It’s easy to look at someone like Rachel Kolisi and assume she’s handling everything with grace and strength—but even the strongest have their moments.
Over the weekend, the mom of four opened up in an emotional TikTok video about one of the tougher moments in her co-parenting journey with Springboks captain Siya Kolisi.
And as the video made its way across social media, fellow media personality Minnie Dlamini was one of the many who reached out, offering simple but heartfelt words of comfort: “Sorry mama.”
Rachel Gets Real About Letting Go—Even for a Weekend
In her video, Rachel shared footage of her kids heading to the airport, boarding a flight to see their dad—without her.
That moment, she explained, hit her harder than she expected.
“In the process of getting a divorce. And today was the first time my kids flew to see their dad without me.
It was hard,” she wrote honestly in the caption.
The kids, including Siya’s sister Liphelo who the couple adopted, were flying out to join Siya in Gqeberha, where he’s preparing for an upcoming Springboks match.
When It All Became Too Much
Later in the day, Rachel admitted she felt completely overwhelmed—saying she broke down and experienced what felt like an anxiety attack.
Knowing she needed a breather, she decided to book a short trip with her grandmother to regroup, hoping the peaceful time away would help reset her mental and emotional health.
A Little Kindness from Minnie Dlamini
Among the many who watched and resonated with Rachel’s post was Minnie Dlamini.
In a world where online comments can often be critical, hers was simply warm and sincere: “Sorry mama.”
Sometimes, it’s the shortest messages that hit the deepest—especially when they come from someone who understands the highs and lows of life in the public eye.
A Shared Announcement, Then Two Separate Journeys
Rachel and Siya Kolisi announced their separation in October 2024, posting a joint statement to Instagram that emphasized their split was mutual and respectful.
After years in the public eye as a team, it marked the start of two new paths—both as individuals and as co-parents.
The couple share two children, 10-year-old Nicholas and 7-year-old Keziah, along with Siya’s siblings, Liyema and Liphelo, whom they adopted years ago.
A Heartfelt Message on Valentine’s Day
Back in February, Rachel gave followers a deeper look into her emotions in the thick of the separation.
In a raw post on Valentine’s Day, she shared how tough it had been to parent while feeling like her world was falling apart.
“This Valentine’s Day, I made a brave decision, and it broke my heart all over again,” she wrote.
“Parenting when the world feels like it’s crumbling around you is a different kind of challenge.”
She thanked the few people who stood by her that week, admitting that she survived by taking things one hour at a time.
“One day at a time felt too big this week,” she said. “So I just did one hour at a time, and it kinda helped – I made it to Saturday!”
Navigating Life After “Us”
Rachel’s story continues to resonate with many who are navigating life after love—and parenting in the thick of it.
While she’s not the first to feel the deep sting of co-parenting after divorce, her openness is reminding others that it’s okay to not be okay all the time.
Her journey is still unfolding, and through her honesty, she’s giving others the courage to talk about their own.