Rachel Kolisi opens up about struggles during her marriage to Siya.
Image: Armand Hough / Independent Newspapers
Rachel Kolisi has opened up about one of the most difficult chapters of her life, and a single comment from the candid conversation has since gone viral on social media.
The philanthropist and author, who is currently touring South Africa with screenings of her “Falling Forward” documentary, sat down for a revealing interview with Anele Mdoda on 947 Radio, where she spoke openly about motherhood, financial independence and life after her separation from Siya Kolisi.
While the interview covered several aspects of her life, it was one particular admission that quickly went viral on social media.
Reflecting on a period early in her marriage, Rachel revealed that leaving her job to care for her growing family was one of the hardest decisions she had ever made.
“It was one of the most horrific decisions for me,” she said, explaining that stepping away from work meant losing the independence she had always valued.
“Because it meant that when I needed pads, tampons, or shampoo, I had to ask permission for money to be deposited.”
The moment that she has written about in her book “Falling Forward” has since circulated widely online, sparking strong reactions and debate.
However, within the context of the interview, Rachel made it clear that financial independence has always been deeply important to her.
Addressing long-standing misconceptions about her relationship with the Springbok captain, Rachel pushed back against the narrative that she depended financially on Siya.
“I’ve always been severely independent,” she said. “From a really young age I loved earning my own money.”
Her entrepreneurial spirit started early. According to Rachel, she was already finding ways to make money as a child. “At 11 I was selling popcorn at school,” she shared.
Those early experiences shaped her desire to always support herself financially, something she said made the decision to leave her job particularly painful.
Rachel also reflected on how unprepared she felt for the sudden responsibilities she faced in her early twenties.
At 24, she had just welcomed her son Nicholas, who was born prematurely and frequently required hospital care, when Siya’s younger siblings, Liyema and Liphelo, joined their household following their mother’s death. The couple later legally adopted them.
At the same time, Siya was often away on rugby tours for months at a time.
“Mate, you’re on tour three months at a time,” she recalled telling him. “I’m here trying to work a full-time job and take care of all the kids.”
Between routines with a newborn, helping the older children with homework, and even accommodating some of Siya’s friends who were living with them at the time, she said the pressure quickly became overwhelming.
Her workplace situation also became increasingly difficult. She explained that her employer did not recognise Liyema and Liphelo as her children, which meant she was not allowed time off when they were sick.
Eventually, she had no choice but to resign.
Rachel and Siya announced their separation in October 2024 after eight years of marriage, a revelation that surprised many South Africans who had long viewed them as a picture-perfect couple.
During the interview, Rachel also addressed questions about whether she felt pressure to “move on” romantically.
“I’m good by myself,” she said. “I don’t think I’ve been better by myself.”
For her, being single does not mean she is stuck in the past.
“I don’t think being with someone else is a sign of moving on.”
Her comments come as Siya has recently been linked to model Rachel Jonck, with the pair reportedly spotted together on several occasions and appearing to post from the same locations on social media. Neither has publicly confirmed a relationship.
When asked whether she would be comfortable with another woman potentially stepping into a step-mother role for her children, Rachel kept her answer focused on what matters most to her.
“I parent my children to the best of my ability, and that is my priority,” she said, adding that everything else is ultimately “none of my business.”
Rachel also addressed another topic that has sparked public curiosity: why she chose to keep the Kolisi surname after the separation.
According to her, the decision was largely practical.
Because her children share the surname Kolisi, travelling internationally could become complicated if her last name were different.
She explained that she already encounters situations where people question whether the children are hers.
“It becomes complicated because people don’t believe they are my kids,” she said.
Rachel’s interview comes as she travels the country hosting screenings of her documentary “Falling Forward, which explores her life journey, personal challenges and the lessons she has learned along the way.
Each screening includes a live Q&A session where audience members are able to engage directly with her about the experiences detailed in the film.
The documentary tour has become an opportunity for Rachel to reclaim her narrative, sharing the realities behind the headlines and opening up about the resilience that has shaped her path forward.