WILL Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith; Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin; and Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel - what do they all have in common?

Wealth, yes. Beauty, yes. Fame, definitely.

But they also have one glaring thing in common - they have been rumoured to be in open relationships.

Some people say they find open relations come with less hassles and thus conflict-free. Did all of us who are into exclusive relationships miss the memo? Are open relationships the new solution to cheating?

We speak to clinical psychologist and psychology lecturer Mochabo Moerane to define what constitutes an open relationship. He says an open relationship is when your partner allows you to flirt, have sex or date other people - while maintaining your current relationship.

"While it's not for everyone, more and more couples are opting for the open relationship option."

But, he cautions that most people find it hard to stay in open relationships, and while there may be some pros to them, the cons definitely outweigh the pros, he says.

Mokete Masemola, a waiter at Sun City Hotel near Rustenburg, concurs with Moerane. He says he tried the open relationship route, but found it too difficult.

"I went into it with an open mind, and convinced myself that I could handle it. It was okay at first, but I remember an instance when I decided to pop into her house one night after work, and found another guy there. When I got upset, she pulled me aside and told me I was forgetting the 'rules'.

"I had no right to be upset, because we were in an open relationship. A few days later she dumped me because she stated that she didn't need the drama.

"Looking back, I don't know what I was thinking. I'm glad the relationship ended. It just wasn't for me. I feel like open relationships are a licence for guilt- free cheating," he says.

On the flip side, we spoke to Romeo Molete, a self-employed 29-year-old Bloemfontein resident, who says he's in an open relationship, and enjoying every minute.

"My relationship is so stress-free. We are both adults who have an understanding. She can see other people, and so can I.

I don't consider it cheating because we didn't blow smoke up each other's bottoms. We went into it knowing how deep the pool was," he says.

Asked about why he opted for this type of relationship, Molete says one cannot try to be everything to someone else.

"I feel like there are qualities that I may lack, or she lacks, that we can find in other people. So confining someone in a relationship with you and only you, while their other needs are not being met, I feel, is unfair.

"Besides, I think we've all been in monogamous relationships that turned out to be a recipe for disaster, so why not try a different strategy?"

Molete says although he is in an open relationship, there are some rules in place.

"We don't discuss each other's partners. We also don't bring partners into our living space. It's just disrespectful," he says.

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