South African socialite bids to make her mark in Dubai construction industry

Johannesburg: South Africa's best known socialite Khanyisile Mbau, 23 is planning to swap Johannesburg for Dubai as she bids to make her mark in the construction industry.

The former television actress, also known in her home country as the Queen of Bling, announced on a commercial radio station last week that she was separating from her husband, Mandla Mthembu. They pair have a three-year-old daughter.

"When I met Mandla I was already involved in the construction industry in Dubai, and now that he is no longer in my life, I will be going back to that," she told the Saturday Star this week.

Asked how she was planning to maintain her expensive lifestyle – the couple had matching Lamborghinis - without Mthembu, Mbau said she had invested while she was still married.

"Many people don't know that I actually have a company and a broker who advises me on my investments," she said.

"There was Khanyi before Mandla, and all he did was to add bling. But before he came into my life there was always Khanyi in the newspapers every week, and that will continue."

Mbau, who is also known as SA's own Paris Hilton, is headed for a country where the real Paris is coining it with her reality television show.

Hilton has been in Dubai shooting her reality series Best Friend Forever (BFF).

Mbau, best known for her penchant for splurging on designer clothes and luxury vehicles, has expressed her relief on her break up with Mthembu.