By Tamlyn Canham
‘Skeem Saam’ star Pebetsi Matlaila has opened up about one of the most difficult years of her life. Pebetsi has been MIA on the social media streets for a few weeks.
The actress explained why she has been quiet.
“It was really for a vital reason. There are times in life where on has to retreat, isolate themselves for spiritual growth. There is a lot that has been going on in my life in the year 2021. I personally believe that the devil is after me after all that I have gone through this year,” she told her Instagram followers.
Pebetsi, who plays Mokgadi on ‘Skeem Saam‘, says she has gone through a lot. Despite tying the knot in late 2020 and welcoming a baby in 2021, the actress says her year got off to a bad start.
“Starting off with an accident while I was pregnant, which almost put my life and my unborn child in danger, and then also having a near-death experience during my delivery – which it actually wasn’t a near-death experience, I died for 3 minutes.
“My baby was born blue, she wasn’t supposed to be alive today. I encountered severe near-death abuse from somebody that I thought I would spend forever with and it keeps getting tough,” she continued.
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No longer depressed
On top of all the traumatic experiences, Pebetsi says she has been dealing with unemployment. The COVID-19 pandemic has been tough financially for many entertainers.
The industry is not as busy as it was pre-coronavirus and work has dried up for many. Pebetsi, who is on maternity leave, says she has been “surviving”.
“The industry we work in, if you’re not working, you’re not making money. So, as I have been on maternity leave, I haven’t really been working. So, I haven’t really been getting an income. But I have been surviving, it’s been very tough. Emotionally it’s been a strain, physically one has just been trying to stay strong for the kids.”
Pebetsi adds that everything happens for a reason and she has learned a lot about herself during this season of her life.
“Accepting that sometimes, things happen so the shift can happen. Today I am grateful, calmer, less anxious, no longer depressed because I believe that God is in control and working things out for my favour, but also I believe that a shift is happening in my life and we need to just allow the shift to happen,” she concluded.
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Main image credit: Instagram/@pebetsimatlaila



