Palesa Madisakwane opens up about parenting challenges with Somizi

Actress Palesa Madisakwane has opened up about how Somizi Mhlongo was not financially supportive when it came to raising their daughter Bahumi, saying she had to fight him in maintenance court, forcing him to play his part.

She revealed this in Part two of her interview on Boldy Owami’s podcast “To Hell and Back,” which dropped on Tuesday. Just as Part one had many people dropping their jaws, this episode was no different as Madisakwane candidly shared her experience about having a child unknowingly with a gay man.

The actress had a relationship with media personality Somizi, that led to the birth of their daughter, Bahumi.

In part two Madisakwane continues to open up about her co-parenting relationship with the “Idols South Africa” judge which was not all roses. 

Madisakwane made it clear that she wasn’t speaking out to tarnish anyone’s name but was simply telling her story, her journey and it was happening because she has a voice now and fears nothing.

Addressing the comments, from part one Madisakwane explained that Mhlongo was not financially supportive when it came to raising Bahumi and had to fight over the years for him to play his part.

The “Ashes to Ashes” actress said that Mhlongo did not financially support her, nor did she wish he did but only wished that he could support his daughter, with the life he is living and can assist her.

Responding to critics who said Bahumi is 30 and that is an age where one should be independent, Madisakwane explained that she believes that if a parent can assist a child when they are struggling they should.

She addressed Mhlongo buying her a car, in her 20s that later was involved in a car accident leaving it as a write-off.

“Bahumi is not financially stable, Bahumi doesn’t have a place, she stays with me her mother, Bahumi drives my car… It’s good that she is hustling like any other child…

“The way the people want to portray Bahumi it’s as if she is this spoiled little child, who probably has a bank account that probably has millions, but no,” rebuking all those who say her daughter lives a lavish life.

Madisakwane, also detailed how she had to take Mhlongo to maintenance court, where he even denied paternity of Bahumi. She recalled how throughout the experience she was filled with embarrassment standing in court lines.

“It was so embarrassing but I had no choice. Even then, he insisted that Bahumi was not his child. He wanted a DNA test and it came back positive.

“While we were in court he couldn’t even look at us, he just looked away and stood miles away from us. When the results came out I just cried because I felt humiliated and disgraced,” explained

Mhlongo was responsible for paying Bahumi’s fees but it was a struggle, with her even being excluded from AFDA due to unpaid fees.

She went on to recall how when she was going through a difficult time, she had been separated from her then-husband and they didn’t have a home. Her other two children were living with her ex-husband while Bahumi lived with a cousin.

Madisakwane detailed how when Bahumi turned 13, she was still struggling financially and her ex-husband’s income supported the household Mhlongo bought 13 cakes and bought them for her school and she ran out of petrol as they were driving home.

“Even today, Somizi is still not supporting Bahumi. I’m responsible for her wellbeing. She is 30-years-old but she’s not financially stable. And she’s still living under my roof, I’m the one taking care of her,” she said.

The actress detailed that Mhlongo’s relationship with his daughter changed after they shot episodes for his reality show “Living The Dream” and he saw their diary entries. 

Madisakwane claims that the diary entries for the show were very honest and suspects a lot of what they said had been edited out as they made the final cut.

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