As devastating fires tore through parts of Table Mountain National Park over the weekend, Rachel Kolisi, estranged wife of Springbok captain Siya Kolisi, found herself facing a different kind of storm—both environmental and emotional.
On Sunday, Rachel took to Instagram to share shocking images of the fire inching dangerously close to her Tokai home in Cape Town. “We are all safe (thank God), our home is safe.
So grateful for our firefighters, community, and SPECIALLY @carliannsmithy and Dale – honestly no way I would have managed the last 24 hours without you,” she wrote, visibly shaken but grateful.
Rachel, who recently separated from Siya Kolisi after over a decade together, has been slowly piecing her life back together amid the painful dissolution of her marriage.
The Kolisis were once considered the golden couple of South African sport and philanthropy, rising together in the public eye as Siya captained the Springboks to Rugby World Cup victory in 2019.
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But behind the scenes, cracks in the relationship widened over time, culminating in a quiet separation earlier this year.
While the details remain private, Rachel has shown resilience in navigating her new chapter, often sharing honest and vulnerable moments with her followers.
This weekend, however, that resilience was tested most terrifyingly.
A blaze ignited on Friday afternoon along the slopes of Table Mountain and rapidly spread across Lower and Upper Tokai Cape Town, prompting emergency evacuations and sleepless nights for residents.
By Monday, SANParks confirmed that around 3,000 hectares of vegetation had been destroyed.
Rachel described the ordeal as both physically and emotionally draining. “Exhausted, and hope I’m not speaking too soon, but I think the worst is over,” she wrote, her words reflecting not only the fire’s toll, but perhaps also the emotional weight she’s carried in recent months.
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Despite everything, Rachel continues to rise. From managing the safety of her children during the fire to remaining vocal in her support for local heroes, she’s become a symbol of quiet strength during turbulent times.
SANParks resumed aerial water bombing operations at first light on Monday, with flare-ups still being reported in areas like Boyes Drive and Chapman’s Peak, moving toward Hout Bay.
Authorities remain on high alert.
