The "90 Day Fiance" franchise has cemented South Africa as one of its most dramatic and challenging international destinations, a country that has served as the backdrop for some of the show's most explosive relationships. From gambling addictions and cultural misunderstandings to shocking divorces and safety concerns, the American-South African pairings consistently deliver high-stakes reality television. As of late 2024 and early 2025, the latest updates on these couples prove that the drama continues long after the cameras stop rolling, with one couple officially divorced, another's engagement collapsing in a bizarre scandal, and a third's split involving a broken NDA. The complex tapestry of love, culture shock, and financial strain inherent in these cross-continental relationships makes the South Africa storyline a perpetual source of fan curiosity. This deep dive provides the most current information, confirming final relationship statuses and revealing the shocking post-show lives of the couples who dared to find love in the Rainbow Nation.
The South Africa Trilogy: Couple Biographies and Latest Status
South Africa has featured prominently across multiple "90 Day Fiance" spin-offs, most notably *The Other Way* and *Before the 90 Days*. Each couple has faced a unique set of challenges, from navigating the K-1 visa process to wrestling with cultural and financial realities on the ground in cities like Pretoria and Cape Town.1. Tiffany Franco (USA) & Ronald Smith (South Africa)
- Origin: Tiffany from Frederick, Maryland, USA; Ronald from Pretoria, South Africa.
- First Appearance: *90 Day Fiancé: The Other Way* Season 1 (2019).
- Relationship Timeline: Met while Tiffany was on a trip to South Africa. They married despite Ronald's history of a gambling addiction and criminal past. Tiffany moved to South Africa with her son, Daniel, but quickly returned to the US due to safety and financial concerns. They had a daughter, Carley Rose, and continued a tumultuous long-distance relationship.
- Latest Status (2025): Officially Divorced. After years of on-again, off-again drama, accusations of cheating, and custody battles, Tiffany Franco and Ronald Smith are now legally divorced. The finalization of their divorce marks the end of one of the franchise's most volatile long-distance relationships. Tiffany has since undergone a significant weight loss journey and has moved on with her life in the US.
2. Holly Netherton (USA) & Wayne Cornish (South Africa)
- Origin: Holly from Spokane, Washington, USA; Wayne from Johannesburg, South Africa.
- First Appearance: *90 Day Fiancé: The Other Way* Season 5 (2023).
- Relationship Timeline: They met on a dating site for Jehovah’s Witnesses. Holly flew to South Africa to marry Wayne, a plumber, but their reunion was immediately awkward. Holly expressed intense fear and anxiety about the safety in Wayne's neighborhood in Johannesburg, leading to significant tension.
- Latest Status (2025): Split/No Longer Together. The relationship reportedly crumbled shortly after filming. There are strong indications that Holly returned to the US and that the couple is no longer together. Reports suggest Holly may have even broken her NDA to reveal the true reasons why she left Wayne and South Africa, pointing to a dramatic and definitive end to their short-lived journey.
3. Veah Netherton (USA) & Sunny Mahdi (South Africa)
- Origin: Veah from California, USA; Sunny from South Africa.
- First Appearance: *90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days* Season 7 (2024).
- Relationship Timeline: Veah traveled to South Africa to meet Sunny, whom she met online. Their storyline was marked by cultural clashes, including a memorable moment where Veah attempted to use Apple Pay at a South African market, highlighting her lack of preparation for local life. They got engaged during the season.
- Latest Status (2025): Engagement Collapsed Amid Scandal. The relationship between Veah and Sunny has reportedly ended in a shocking manner. Veah made a jaw-dropping confession about their relationship post-show. Unconfirmed reports suggest Veah has since married another man—her dog sitter—shortly after her engagement to Sunny ended, leading to major fan speculation and social media drama. Their lack of interaction on social media further confirms their split.
From K-1 Visa Drama to Divorce: The Tiffany and Ronald Saga
The story of Tiffany Franco and Ronald Smith remains the definitive "90 Day Fiance South Africa" narrative, setting the standard for chaos and complexity. Their journey, which began on *The Other Way* and continued through *Happily Ever After?*, was a masterclass in red flags and second chances. The Immediate Red Flags. Their relationship was fraught from the start due to Ronald's severe gambling addiction, which led to him stealing money from his family and facing legal issues in South Africa. Tiffany, armed with an optimistic spirit, initially believed her love could fix his deep-seated issues, but the reality of life in Pretoria quickly set in. The financial instability, coupled with concerns about the safety of raising her son Daniel and their daughter Carley Rose in South Africa, forced her to return to the US. The Long-Distance Struggle. For years, the couple attempted to navigate the K-1 visa process, a common thread in the franchise, while managing a long-distance marriage. This period was filled with public arguments, accusations of infidelity on both sides, and multiple breakups and reconciliations, often documented on social media. Ronald's inability to secure a visa, combined with the difficulty of co-parenting across continents, put an immense strain on their bond. The Final Chapter. The years of drama culminated in the official end of their marriage in 2024/2025. Tiffany filed for divorce, seeking to finally close the chapter on her tumultuous relationship with Ronald. This legal separation allows both parties to pursue new relationships and provides clarity for their children. The story serves as a cautionary tale within the franchise about the challenges of overcoming deep-rooted behavioral issues and the harsh realities of the visa process.Cultural Shock and Safety Concerns: The Unique Challenges of 90 Day Fiance South Africa
Beyond the personal drama, the South African storylines are consistently defined by significant cultural and logistical hurdles that test the American partners' resolve. These challenges often become the central conflict of their arc, providing rich topical authority for the franchise.Navigating South African Life and Culture
The couples often face stark cultural differences and language barriers, despite English being widely spoken. The show has highlighted a lack of understanding or respect for South African customs and traditions from the American partners. * Financial Realities: The disparity in economic situations often creates tension. In the case of Tiffany and Ronald, Ronald's financial instability, compounded by his addiction, became a major point of contention. * Cultural Ignorance: Earlier couples, such as Danny and Amy (who appeared on a different season but whose story involved South Africa), faced issues where Danny's father expressed outdated, condescending views on interracial marriage, demonstrating a lack of cultural sensitivity that can still exist. * Location and Logistics: The simple act of living in South Africa has proven challenging. Veah's struggle with basic transactions like using Apple Pay in a market illustrates a lack of preparation for the local economy. Holly's overwhelming fear of crime in Wayne's Johannesburg neighborhood was a dominant plot point that ultimately contributed to her leaving the country.The Ongoing Visa Struggle
The K-1 visa process, which allows a foreign fiancé to enter the US for 90 days, is a grueling, multi-year process. For South African partners, this journey is often complicated by a number of factors: * Documentation and Delays: The sheer volume of paperwork and the lengthy processing times for US visas from South Africa can lead to immense frustration and relationship strain, as seen with Ronald and Tiffany. * Background Checks: Any criminal history, as with Ronald's past, can severely complicate or permanently derail the visa application, forcing the American partner to choose between moving abroad (The Other Way) or ending the relationship. The South Africa chapters of *90 Day Fiance* serve as a powerful reminder that love across borders requires more than just chemistry; it demands a deep commitment to navigating complex cultural, economic, and bureaucratic landscapes. The latest updates for 2025—divorce, scandal, and a broken NDA—confirm that for these couples, the challenges proved too great to overcome.
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