink.

Source: News24