Netflix’s The Polygamist talks South Africa and the world about cheating.

Lethogonolo Mogale, who watched the show days after his release, described Yonasin as a “serial cheater” and “an opportunist who will do anything to satisfy himself”.

The 35-year-old woman does not come from a polygamist family, but the polygamist’s history page echoes and highlights “social problems that occur and are common (in South Africa)”.

“The thing that stuck with me personally is how broken families are and how broken communities are,” she told the BBC.

Polygamy In South Africa and in Zulu, Xhosa, Ndebele, and Venda cultures, among others, it is not uncommon for a man to have multiple wives—as is the case in some African and Muslim societies.

The women tend to form families of their own, although there is often cooperation between joint wives in raising a child – which may be less realistic in urban areas.

For Mughal, polygamy in the show is duplicitous, secret and “forced”.

“It shouldn’t be like this,” she says, explaining that the scene that best illustrates this is between Yonas and his eldest daughter Mpum.

Jonasi has a total of six children with three women and is closest to Mpum known as “Daddy’s Boy”.

But as a teenager, broken by her father’s manipulation, neglect, and infidelity, Empum tries to express her feelings in a letter that she begins to read aloud.

His reaction – turning up the TV volume and ignoring her – shocked many, including the mogul.

The show does not shy away from tackling other issues such as sexually transmitted diseases, gender-based violence and the damage done to African families.

There is also a controversial plot about HIV.

With 13 percent of South Africa’s population living with the virus, polygamous unions have divided opinion in the country and show many of the risks many families face.