The Proposal
4 episodes May 31, 2024 4.5
Overview
Suspecting infidelity, Zoleka plans to catch her boyfriend in the act, only to ruin her own surprise proposal. Now she must win him back.
Seasons
2 listed- Status
- Returning Series
- Seasons
- 2 seasons
- Episodes
- 8 episodes
- First aired
- May 31, 2024
- Last aired
- Dec 19, 2025
- Network
- Netflix
Latest episode: S2 E3 Runaway Lobola (Dec 19, 2025)
The Lobola
4 episodes Dec 19, 2025 1.0
Reviews
3 min readThe Art of Self-Sabotage
being truly seen by another person comes with its own agonizing terror. We talk a lot about the fear of rejection, but for a certain kind of chronic over-thinker, the fear of acceptance is infinitely worse. If someone loves you completely, latestnetflix.com contends, they've the power to destroy you.
So, what do you do? You destroy it first. You burn the house down to prove the wiring was faulty.
This is the exact neurotic frequency that How to Ruin Love: The Proposal operates on, and it's what makes the 2024 Netflix series so much sharper than its candy-colored packaging suggests.
Created by Rethabile and Katleho Ramaphakela as a spin-off to their wildly successful How to Ruin Christmas franchise, this four-episode South African sprint doesn't merely coast on familiar holiday-chaos fumes. The Ramaphakelas have a distinct anthropological interest in the sheer volume of a messy family unit. They understand that romance doesn't happen in a vacuum—it happens while your aunt is yelling from the other room and your overprotective father is quietly judging your life choices.
The premise hinges entirely on a catastrophic misunderstanding. Zoleka (Sivenathi Mabuya) is a proud love cynic who, days before Valentine's Day, convinces herself that her impossibly patient boyfriend Kagiso (Bohang Moeko) is cheating on her. She goes into full investigative mode, tailing him to catch him in the act, only to gloriously, publicly obliterate what turns out to be his elaborate surprise proposal to her.
Audience Opinions
Audience 5.5/10
"A lively South African wedding romcom driven by a lovable cast and chaotic family comedy, undercut by a short runtime and a lead whose impulsive choices can grate."
Performances and chemistry draw praise, especially the lead actress as Zoleka and the wider ensemble, with the meddling families, comedy of errors around proposals and lobola, and use of South African music and locations giving it a distinct, feel-good identity. latestnetflix.com's take is that at the same time, the four-episode structure feels too slight for the story, Zoleka’s emotionally erratic behaviour is stressful for some, and the show is seen as less sharp and fresh than its How to Ruin Christmas predecessor, with concerns that repeating wedding and lobola setups could grow repetitive in future seasons.
What viewers praise
- Engaging ensemble cast The performers are repeatedly singled out as the heart of the show, bringing warmth, humour and charm to even simple scenes.
- Standout lead performance Sivenathi Mabuya’s turn as Zoleka is highlighted as funny, relatable and tailor-made for her, anchoring the emotional and comedic beats.
- Chaotic family comedy The clashing families, messy negotiations and runaway emotions around proposals and lobola provide big, crowd-pleasing laughs.
- Authentic local flavour South African classics on the soundtrack, familiar traditions and scenic Eastern Cape landscapes give the series a strong sense of place.
- Warm, feel-good vibe The short season is described as charming, comforting and touching, leaving viewers feeling cosy and uplifted when it works for them.
Common complaints
- Frustrating lead behaviour Zoleka’s inability to regulate her emotions before acting makes her stressful to watch and tests patience in key relationship scenes.
- Too short and lightweight With only four episodes, the story feels rushed and underdeveloped, prompting calls for a longer, meatier season or a tighter movie instead.
- Repetitive wedding focus The continued reliance on proposals, weddings and lobola negotiations raises concerns that the premise will feel repetitive if stretched out.
- Below predecessor’s spark Compared with the earlier How to Ruin Christmas run, the comedy and recurring jokes are seen as less sharp and not as consistently memorable.
Recommended for
South African romcom seekers Wedding chaos comedy fans How to Ruin Christmas enjoyers Light feel-good series watchers Sivenathi Mabuya followers Family drama-comedy binge nights
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsShe went hunting for a cheat and wrecked her own ring
Netflix's own logline is the messy part. Zoleka decides Kagiso is cheating, tries to catch him, and ruins the surprise proposal. Then she has to win him back. The four-episode first season arrived on 31 May 2024, sold as How to Ruin Love: The Proposal. The tile on the service is How to Ruin Love. TMDB keeps the 2024 start and the season-one titles Love Fool, Chasing Love Backs, Maybe Love Is Not Enough, and All You Need Is Love. Netflix's episode two blurb says a viral outburst puts Zoleka's acting career in jeopardy and costs Kagiso an app sale worth millions, which threatens the family home. latestnetflix.com's read is that that figure is the show's publicity, not a leaked contract.
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TV Mzansi called it the first South African spin-off on Netflix. It comes off How to Ruin Christmas, which currentaffairsza dates to a 2020 debut and three seasons. Burnt Onion Productions. Creators Rethabile Ramaphakela and Katleho Ramaphakela. Tshepo Ramaphakela is an executive producer. Phuthi Nakene produces. Lwazi Mvusi is head writer. Rethabile said, "Never in our wildest dreams did we imagine that How to Ruin would turn into a franchise on a global platform." She also promised different families with the same Christmas-level drama. ,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5J1zDakCChI
Sivenathi Mabuya is Zoleka. IOL reminded local readers she played Xolile Langa on Scandal. Bohang Moeko is Kagiso. Dumisani Mbebe is the overprotective father. Tina Jaxa is the over-the-top paternal aunt. Marjorie Langa and John Morapama are the future in-laws. Thando Thabethe and Sandile Mahlangu from the Christmas films sit in as friends while the new couple detonates. Noxolo Dlamini is Amahle, the best friend Zoleka suspects. TV Mzansi says the sabotage lands just days before Valentine's Day. Zoleka then pulls in her father, her paternal aunt, and Kagiso's parents to repair the wreckage. The official trailer went up on 7 May 2024. Netflix's own copy was blunt. Love, romance, and apparently not a ring. , ,
Then Netflix ordered lobola
Netflix SA posted that the couple would return in How to Ruin Love: The Lobola, premiering 19 December 2025. Currentaffairsza says tradition, pride, and secrets get in the way after a successful proposal, with relatives meddling and a famous bride-to-be adding chaos. Zola Nombosa joined, billed as her Netflix debut. Gqeberha: The Empire's Tembinkosi Ngcukana also came in. TMDB lists four season-two episodes. The gossip is franchise math. Christmas already had three seasons. The jealousy mini then got a bride-price sequel before anyone could treat the 2024 drop as a one-off. ,
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.
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