Actress Palesa Madisakwane recently made explosive allegations about her past relationship with media personality Somizi Mhlongo. Speaking on the Hell and Back podcast (part two), she opened up about enduring emotional abuse and the struggles she faced as a single mother raising their daughter, Bahumi.
Pressure to Terminate Pregnancy
Palesa revealed that during her pregnancy with Bahumi, Somizi pressured her to have an abortion.
“I was told to abort. When the baby was born, he told me he doesn’t love the baby because he doesn’t love me,” she claimed on the podcast.
According to Palesa, Somizi initially refused to take responsibility for Bahumi, leading her to take legal action to secure financial support for their child.
Court Battle Over Paternity
The actress recounted how difficult it was to bring the matter to court.
“He refused to maintain the child, and I took him to court. By that time, I had already started acting and was a known brand. It was so embarrassing, but I had no choice,” she explained.
During the legal proceedings, Somizi allegedly denied paternity and demanded a DNA test.
“Even then, he insisted that Bahumi was not his child. He demanded a DNA test, which came back positive,” Palesa shared.
Palesa Madisakwane
The court experience was especially painful for Palesa, who described feeling humiliated throughout the process.
“While we were in court, he couldn’t even look at us—he just looked away and stood miles away. When the results came out, I just cried because I felt humiliated and disgraced,” she said.
Ongoing Financial Struggles
Despite the DNA confirmation, Palesa claimed Somizi did not consistently support their child.
“Even after that, he wouldn’t support his child. I would call him, and sometimes he’d pay, but other times he wouldn’t,” she said.
At one point, Palesa’s ex-husband stepped in to provide financial support for Bahumi. However, there were still times when she struggled to make ends meet.
“I remember at one point, Bahumi didn’t have food, and I went to his place to ask for money. He was with his boyfriend at the time. He just stood there, threw R100 at us, and went back inside the house,” Palesa recalled.
Allegations of Neglect
Palesa also shared details of a particularly difficult period in 2020 when Bahumi allegedly had nowhere to live.
“I was going through a difficult time, and I had separated from my husband. My two children from the marriage were living with my ex-husband, but Bahumi had nowhere to stay. She had to live with friends, yet her father was living in a mansion,” Palesa alleged.
Palesa Madisakwane
Somizi’s Public Persona vs. Private Allegations
Palesa’s revelations have cast a shadow on Somizi’s public image as a vibrant, successful media personality. While he is often seen enjoying a life of luxury, Palesa’s claims suggest a different reality behind the scenes when it comes to their shared parental responsibilities.
The Impact on Bahumi
While Bahumi has made strides in the entertainment industry, the challenges she and her mother faced are now coming to light. Palesa’s accounts reflect not only her personal struggles but also the broader challenges many single mothers face when co-parenting becomes contentious.
Moving Forward
It remains to be seen how Somizi will respond to these allegations, as he has yet to issue a public statement. Meanwhile, Palesa’s candidness has sparked conversations about emotional abuse, financial neglect, and parental responsibilities in the public eye.
As Palesa continues to share her story, she hopes to shed light on the struggles of single mothers and perhaps find healing in the process.
In other news – Amanda Manku opens up about challenging ‘Skeem Saam’ storyline
Actress Amanda Manku, best known for her role as Elizabeth “Lizzy” Thobakgale on Skeem Saam, has shared the emotional toll of her current storyline on the popular SABC1 show. Manku, 33, admitted that portraying Lizzy’s harrowing journey of choosing between her life and her unborn twins was one of the most difficult performances of her career.
Amanda Manku