Pearl Thusi Opens Up About Her Parents’ Difficult Marriage
OkMzansi | 09.06.2026 14:22
South African media personality, actress and DJ Pearl Thusi has touched many hearts after speaking openly about her late mother, her father, and the impact their relationship had on her life.
Pearl recently appeared on The Motherhood Network podcast, hosted by Nandi Madida, where she shared deeply personal memories about growing up and witnessing the challenges within her parents’ marriage. During the emotional conversation, she reflected on how those experiences influenced her views on love, marriage, forgiveness, and family.
Speaking honestly about her childhood, Pearl revealed that her parents had a complicated relationship that affected the way she viewed marriage for many years.
“My father had a very tumultuous relationship with my mom. I think it is one of the reasons that I run away from marriage, like, a lot. I for a very long time believed that my mom kind of died because she was married. I feel like my mom would still be alive, I believe though still in statistics,” she said.
The actress went on to explain some of the difficulties her mother faced before her passing. Pearl described the pressure her mother was under while caring for her family and continuing to work as a nurse despite her own health challenges.
Pearl explained that her mother was living with HIV, suffering from gallstones, and dealing with significant stress while caring for her family and working as a nurse.
“She’s got the crazy, frustrating teenager me in the house. Two younger girls and she’s seriously ill and she’s a nurse, she’s taking care of other sick people,” she shared.
As the conversation continued, Pearl became emotional and fought back tears while speaking about the pain she carried for years after losing her mother.
“For a long time I kind of blamed my father for my mother dying. But I never said it to him,” she said.
Her honesty resonated with many listeners, who praised her for being vulnerable and sharing such a personal story. Pearl thanked people for their support and to express how comfortable she felt during the interview.
In the comments section from the snippet of the podcast Instagram post, she wrote: “Thank you everyone. Talking to @nandi_madida was so easy and comforting. The messages of love and support have warmed my soul so much and I’m so grateful. Thank you.”
The emotional interview also received support from several well-known personalities. Pearl was showered with love by Boity Thulo, DJ Zinhle and Nandi Madida, who applauded her courage and openness.
