THULI Thabethe has all the traits of a great actress. She portrays her different characters with such ease and is able to convince the viewer to believe that’s who she is. The 31-year-old actress, who took a three-year break to focus on her studies, is back with a bang. She has joined Mzansi Magic’s telenovela Isibaya and e.tv’s drama series Ashes To Ashes.
SHE'S NOT A SINGLE MOTHER
Despite all that, the lass – popularly known for her role as Phumzile in City Ses’la – says the greatest role she plays in life has to be that of being a mother. “I’m a mother. That’s the most important thing,” she points out. However, she admits that it’s no easy task but she is privileged that her sister and mother are very supportive. It is that support that has her not subscribing to the notion of being labelled a single mother. “I’m a single woman,” she points out, adding, “I am raising my child in my household and I share the responsibility. I’ve got the support of my sister, mother and family. I’m privileged that I don’t feel the pressure other women do,” she says.
HOW SHE MANAGES COPARENTING
Thuli doesn’t discredit the support and the role played by the father of her son, Metro FM’s Tbo Touch, real name Thabo Molefe. “Ruri’s dad wants to be present,” she says referring to her ex who is hands-on and not shy to post pictures of him and his son on social media. She says it took a level of maturity for them to make co-parenting work. “You must get over yourself and foresee the future. Put the interests of the child before your issues. And I say that with hesitation,” she says mindful of the fact that it’s easier said than done, “I know it’s not easy.” She adds that co-parenting is a trial and error. “There was a time when we were trying to find our feet. But you get to be better at understanding one another. You find the rhythm. I’m ok with being a bad cop and the one to set the structure for him,” says the woman who can’t imagine what life was like before motherhood. “I can’t imagine life pre-2009. The minute I gave birth everything changed because now there’s a deeper purpose. He’s the reason I went back to school. He must look at me and see that I’m a go-getter. I just want to be a role model for my child.”
THE FUTURE
When asked if she wants to have any more children, Thuli, without hesitation, says as much as she loves being a mother, she is not planning to have another child. “I don’t plan on having more kids,” she assures. “Having a child is a big thing and I don’t have the strength to go through it again. My sister and friends will have kids and they will grow up together.”
MAKING A COMEBACK
During the three-year break she took to concentrate on her studies, Thuli says life was like swimming against the current as she could not take long TV roles. She made ends meet doing voiceovers and commercials. Now she’s back as Malaika, the girl who broke Tsietsi’s heart on Ashes to Ashes. She’s also on Isibaya as the glamorous and over-the-top taxi boss' wife, Beauty Ngwenya.
