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Sonia Mbele credits Zimbabwean house manager for raising her children
14 hrs ago |
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South African actress Sonia Mbele has come under intense social media scrutiny following comments she made about a Zimbabwean caregiver who helped raise her children.
The controversy erupted after Mbele appeared on "The Ollah 7" podcast, where she reflected on her demanding acting career, particularly during her time on the iconic TV show Generations. She credited her former house manager, Jennifer, for playing a central role in raising her children while she worked long hours on set.
"My first house manager Jennifer, is/was from Zimbabwe. She was with me for years. Jennifer raised my children," Mbele said, explaining that her workload often stretched to 12-hour days, leaving her reliant on trusted help at home.
Mbele added that she invested in Jennifer's professional growth, even enrolling her in cooking and house management courses to better support the household.
While many listeners interpreted her remarks as an honest account of working motherhood and trust in domestic support, music executive Nota Baloyi took a sharply critical stance.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Baloyi accused Mbele of irresponsibility, writing: "Raise your children because you're an irresponsible mother… I would never say my maid raised me, she did her job and took instructions from the woman raising me!"
His comments ignited a fierce online debate, quickly dividing opinion.
Some social media users echoed Baloyi's criticism, questioning Mbele's parenting choices and suggesting that greater parental involvement might have yielded different outcomes in her children's lives. Others, however, dismissed the backlash as unfair and overly judgmental, arguing that many working parents rely on caregivers.
Supporters also pointed out that Baloyi is known for provocative commentary, suggesting his remarks were consistent with his often controversial online persona.
The debate has since evolved into a broader conversation about parenting, class dynamics, and the role of domestic workers in modern households - particularly in Southern Africa, where cross-border labour migration is common.
As the online storm continues, neither Mbele nor Baloyi has issued further statements to de-escalate the situation.
The controversy erupted after Mbele appeared on "The Ollah 7" podcast, where she reflected on her demanding acting career, particularly during her time on the iconic TV show Generations. She credited her former house manager, Jennifer, for playing a central role in raising her children while she worked long hours on set.
"My first house manager Jennifer, is/was from Zimbabwe. She was with me for years. Jennifer raised my children," Mbele said, explaining that her workload often stretched to 12-hour days, leaving her reliant on trusted help at home.
Mbele added that she invested in Jennifer's professional growth, even enrolling her in cooking and house management courses to better support the household.
While many listeners interpreted her remarks as an honest account of working motherhood and trust in domestic support, music executive Nota Baloyi took a sharply critical stance.
His comments ignited a fierce online debate, quickly dividing opinion.
Some social media users echoed Baloyi's criticism, questioning Mbele's parenting choices and suggesting that greater parental involvement might have yielded different outcomes in her children's lives. Others, however, dismissed the backlash as unfair and overly judgmental, arguing that many working parents rely on caregivers.
Supporters also pointed out that Baloyi is known for provocative commentary, suggesting his remarks were consistent with his often controversial online persona.
The debate has since evolved into a broader conversation about parenting, class dynamics, and the role of domestic workers in modern households - particularly in Southern Africa, where cross-border labour migration is common.
As the online storm continues, neither Mbele nor Baloyi has issued further statements to de-escalate the situation.
Source - IOL
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