“Getting Married Was My Biggest Mistake”: Pebetsi Nolo Matlaila on Abuse and How She Lost Her Job on Skeem Saam
Former Skeem Saam actress Pebetsi Nolo Matlaila has opened up about the heartbreak and career fallout she faced following her brief and abusive marriage to one of the show’s former directors.
In a candid interview with Sunday World, Matlaila revealed that her relationship not only scarred her personally but also cost her professionally.
“I Was Collateral Damage”- Pebetsi Nolo Matlaila Claims
Matlaila, who portrayed Mokgadi on the hit South African soapie, says she believes she was axed from Skeem Saam because of her association with the former director, who was later fired for alleged unprofessional conduct.
“I was collateral damage. There was no explanation given for my removal, but I believe it was linked to my relationship with him,” she said.
Also Read: Hard Times Hit as Skeem Saam Actress Pebetsi Matlaila Reveals She’s Homeless
“I Married Him Because I Was Pregnant”
Matlaila admitted that her decision to marry the director was rooted in social pressure rather than love.
“I didn’t want to seem like I was just having kids out of wedlock,” she confessed.
Pebetsi Nolo Matlaila Reveals How Her Marriage to Skeem Saam Director Cost Her Role (Image Credit: Instagram @pebetsimatlaila)The marriage, which lasted only nine months, quickly turned into a nightmare.
The actress now regrets the decision, saying she had hoped things would improve once they were married — but instead, they worsened.
A Relationship Marked by Abuse
Matlaila detailed the abuse she endured during the relationship, recalling moments of physical violence, especially during her pregnancy.
“He was abusive, especially when drunk or high. One day, he threw me down the stairs while I was pregnant. My daughter and I once had to hide in a bedroom while he smashed the door,” she recounted.
She said the man the public saw — “soft-spoken and gentle” — was a far cry from the aggressor she lived with behind closed doors.
Raising Her Daughter Alone
Following their separation, the unnamed director returned to KwaZulu-Natal, leaving Matlaila to raise their daughter alone.
“The last time I saw him was when I called it quits. I opened a protection order, and he told me I’d raise our child with the lobola money he paid,” she said.
Her daughter, now three, does not know her biological father.
“She believes my eldest daughter’s father is hers too. I don’t know where he is, but I hope one day she finds that connection.”
Career Fallout and Lingering Regret
Matlaila reflected on how the relationship may have sabotaged her career.
“I believe I lost a screw back then. I hoped I could learn to love him and that he would change, but he didn’t,” she said.
She suspects their tumultuous relationship spilled over into the workplace, ultimately leading to both of them being let go.
“I have a feeling our personal lives affected our workspace,” she concluded.