Podcaster LaConco spills the tea: 'The romantic spark with Zuma died long ago'

The former "Real Housewives of Durban" (RHOD) star, real name Nonkanyiso Conco, has announced her latest venture: a podcast titled "Timeline with LaConco".

If there’s one thing Mzansi knows about her, it’s that she doesn’t mince her words, and now she’s bringing that unfiltered energy to the podcasting world.

Fans first fell in love with LaConco on RHOD season 1 in 2021. Her confidence, iconic one-liners, and mysterious past with former South African president Jacob Zuma made her an instant fan favourite.

Whether she was serving stylish looks or hilariously dodging drama, she kept audiences entertained. Even after leaving the show in Season 2, her popularity never faded, with many hoping she’d return to reality TV.

Well, reality TV’s loss is the podcast world’s gain.

In a preview of "Timeline with LaConco", the award-winning TV presenter opens up about her high-profile relationship with Zuma, who is now 82 and leading the MK Party.

"The romantic spark of being in love with JZ died many years ago. I’m not in love with him," she revealed.

"I respect him because at some point, he showed me genuine love. I am making a means for the baby to spend time with him. I was still pregnant when he named him Sakhumuzi. The baby is probably [Zuma’s] number 30 or 40, so I asked him what he’s been doing for the past 20 years."

LaConco captioned the clip with, "I’ve always believed that speaking with a calm and peaceful mind is far better than venting in the heat of the moment."

And honestly, that’s the kind of mature energy Mzansi needs right now.

For those who need a refresher, LaConco and Zuma were engaged but never legally married. Their relationship reportedly began around 2013 and was kept private for about four years before they got engaged in 2016.

Their son, Sakhumuzi, was born on April 12, 2018, coincidentally, on Zuma’s birthday. However, their romance eventually ended a few years later, though they continue to co-parent.

Now, LaConco is channelling her experiences and lessons into "Timeline with LaConco", which is set to premiere on Friday, 28 February.

TikTok user @ndivhu_mutula commented on her post, saying, "Not even Duduzane speaks about JZ this much 😂."

User @Sis Mukelwa also commented: "You have so much to give you are charismatic and people just love you stop making being Zuma’s babymama your brand."

While @kutloano.nm wrote, "I hate how you guys are downplaying her experience, I mean it’s part of her life story and she has all the right to talk about it, if anifuni ukuyizwa (you don't want to hear it) scrooooolll.🤦🏾‍♀️"

@Daisy_ also wrote, "When she didn’t share anything about her life, people were complaining, when she does share, futhi, 'she’s always talking about him, we’re tired',🥴Ayy."