Despite what some would like you to believe, we don’t watch the Real Housewives franchise to relate to people who can’t even rent out knock-off designer swimwear. We watch it because we know that the R in Real Housewives stands for rich. Imagine what the franchise would be if we didn’t have the likes of Lisa Vanderpump, Sutton Strake, Heather Dubrow, or Nene Leakes once those Hollywood cheques came in, and, more locally, Sorisha Naidoo. Uncle Viv’s better half has officially broken the record for the most reunion appearances on The Real Housewives of Durban, clocking in a perfect five out of five. She’s now the only Housewife to appear in every single reunion since the franchise launched in 2009. 2021.
Five Reunions Later – Sorisha Naidoo Dominates RHOD Legacy
The Real Housewives of Durban remains the longest-running Housewives franchise in Africa, with two of the continent’s longest-serving Housewives, Naidoo and Nonku Williams, holding it down since its first season. But in a significant twist earlier this year, after Williams did not attend the Season 5 reunion and subsequently quit the show, Naidoo now holds the solo record for the most consecutive reunion appearances in Africa – reunion walks-offs don’t diminish her impact.
For Naidoo, the moment is bittersweet. With Williams absent from this year’s reunion, the OG bond that has anchored the show since Season 1 has shifted,
“It’s a bittersweet moment for me. I want to throw it in her face that I’ve made all five, but she’s not here for me to do that! We’ve been together from the very beginning, and I feel like she needed to be here for this one.”
A Five-Year Reign With RHOD
Present since the first episode, Naidoo explains that the show has taken so many twists and turns, and she’s had the chance to see so many sides of herself,
“There were excellent seasons, and there were tough ones. For me, it depends on the group of ladies. That’s what guides your experience and shapes how you respond. Every cast dynamic brings out something different.”
Admitting that there were times when she was extremely isolated and quite cliquey, and she couldn’t pull myself out of that space, she adds that she didn’t like her reactions or how she boxed herself in. Naidoo adds that it wasn’t the best version of herself, and it’s something she had to take accountability for, “I did that to myself, and I’ve grown a lot since then.”
With many viewers seeing Naidoo as an uncredited producer due to her ability to be an anchor of the show and push forward storylines, Naidoo has a few cast suggestions,
“First, I do not run the show! I’m just a cast member like everyone else. Those comments always crack me up; they’re so ridiculous. But if I did run things and had to make a cut, I’d say Minnie. I just don’t think she was the best fit for this group at this time. That’s just me being honest.”
As for whom she’d add to the cast?
“Definitely Londie, and I’d want her back full-time. And of course, my girls Annie and Slee. Those are my top picks.”
Reunion Royalty
Five seasons in, Naidoo has experienced her fair share of reunions, so what makes this upcoming any different? Well for one, it’s missing one of the founding housewives,
“The dynamics shift when one of the OGs isn’t there, and people will feel that. But trust me, there’s still so much to unpack.” says Naidoo, “A lot is going to be revealed, things that will make previous episodes make a lot more sense. So if you want clarity, closure, and good entertainment, this is a reunion you don’t want to miss.”
The Real Housewives of Durban Season 5 reunion airs exclusively on Showmax on Fridays 4 July and 11 July 2025.
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