Who attended Anele Mdoda’s wedding?

I have watched all four episodes of Netflix‘s Stars and Vows: Anele & Buzza, and I must say, I enjoyed every bit of it. From the wedding preparations and candid conversations with friends to the emotional family moments and spectacular celebrations, the four-part series offers an intimate look into a side of Anele Mdoda‘s life that she has largely kept away from the public. But this was never going to be an ordinary wedding. Anele, one of South Africa’s most recognisable media personalities, married Prince Bonelela “Buzza James” Mgudlwa, a lawyer and member of the AbaThembu royal family. Their wedding celebrations brought together two families, close friends and some familiar faces from South Africa’s entertainment industry.

There was also no shortage of glamour. The celebrations took viewers from the Eastern Cape to the Western Cape winelands, with a bridal party getaway to Kenya, an elaborate wedding dome, designer outfits, impressive suits and beautiful jewellery. Every detail appeared carefully considered, and the scale of the celebrations reflected the significance of the occasion. However, what makes Stars and Vows: Anele & Buzza particularly interesting is that it offers much more than a collection of beautiful wedding photographs. Behind the outfits, celebrations and royal traditions are complicated family relationships, longstanding friendships and deeply personal moments. And naturally, there is one question many viewers will want answered: Who actually made Anele and Buzza’s wedding guest list?

Netflix’s four-part Stars & Vows: Anele & Buzza is also a notable addition to South African entertainment. While local celebrities have previously documented their weddings for television, this is Netflix’s first original South African celebrity wedding series. And beyond the beautiful wedding footage, one question is worth asking: Who actually made the guest list?

Was Trevor Noah at Anele Mdoda’s wedding?

Trevor Noah‘s presence at Anele and Buzza’s wedding was particularly interesting, given that the comedian had previously revealed that he had never attended a wedding before. During an appearance on What Now? with Trevor Noah, featuring Anele and Sizwe Dhlomo, the international star spoke about the upcoming white wedding and explained that it would be his first experience attending one. He attributed this partly to his demanding work schedule, but also joked that people sometimes did not invite him, or even withdrew their invitations, because of his celebrity status.

Well, this time, he made it to the wedding. And perhaps his approach to the occasion also explains why he was not particularly interested in making himself the centre of attention. It was Anele and Buzza’s day, and the celebration deserved to remain about the couple rather than the international superstar among their guests. His presence was certainly noteworthy, but he appeared content to let the newlyweds have their moment.

Sizwe Dhlomo was there, of course

The two have shared a longstanding friendship, and Sizwe was among the familiar faces associated with the couple’s celebrations. His presence was hardly surprising, given how long he has been part of Anele’s personal and professional circle. Anele also took to Twitter after the Netflix special premiered to thank him and also promised that the day he gets married she would make sure his wife is the most happiest.

Their friendship is one of the relationships that helps make the wedding story more personal. These were not simply celebrities invited to attend an expensive event but many of the people surrounding Anele and Buzza have been part of their lives for years.

Khaya Dlanga and other familiar faces

Author and media personality Khaya Dlanga was another familiar face at the celebrations. In fact, Khaya was among the first people to give the public a glimpse of Anele and Buzza’s traditional wedding in April 2025, although some of the photographs he shared were subsequently removed.

He was not the only recognisable personality in attendance. Among those worth mentioning was gospel star Khaya Mthethwa, who, accompanied by the choir, delivered a moving musical performance during the church ceremony, adding a beautiful touch to the proceedings. Celebrity chef and influencer Neo Nontso was also part of the wedding celebrations. Neo had an especially important role in Anele’s wedding party, serving as her maid of honour. Sports broadcaster Cindy Poluta was also among the friends are part of this wedding special.

There were also several people from Anele’s close circle, including those who have been part of her life and career long before the cameras arrived. It is worth remembering that the guest list was not simply a collection of celebrities. These were people who had relationships with the couple long before the wedding became a Netflix production.

Did Anele’s sisters attend her wedding?

Anele’s sisters were notably absent from the wedding. And this is one of the more personal subjects explored in Stars & Vows. During a conversation with her bridesmaids in the first episode, Anele opened up about her relationship with her sisters. She explained that they were approaching 30 years without speaking to one another. She also made it clear that sharing the same blood does not automatically mean people have a close relationship. One of the things she communicated was that she did not want to force a family reunion simply because she was getting married. In her view, the wedding was not the occasion to pretend that relationships were healthy when they were not. She was also careful not to rule out the possibility of reconciliation in the future.

It is a difficult family situation, but it helps explain why her sisters were not part of the celebrations. Her sisters include actress Thembisa Nxumalo, Unathi and Zamalisa. Although her sisters were absent, Anele was not without family support. Her father was present, and so was her son, Alakhe. In fact, Alakhe had one of the memorable moments of the wedding when he delivered a speech at the reception. The young boy’s confidence and personality were evident, and his appearance became one of the moments viewers discussed after the series premiered. Anele’s father also played an important part in the celebrations, making his presence particularly meaningful. It was a reminder that family does not always have to look the way people expect it to.

Buzza’s family: A reunion that meant a great deal

On Buzza’s side, the family story was equally emotional. His father, brother and sister were part of the celebrations, and the question of whether his mother would attend became one of the significant family conversations in the series. Buzza’s parents separated when he was young. He explained that his father raised the children, while his mother left and was away from their lives for approximately six or seven years.

The estrangement, however, went beyond those initial years. Buzza explained that his mother had not attended family occasions for around 30 years. Her absence was also complicated by the relationship between his parents. According to the account presented in the series, his mother had effectively been excluded from spaces where his father was present. As the children grew older, his mother wanted to rebuild her relationship with them. However, the history between the parents and the feelings surrounding her departure made the prospect of bringing everyone together difficult.

Buzza wanted his mother at the wedding. Anele also understood how much her presence would mean to him and supported the idea of inviting her, while recognising that there were family sensitivities and traditions to consider. It was one of those situations that showed that even a wedding filled with beautiful clothes, expensive décor and celebrations can carry complicated emotions.

More familiar faces at Anele Mgudlwa’s Wedding

While the four-episode wedding special gives viewers an intimate look into the celebrations, Anele has also been sharing behind-the-scenes photographs that offer a glimpse of some of the other notable personalities who were in attendance. Internationally acclaimed actress Thuso Mbedu was also among the guests, bringing a touch of global star power to the occasion. Other familiar faces included Frankie, from the 947 circle, as well as Jack Deveror and Sfiso Hero Mthethwa who was also part of the gathering alongside Buzza’s friends.

A special mention goes to Mickey, who deserves credit for bringing the celebration together and helping make the occasion what it was. While the special captures the big moments, Anele’s BTS posts are proving that there is just as much to discover in the people, personalities and little moments that happened beyond the cameras.

Here are some of the moment from ‘Stars and Vows: Anele & Buzza’ and some of the people who made it on the guest list. Watch ‘Stars and Vows: Anele & Buzza’ on Netflix.