Palesa Madisakwane, the former news anchor worked with South Africa’s ANN7 before it shut down. She is also recognized as the actress who had roles in Generations and Gaz’lam both of SABC1 channel.
Introducing Palesa from another angle, she also made news for being the baby mama of Somizi. Somizi Buyani Mhlongo-Motaung is a South African media and TV personality, choreographer, and actor. She also had two other relationships that made news headlines.
In the South African entertainment industry, Madisakwane is a known name as she has been a familiar face on the screens. She is popular as ‘Thandeka’ in e.tv’s telenovela Ashes to Ashes.
Who Is Palesa Madisakwane?
1. The Young Lady Broke into Screens Aged 20
Palesa Madisakwana was born on September 6, 1975, in Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa. After having her basic education, she delved straight into following her dreams and carving out her career path.
This decision is one that has favored her so far as almost 30 years later, she is a popular name in the entertainment industry. Palesa initially kick-started her career with TV stints as she was a news anchor. After this, she began acting, taking up roles in the drama Generations, Ashes to Ashes, and Isibaya.
2. Palesa Madisakwane Became a Mother in 1995
The same year her career kicked off, her role as a mother began. She took up the responsibility of mothering her first child born with Somizi. Her daughter is named Bahumi Madisakwane and was born on the 9th of February 1995.
Bahumi was said to have been born with a medical disorder known as lymphedema. This is an ailment resulting from a malfunctioning of the lymphatic system. It causes inflammation on either the legs or arms of those suffering from it.
The 48 year old had to struggle to balance being a new mother, her career, and nursing to good health, her ailing newborn.
3. Aged 35, Madisakwane Picked Broadcasting Over Acting
The mother made a huge career decision which saw her picking hosting over her acting career. Palesa, in 2010, switched roles from the actress everyone saw on their screens to being the host of a gospel music show.
Knowing she did not leave the screen is compensation enough though as the viewers of the gospel show were more than happy to have her host their favorite show. The SABC1 gospel music show titled Gospel Gold became Palesa’s newest endeavor.
She replaced Zwai Bala whose style of presenting made viewers uncomfortable. For the new host, she loved the idea as she saw it as a means for her to worship with viewers while enriching them.
4. She Has Been Linked to Two Other Men
Years after the end of her relationship with Somizi, the Gold Gospel host began to date and eventually marry Jakes Mocuminyane. With Jake, she had two more kids; a boy named Thato Mocuminyane and a daughter named Khumo Mocuminyane.
Unfortunately, their marriage ended in 2014 and the host was back to being single again. Only this time, she had more children to look after. The reason for their divorce wasn’t made public knowledge although the internet was buzzing with the news.
Controversially, she dated a man who was 10 years younger than she was. The man is Niko Matlala who is a very rich and successful businessman in South Africa.
READ ALSO: Mohale Motaung; Controversies Surrounding His Divorce And Other Facts
5. She Allegedly Tried to Commit Suicide
After the breakup with Niko, news broke out that his ex-girlfriend tried to commit suicide. It was reported that Buhami’s mother tried to end her own life by taking an overdose of pills.
The attempt at suicide was linked to a possible heartbreak from the end of the relationship. According to reports, Matlala ended things with his older lover because she was too controlling and he wanted to see someone in his age range.
The Generations former actress however refuted the allegations saying she never tried to commit suicide.
6. Palesa’s Fallout With Her Bestfriend
Madisakwane had a friend who was considered her best friend one time, named Winnie Ntshaba. According to a source close to the ex-friends, Palesa introduced her friend to her then-boyfriend, Niko.
Winnie reportedly was in need of a business sponsor for funds and Niko’s older lover decided to be a friend. However, Ntshaba started visiting Niko without Palesa’s knowledge or permission.
When confronted about this allegation, Winnie tried to get out of giving an answer to why she had been frequenting Niko’s house. Also, the friend was seen driving one of the businessman’s cars on several occasions.
Matlala denied the allegation and the host’s friend avoided giving a reasonable explanation.
7. Her Daughter is Also an Actress
Not only do mother and daughter share a striking resemblance, but they also share a similar love for certain careers. The actress’ first daughter found a passion and love for acting and has gone on to pursue it.
Bahumi Madisakwane is a fast-rising actress and TV personality who is popular in the SABC telenovela Keeping Score. She was also featured in the first season of Living The Dream With Somzi, her dad’s reality TV show.
8. Palesa Madisakwane Was Involved in a Ghastly Accident
After attending a family member’s wedding, the actress, on her way back home was involved in a car accident. This accident happened in Witkoppen Road, Johannesburg in 2019.
According to ex Mrs. Mocuminyane, she had right of way when a drunk driver rammed into her and her 9-year-old daughter. Unable to make an escape nor save her daughter by herself, she was helped by other drivers on the way.
The driver attempted to run away but was caught and arrested by the police. The mother of three and her second daughter were taken to the hospital to be cared for. They both sustained injuries on their head.
The actress was bothered about the aftermath of the accident as she lost jobs considering it left scars on her face. Also, she had constant blackouts and incessant headaches afterward.
She took to her social media to rant about the inhumane act of drinking and driving as well as tell the story of the accident. However, her baby daddy Somizi offered to pay for the facial restructuring of her face and her ex-husband was with her in the hospital after the accident happened.
This goes to tell that she still has a good relationship with her exes.
9. Madisakwane Was Deceived into Leaving Her anchoring Job
The TV personality put out a video talking about how a man named Shannon Merricks deceived her. She said that the aforementioned man called to invite her to join his TV channel as he loved what she did at ANN7.
Palesa left her job with ANN7 so as to join the new channel supposedly known as Vila Kasi TV. However, she soon realized that it was a scam and he had done the same thing to other people.
10. Is Her Baby Daddy Gay?
Somizi as he is popularly known revealed soon after Madisakwane’s pregnancy announcement, that he was not of the ‘straight’ sexual orientation. He claims that he told his baby mama about his sexual orientation and she did not believe him.
As a result of her doubt, they had a sexual relationship that resulted in the birth of his daughter. However, soon after, it was revealed that he is gay.
The TV and media personality has however refuted allegations of him being gay. He says he isn’t gay but that he is pansexual and can fall in love with whoever he finds attractive. His attraction to a person is however not influenced by the person’s gender.
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