{"id":25268,"date":"2026-03-14T12:28:26","date_gmt":"2026-03-14T10:28:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wedodis.co.za\/news\/?p=25268"},"modified":"2026-03-14T12:28:26","modified_gmt":"2026-03-14T10:28:26","slug":"rachel-kolisi-on-embracing-her-identity-keeping-siyas-surname-post-divorce","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wedodis.co.za\/news\/rachel-kolisi-on-embracing-her-identity-keeping-siyas-surname-post-divorce\/","title":{"rendered":"Rachel Kolisi on Embracing Her Identity: Keeping Siya’s Surname Post-Divorce"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"Rachel<\/p>\n
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Rachel says she is not changing her surname after divorce from Siya Kolisi<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Businesswoman and philanthropist Rachel Kolisi has shared her thoughts on maintaining her former husband’s surname, Siya Kolisi, following their divorce.<\/p>\n

Recently, she has spoken about her personal healing journey and her new documentary, Falling Forward<\/em>.<\/p>\n


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Despite her openness, some users on social media have criticized her, implying that she is leveraging her divorce from the Springbok captain to promote her career.<\/p>\n

The official description of her documentary notes that it does not focus on their separation.<\/p>\n

In a recent interview, Rachel explained that her decision to keep the Kolisi surname is primarily practical, especially for their children when traveling.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy children share the same surname as me, and travelling with my children, because they are brown, is already a big challenge. Sometimes I get stopped at gates and people want to double-check certain things, so it would be a really big challenge for me, so I\u2019m keeping my surname,\u201d she explained.<\/p>\n

She also mentioned that it is common for people to question her relationship with her children.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s also just the amount of times I\u2019ve been asked \u2018are those your kids\u2019, and I\u2019m just, like, \u2018yes they are my kids\u2019, and so if I change my surname it\u2019s going to be just as challenging.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rachel and Siya have two biological children together, and they also adopted Siya\u2019s younger siblings, Liyema and Liphelo, after their mother passed away.<\/p>\n

As they navigate co-parenting, Rachel expressed her desire for others to eventually see her beyond her past marriage.<\/p>\n

\u201cI actually want to move past this narrative. I want to move past this story. People have pinned me to who I was married to, and who I was divorced from. I have so much more to offer than that season in my life. There\u2019s a new conversation, there\u2019s a new season, so let\u2019s move on,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Though Siya is reportedly in a new relationship, Rachel stated she is currently focused on her own personal growth rather than seeking a new partner.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m good by myself. I don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever been better by myself. Why is it considered moving on only when you are with someone else? Why is your value only attached when you\u2019re with someone else?\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

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