Rachel Kolisi, philanthropist and author, has shared a candid account of a difficult period in her life, freely discussing financial reliance during the early years of her marriage to Springbok star Siya Kolisi.
In a recent radio conversation with broadcaster Anele Mdoda on 947, Kolisi reflected on the personal sacrifices that came with stepping away from her career to focus on raising children and managing family responsibilities while her husband’s rugby commitments often kept him away for extended periods.
The interview was highlighted in reporting by African Insider, where Kolisi described how leaving her job was one of the most difficult decisions she faced at the time.
Looking back on the moment she stepped away from the workplace, Kolisi said the shift away from financial independence was deeply unsettling.
‘It was one of the most horrific decisions for me,’ she stated, explaining that she had always valued earning her own income.
She revealed that at one point she had to rely on her husband financially for everyday necessities.
‘Because it meant that when I needed pads, tampons, or shampoo, I had to ask permission for money to be deposited,’ she said during the interview.
Those comments quickly circulated across social media platforms, creating an online debate over financial independence within relationships.
Kolisi explained that the pressures of adulthood arrived quickly in her life. By the age of 24 she was caring for a newborn son, Nicholas, who had been born prematurely and often required hospital care.
At the same time, she and Siya took in his younger siblings, Liyema and Liphelo, following the death of their mother. The then couple later formally adopted them.
Balancing those responsibilities while maintaining a full-time job proved increasingly difficult.
‘Mate, you’re on tour three months at a time,’ she recalled telling her husband. ‘I’m here trying to work a full-time job and take care of all the kids.’
The situation reached a turning point when her employer did not recognise Siya’s siblings as her dependants, which meant she could not take leave to care for them when they were ill. She eventually resigned.
Rachel and Siya Kolisi announced their separation in October 2024 after eight years of marriage, a development that surprised many South Africans who had come to view the couple as one of the country’s most admired public partnerships.
Today, Kolisi says she has found a sense of balance focusing on her children and her own path forward.
‘I’m good by myself. I don’t think I’ve been better by myself,’ she said.
While continuing her philanthropic work, Kolisi has also been travelling across South Africa hosting screenings of her documentary Falling Forward.
The film explores her personal journey, including the challenges she has faced as a mother, public figure and advocate.
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