Rachel Kolisi’s Quiet Strength: TikTok Reveals the Raw Reality of Co-Parenting After Divorce

Inside the bittersweet TikTok that touched a nation

For many South Africans, Rachel Kolisi has always been more than just “the Springbok captain’s wife.” She’s a mother, a media personality, and lately, a public voice navigating the emotional terrain of divorce with honesty and grit.

This week, her latest TikTok post brought that reality home, literally.

In the video, Rachel shares an intimate glimpse of what it felt like sending her children off on their first solo flight to visit their father, Siya Kolisi, since the couple announced their separation in October last year. It’s their new normal, and the moment clearly hit hard.

“Today was the first time my kids flew to see their dad without me. It was hard,” she says plainly, yet powerfully, in the clip.

A New Chapter, One Bag at a Time

The video features snippets of the family’s last few days together, from the final hair braiding session to the quiet airport goodbye. Rachel speaks softly, but with vulnerability that resonates. She jokes about her daughter’s Beyoncé-inspired hairstyle and the marathon time spent in the salon, but the humour is laced with heartache.

“Never going to feel normal packing for my kids to leave,” she admits. “It’s only a few days, so packing was light… but still.”

There’s a truth in that line that parents everywhere will recognise: even when the bag is small, the weight is heavy.

Anxiety, Healing, and a Gran Who Gets It

The night before the flight was particularly rough. Rachel opens up about struggling with anxiety, revealing that she had only slept three hours before calling her grandmother to ask if she’d like to join her for a little getaway while the kids were gone.

“She said yes, so feeling better that I won’t be alone,” Rachel shared.

Then came the harder part. On the day of the flight, just before a meeting, Rachel experienced her second ever anxiety attack. She didn’t try to sugar-coat it. She told her followers, “It was a rough day for numerous reasons. Heading to bed early, and I’ll try again tomorrow.”

That honesty is what struck a chord with so many.

Image 1: East Coast Radio

South Africans Rally Behind Her

The comment section became a flood of support. Fans, strangers, and fellow parents turned the platform into a digital embrace.

“South Africa is behind you, mama,” one user wrote.
“You didn’t choose this storm, but you will rise in it. One day, you’ll see, God was holding you even here.”

Another added, “You can do this, queen. God’s got your back.”

It wasn’t just admiration for her resilience; it was recognition. For many, Rachel voiced something personal they hadn’t been able to say out loud.

From Springbok Glory to Personal Growth

Rachel and Siya Kolisi were married for eight years. Together, they stood at the centre of South Africa’s sports royalty, especially after Siya led the Springboks to World Cup victory. But off the field, they’ve now stepped into a different kind of partnership: co-parents navigating new terrain.

While Siya is currently based abroad for his rugby career, Rachel is clearly holding the fort at home with grace, grit, and the occasional braid named Sasha Fierce.

Why Her Voice Matters

This TikTok was more than just a video. It was a mirror to what thousands of South African women, and co-parents everywhere, go through in silence. Rachel’s willingness to show the mess and the grace of it all, without branding it as a strength, is the strength.

And in a world that often filters life into polished reels, her unfiltered truth is exactly what people needed to see.

Also read: Miss SA Mia Le Roux Just Got Engaged, And Mzansi Is Swooning

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Source: IOL

Featured Image: Woman and Home Magazine