Rachel Kolisi Explains Why She Will Keep Kolisi Surname after Divorce
OkMzansi | 13.03.2026 16:09
Rachel Kolisi has shared why she has decided to keep the Kolisi surname even after her divorce from Springbok captain Siya Kolisi.
The former model and entrepreneur recently appeared on the radio show Anele and the Club on 947, where she spoke openly about her decision. Rachel explained that the main reason she is keeping the surname is because of her children and the challenges she already faces when travelling with them.
Rachel said that having the same surname as her children helps avoid complications, especially when they travel together.
“My children share the same surname as me, and travelling with my children, because they are brown, is already a big challenge,” she said.
She explained that if she were to change her surname, it could make certain situations even more difficult when travelling.
“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’m keeping my surname,” she said.
Rachel also shared that she is often questioned about her relationship with her children because of how they look.
“It’s also just the amount of times I’ve been asked, ‘Are those your kids?’, and I’m just, like, ‘Yes they are my kids’, and so if I change my surname, it’s going to be just as challenging.”
Rachel and Siya’s relationship goes back many years. The couple started dating in 2012 after meeting at a dinner party in Stellenbosch. They later tied the knot in August 2016 in a beautiful ceremony held at Molenvliet Wine Estate in the Western Cape.
During their marriage, the couple built a family together. Their son, Nicholas, was born in 2016, and a year later they welcomed their daughter, Keziah, in 2017.
Rachel and Siya also took on the responsibility of raising Siya’s younger siblings, Liphelo and Liyema. The siblings were placed in an orphanage after their mother passed away, and the couple stepped in to give them a stable home and support.
However, after several years of marriage, Rachel and Siya decided to go their separate ways. The couple confirmed that they had separated in 2024.
Despite the end of their marriage, Rachel has made it clear that she intends to keep the Kolisi surname for the sake of her children and to make certain aspects of life, like travelling, a little easier.
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