He has traveled to over 10 countries, providing counseling to couples in distress, as well as those in both failed and new marriages. Dr. Bakhe Dlamini is a renowned pastor, and a highly sought-after speaker and author.
As a marriage and family therapist, he operates a private practice called Community Links, based in Sandton, Johannesburg. His clientele extends across South Africa, the US, the UK, Australia, Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia, China, Taiwan, Botswana, Namibia, Eswatini, and several other countries.
The practice is an answer to the modern-day couple. Relevance and practical solutions are what Dr Bakhe Dlamini is known for.
Not only does Community Links provide cutting-edge therapy sessions for those in relationships and marriage, but Community Links is also a leader nationwide in hosting couples’, women and men’s empowerment events.
He began by hosting events and seminars with fewer than 100 attendees. Today, these gatherings attract 4,000 to 5,000 people at a time, reflecting the growing demand for his expertise. This success has also led to speaking opportunities at major corporate companies across South Africa.
Dr. Bakhe Dlamini has been featured as a relationship expert on top TV shows such as Married at First Sight SA and XO Goals, both airing on DSTV. A few months ago, Dr. Bakhe made his TV debut as a relationship expert on Married at First Sight South Africa on Mzansi Magic, alongside his wife Nokwanda, with whom he runs Community Links. The show premiered on Mzansi Magic, Channel 161.
The pastor said he was excited to be on the show and share his expertise with other couples. “My role in the production is a marriage and relationship therapist.
I was honored to be selected for the show, as it’s no small feat to be chosen as a resident expert out of 60 million South Africans.”
Dlamini says there were challenges in production as ‘Married at First Sight SA was an experimental production with couples getting married after meeting for the first time.
“At different moments participants would break down, having serious conflicts which would result in my wife and I helping resolve that and encouraging couples to continue participating in the show. We would have to give them a sense of hope alongside coping tools and mechanisms for marriage. It was thrilling yet demanding. We are glad to have been able to carry out the assignment.”
Relationships and marriage are beautiful when approached the right way, making everything easier. The challenges faced by couples, both locally and internationally, are often the same. Love is a universal language, but communication struggles are among the most common issues. Many lack the skill of effective communication, which makes resolving conflicts or connecting as a couple difficult.
Dr Bakhe Dlamini recently appeared on TBN Meets, one of Africa’s leading television channels dedicated to Christian content.
TBN Meets offers diverse programming that includes ministry, lifestyle, music, youth and children’s shows, documentaries, and films.
In his appearance last month, Pastor Bakhe and his wife discussed their personal relationship journey and the initiatives they are spearheading across Africa to empower couples.
One intriguing moment from the interview was Pastor Bakhe’s anecdote about their dating experience, which included refraining from kissing until after their wedding vows were exchanged.
This recent feature on TBN Meets marks another significant milestone for Pastor Bakhe, following his previous appearances on other prominent platforms.
Earlier this year, he was featured on South Africa’s eNCA channel, discussing the topic of interracial marriage.
His recognition in this space underlines his commitment to supporting individuals and couples in navigating the complexities of relationships.
Pastor Bakhe’s work not only inspires those in his immediate circles but also sparks dialogues among couples throughout the African region.
Dr. Dlamini observes that individuals face many challenges in relationships and marriage, and without the proper tools to navigate these difficulties, the situation can quickly deteriorate.
“Relationships and marriage are beautiful when approached the right way, making everything easier. The challenges faced by couples, both locally and internationally, are often the same. Love is a universal language, but communication struggles are among the most common issues. Many lack the skill of effective communication, which makes resolving conflicts or connecting as a couple difficult. Poor communication skills often lead to frequent misunderstandings and conflicts. Infidelity is another issue many couples face. Beyond the infidelity, a couple has to deal with healing and restoring trust after the cheating. That is a big job. Financial disagreements, toxic involvement of family members, lack of sex, and many other issues affect many couples.”
Advocating for couples’ therapy as a means of communication and healing, he explains that therapy offers couples a cathartic opportunity to unload their emotions, which is vital. It also helps partners in a relationship or marriage to truly listen to each other. In tense situations, it can be challenging for couples to hear one another, but therapy creates a space for that to happen.
“A therapy session serves as a safe space for all parties involved. Ultimately, this psychological intervention helps identify the issues a couple is facing and provides them with effective coping strategies.”
Dr. Dlamini is quick to emphasize that having God as the foundation of a couple’s relationship is essential and cannot be overstated.
“My wife and I have grown over the years. We have been married for 14 years. I will have to give credit to the grace of God. Trust me, the God factor plays a big role.
“Both of us are accountable to a higher being, God. That keeps us in check! Both of us are humble. That is crucial too. Two arrogant people are a recipe for disaster when it comes to conflict management. We have grown our emotional intelligence and communication skills over the years, which makes things easier. Studying psychology, working together in the same practice and made us more grateful and humble. We see a lot in the field! How do we keep our house in order? We talk (communicate) a lot. We sit down, anytime, and deal with stuff, even the not-so-pretty stuff. Many couples avoid that.”
IN CONCLUSION WHAT MEN WANT…
“General, men want respect. They do not just want respect, they need respect. Oftentimes when a man sees me for a consultation, they will complain about not getting respect at home. Respect has to do with how the man’s partner talks to him. Even when a man is wrong, he wants to be spoken to in a certain way. The tone is key! Respect also speaks about the man feeling that he is regarded as a leader in the relationship or home. Everything else; sex, work, praise, to name a few, may follow, but respect is a priority to a man.”
Dr Bakhe Dlamini’s Books
- The Naked Truth About Men
- The Good Man
- The 20 Irrefutable Laws of Healthy Marriages
- Accidental Success
- Releasing the Sons
All of these are available at Exclusive Books and Bargain Books stores online.
