They seem hopelessly in love and have their relationship laid bare on a TV reality show on Mzansi Magic.

However, Capetonian Lexi van Niekerk, 25, has proposed to her live-in lover Mandla Hlatshwayo, 24, twice but he has not said yes yet.

Hlatshwayo and Van Niekerk met inside the Big Brother Mzansi house last year. Hlatshwayo won the cool R1-million at the end of the 56 days.

But there will be no wedding bells ringing soon.

"People think I am joking when I tell them that I proposed to him [Hlatshwayo] in Cape Town and the second time in Johannesburg and on both occasions he said 'no'. I thought if I proposed he would buy me the ring. He is the one with a million," she said with a giggle. "I am now a loyal girlfriend who is waiting for the ring. We already live like a married couple, we stay and do things together."

Hlatshwayo was quick to quell the fire. "We love each other but if she is the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with, then I want to do things the right way and everything will fall into place.

"I know the stresses of having babies out of wedlock and I don't want that. Both of us are still finding our feet," he said.

Asked to put a time-frame on the marriage proposal, Hlatshwayo said that would ruin the surprise because he still wants to get "his ducks in a row".

mahlanguba@sowetan.co.za