Latest news with #Mabotja
Mail & Guardian
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Mail & Guardian
The art of holding space: Relebogile Mabotja on love, loss and Untied
A listening ear: Relebogile Mabotja hosts and is the associate producer of Untied, a series in which each episode focuses on one woman's story of breakup and healing. Relebogile Mabotja is no stranger to the spotlight. From radio to television, she has built a reputation for her sharp intellect, commanding presence and the gift of making the most delicate conversations feel like home. But in her latest Showmax series, Untied, in which she is host and associate producer, she shifts the spotlight off herself and onto the experiences of women navigating the messy terrain of separation, heartbreak and healing. The result is raw, riveting and deeply human. The show features Beverly Steyn, Nonku Williams, Dawn Thandeka King, Mona Monyane, Palesa Madisakwane, Zandi Nhlapo and Sonia Booth. We meet through a video call. It's one of those afternoon meetings that feel more like a catch-up with a cousin than a formal interview. Before we dive into the depths of the show, I have to get this out of the way: the outfits in Untied? Absolutely breathtaking. 'Oh, thank you,' she beams. 'I wish I could take credit, but there's an amazing stylist behind that. They made sure everything was perfect.' But what Untied gets right beyond the aesthetics is its unwavering emotional honesty. It's not just another heartbreak show. It's a tribute to resilience. Each episode gives space to one woman's story of love lost, relationships redefined and the quiet courage it takes to begin again. At the centre of it all is Mabotja, a host who doesn't posture or pry but gently holds space. 'What draws you to these kinds of stories?' I ask. Her answer is simple: curiosity. 'I'm drawn to human experiences. I've always been curious about what we go through as people, and love and loss are something we can all relate to.' She didn't think she'd be chosen to host the show. 'I pitched for it and didn't get it,' she laughs. 'When they called me, I said, 'Are you sure? I thought someone who'd gone through what some of these ladies have been through would be more relatable.' But they were clear. They wanted me. And once it started, I understood why. It was meant to be.' For Mabotja, this moment aligns with a deeper calling. 'I was already intentional about being the go-to person for sensitive conversations. I don't think of myself as someone who only facilitates divorce stories. I'm drawn to vulnerable, complex stories, ones that ask us to show up fully.' Watching Untied, you feel the safety in the room. These women, many of whom are telling their stories on camera for the first time, offer their truths freely. I ask how she manages to create such trust. Her answer feels less like technique and more like an ethic of care. 'I ask myself, how would I want someone to ask me a difficult question?' she says. 'Some therapists have told me, 'You're in your therapy era,'' she chuckles. 'But really, I've always believed in talk therapy and the power of different kinds of healing. I try to create a judgment-free zone, a space with a listening ear that comes in without assumptions.' Some of the guests she knows. Many she doesn't. But she approaches each conversation with radical openness. 'If I'm not careful, my own biases could steer the conversation in a direction that's not true to them. So I have to stay open.' One episode in particular stayed with her long after the cameras stopped rolling. It hasn't aired yet, but it involves the death of a child. 'That one touched me in ways I can't explain,' she says. 'As a parent, you become more sensitive to certain topics. You hear people say, 'When a mother loses a child, every mother grieves with her.' And it's true. Even when I knew beforehand what the episode was about, I could never prepare myself emotionally. You don't get desensitised to that kind of pain.' There's a depth of emotional labour involved in work like this. But Mabotja doesn't rely on scripts or autopilot. She prepares in a deeply personal way. 'The team gives me a brief based on the pre-interviews, but before I sit down, I disconnect from everything else in my life. I have to fully arrive. I don't work with a script, I rely on active listening. That's how I stay present.' In a world of hot takes and hyper-reactions, Untied is refreshingly unhurried. It doesn't weaponise pain for ratings. It listens. Mabotja was determined to keep it that way. 'I told myself from the beginning: I'm not going to cry for the sake of crying or become someone I'm not. I've never been a sensationalist. It doesn't interest me and it doesn't align with who I am.' That refusal to perform pain or exploit it for entertainment is what gives Untied its emotional credibility. 'Yes, sometimes I can be funny or spicy,' she says, 'but I always try to be authentic. If a viewer feels like they're eavesdropping on a conversation between friends, then I know I've done my job.' Has the show changed her view on love, separation or healing? She says: 'What it's really shown me is how much we can carry as human beings. We are far more resilient than we realise. Some of these women have gone through so much and come out the other side wiser, more grounded, more whole. It's not just about love or marriage or divorce. It's about capacity. About growth.' I ask what it looks like for her, personally, to be 'untied' from something emotionally heavy. She pauses. Her answer is layered. 'My dad always says, 'It's okay to pause it.' When something is overwhelming, we want to fix it now. But sometimes, you just need to put it down for a while. Not because it's not important, but because you need to protect your own capacity.' She also speaks about changing the narratives we tell ourselves. 'You can talk about your past without letting it define you. I've had to untie myself from stories like 'I'm not worthy' or 'I'm not good enough.' Those stories are not the truth, they're just the stories I told myself once.' And finally, she says, it's about updating the tools you use to survive. 'There could be a time where someone who operated from scarcity can now be scared of not having money, for example. But when that phase of your life is over, you can't keep using the same tools. You've got to grow with the problem. That's part of the untying too.' Our time runs out, but the conversation feels unfinished in the best possible way, like one you'll return to later, when you need to. That's what Untied does. It doesn't wrap things up in a neat bow. It sits with the mess, the grief, the beauty, and the strength that comes with being human. 'I just hope people see themselves in these stories,' Mabotja says, 'and realise they're not alone.'
IOL News
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
‘Untied' with Relebogile Mabotja: South African women share their powerful divorce journeys
Relebogile Mabotja is the host and associate producer of "Untied", a new Showmax Original. Picture: Supplied Award-winning presenter Relebogile Mabotja is stepping back in front of the camera as the host of a bold new talk show. The new Showmax Original 'Untied' sees Mabotja sit down with some of South Africa's most recognisable women who have been through a divorce. Businesswoman Norma Mngoma, whose high-profile marriage and public fallout shocked the country, is the first guest. Mngoma was previously married to former Minister of Finance Malusi Gigaba and their split was headline-making. The emotional resonance deepens as each episode spotlights stories from public figures including reality stars Beverly Steyn and Nonku Williams, celebrated actresses Dawn Thandeka King, Mona Monyane, and Palesa Madisakwane, iconic media personality Zandi Nhlapo, and model and social entrepreneur, Sonia Booth.
IOL News
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Melanie Bala opens up about motherhood and healing on 'The Relebogile Mabotja' podcast
With an illustrious career spanning over three decades, Bala rarely does interviews, but her conversation with Mabotja was a poignant exploration of womanhood and the struggles that often accompany it. In a recent episode of " The Relebogile Mabotja " podcast, veteran broadcaster Melanie Bala shared her journey through motherhood, personal loss and the pursuit of authenticity with host Relebogile Mabotja. From early beginnings at Bop TV to her current position at Metro FM, Bala has been a steadfast voice in South African media, but behind the microphone lies a story steeped in love, growth and the painful process of letting go. In this episode, she discusses the pressures of societal expectations surrounding motherhood, saying: "I think I let go, years ago, about what the perfect mother is, according to society, standards, family, magazine, blogs. "When I eventually let that go, it was incredibly freeing, and even now, my kids are teenagers, we have very open and honest conversations like if I've had a crappy day ... It's saying to them that I am human to, I am not the super mom. "Our parents' generation did it very differently; my mom was the ultimate homemaker. It took a long time for me to get over that model." Delving deeper, Bala opens up about the emotional complexities she faced during her divorce from renowned musician Zwai Bala. "No one wakes up today and decides that their marriage is ending; it's always a long time coming. In the process leading up to making the final decision that you're getting divorced, I think there's a part of you that starts to let go, so a lot of the grieving happens through that process. "Then, when the divorce happens, it's like 'Oh okay, this is different', and then it's a beginning of a different process of how do I navigate life without this person that I've been with for such a long time. "Again, it's giving yourself grace, you going to make mistakes, you going to mess up, but you give yourself grace to figure it out, particularly when you share children."
IOL News
02-06-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
ANC Peter Mokaba regional conference, where chairs were thrown amidst fistfights, may get a rerun
The executive mayor of Polokwane and newly elected ANC Peter Mokaba Region chairperson John Mpe may have to challenge for his position during a possible rerun of a recent conference. Image: supplied The ANC Peter Mokaba Regional Conference in Limpopo may face a rerun after supporters of Mamedupi Teffo, the ANC Women's League Provincial Chairperson and Capricorn District Mayor, launched a complaint against the chaotic conference. The conference, which was held at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium, saw Polokwane Mayor John Mpe reelected as chairperson unopposed, despite allegations of irregularities and internal disputes. Teffo was to challenge Mpe, but did not in protest against the alleged irregularities. According to documents shared on social media, 31 branches were allegedly disqualified in a final dispute report, leaving only 74 qualifying branches - below the required 70% threshold of 79 branches. Delegates who raised these issues argued that the conference should not have proceeded without addressing outstanding disputes. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Some delegates accused the Regional Task Team (RTT) of allowing "bogus" delegates into the venue, leading to verbal disputes that escalated into physical confrontations. Former ANC Youth League official in the province Thabo Mabotja, who supports Teffo, is leading the charge insisting that the elections were not legitimate. He and other officials have contacted ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula, filing a complaint against the alleged regularities. The group has called for a conference rerun to be held within 30 days. Mbalula has not yet responded to the complaints. Mabotja claimed that the conference did not meet the necessary quorum to continue with elections and announced plans to submit a formal complaint to the ANC's provincial and national structures. "We believe these elections were irregular and premature. We will be engaging the provincial and national leadership on this matter," Mabotja said. Other ANC members in Mabotja's camp vowed to take the matter further, saying they are considering legal action with some claiming that ANC provincial secretary Reuben Madadzhe was biased because he was aligned to Mpe. ANC Limpopo spokesperson Jimmy Machaka confirmed that the party in the province was awaiting communication from Mbalula as to what decision he had taken. "We are awaiting the decision of the ANC Secretary General, Fikile Mbalula, regarding the outcomes of the conference or the submitted disputes," said Machaka. However, Madadzhe has since legitimised the conference, despite chaotic scenes and allegations of irregularities. "We stand by that decision that the conference is not bogus, and is a legitimate conference of the ANC. You will never have a bogus conference of the ANC with four PEC officials attending the conference," Madadzhe said.
News24
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- News24
Reality TV star Ratile says she experienced drama for years before it was public
Though they presented a united front for two seasons on The Mommy Club, Ratile Mabotja, famously known as Ratile Mabitsela, and her late estranged husband Lehlogonolo Mabitsela were putting out a lot of fires behind closed doors. When he died by suicide in February, the two were separated and in the process of divorce. Before his death, during separation and after his death, there were claims made about the former couple. Many flocked to her interview with Lungelo Mdletshe on the Engineer Your Life podcast. This was the first time she had an interview after the death of Mabitsela. Names were not mentioned in the interview, and neither the presenter nor the beauty queen were specific about situations. However, there are those who know that, since her The Mommy Club fame in 2023, Mabotja's private life and battles have been made public. The drama followed her till her estranged husband's death and burial. As cagey as she was in the interview – and some subjects were avoided, with the host saying it was too early – some things were addressed and she opened up about her loss. Speaking about the loss of her estranged husband, Mabotja said the public had showered her with love and support during the difficult time. Though she presented a strong front, she had the nation behind her at the time she felt as if she had to deal with the worst. Asked about her recovery, the beauty queen said she was healing every day, adding that she and her children were in therapy, which they attended once a week. "[The loss] left me traumatised. More trauma than anything. Having to also feel the absence. We would have conversations with the kids. Now we constantly have to revisit it. It's a journey," she said. She explained: He will always be the father of my children, whether we were married [or] divorced. There will not be any other person who will say now this is the father. I really do think that he did mean a lot to my children, and there are certain things that need parents. I don't want to see my children break down because [dad is not there]. Mabotja said she was not the only one who had lost someone; a mother lost a son, people lost a brother and uncle. She hoped that they would support one another because what they had in common was grief, however, her family came through for her. "I am grateful for my family, each and every one of them. There are two of his aunts who came through proper, and I am grateful for them. The people that mattered showed up." In the interview, she hailed her mother as the most supportive mother, who has always been there for her. Speaking about the drama before and after the death of her estranged husband, Mabotja said that was the negativity she had witnessed over the years, but it was only being made public now. She said this was not new for her, but she constantly chose to walk away for her peace. She said: Sometimes winning a fight means walking away and being okay with walking away. If you have to get in the mud, it's probably going to hurt you more than it hurts the other person. Even though her name was dragged, she said she did not need apologies from anyone. Having gone through all the pain, the businesswoman said she still believed in love. THE MOMMY CLUB The interview touched on the two seasons the reality TV star spent with The Mommy Club on Showmax. Just like the current cast members, the former The Mommy Club cast member pointed out longer hours of shooting. Mabotja said the show took her away from her children, and she felt guilty for not spending quality time with them. She said every time the show aired, she would be anxious because some things she shot were omitted during editing. The former Mrs South Africa contestant shared about the new chapter of her life, saying she was taking up mentoring and pageant coaching, especially for young people in townships.
