Johannesburg – Thabiso Mokhethi, once a familiar face on South African television screens as Samuel Khumalo on SABC 1's Generations, has revealed a dramatic shift in his life, now relying on offerings from churches across Southern Africa to make ends meet. The 41-year-old actor, who has faced a series of personal and professional challenges, says he now dedicates his life to preaching the word of God, travelling between South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland, and Botswana.
"I go to different churches and tell people about God," said Mokhethi. "It’s up to the honorarium. They honour me with what they have."
Mokhethi recently preached at the Durban Warship Church under Pastor Abraham Masinga, and says that despite the hardships, life is good, and he is currently enjoying a holiday with his children.
However, the journey to finding his faith was not an easy one. Mokhethi has openly discussed his past struggles, including a period where he contemplated suicide.
"I lost my father, who was the breadwinner, my mother had depression and I was still a student at Wits. I didn’t have money to continue with my studies," he explained.
Following his father's death, Mokhethi turned to drugs and alcohol to cope with the pain. His mother eventually intervened, sending him to rehab, where he discovered his talent for acting.
After completing rehab, Mokhethi auditioned for acting roles and landed the part of Samuel Khumalo on Generations. "Veteran actress Sonia Sedibe told me the role was mine — and it was," he recalled.
His life transformed almost overnight. He moved from the township to the suburbs, bought a car, and got married. But, according to Mokhethi, he "forgot about God" and subsequently lost everything.
"God took everything. My mother and brother died in a car accident, I lost my job, my wife divorced me and my younger brother was murdered. I had depression," he said.
In a desperate attempt to find answers, Mokhethi turned to traditional healing after being told that he was cursed. He even underwent initiation to become a sangoma (traditional healer) but says that God intervened, telling him that he was not meant to follow that path.
"He saved me," said Mokhethi, who also works as a master of ceremonies when invited.
Now, Mokhethi is using his platform to encourage other izangoma to renounce their practices and embrace Christianity. He took to social media to urge traditional healers to "cut their beads off, burn those cloths and come to Jesus."
"Nothing is impossible with God. If He can do it for me, if He's doing it for Tumi, He can also set you free. Come out of that place. Cut those beads off, burn those cloths and come to Jesus. He will cleanse, comfort and bless you," he proclaimed.
Mokhethi insists that his message comes from a place of love and understanding, not hatred.
"I’ve seen on TikTok people assuming I hate izangoma. I speak to them out of love. I’m aware that most people who thwasa (undergo initiation) begin when they have sicknesses that are unexplainable. They are told if they appease their ancestors, they will be fine. Most people who are practising do it out of fear."
He added: "What I’ve seen is that God doesn’t work in fear, He works in comfort and love. When you allow Him to lead you out of it, He will protect you from everything. I don’t want people to fear spirits when there’s God. I know what it’s like to be alone and feel rejected and think the only people who understand you are the dead. Let’s live for God and let the Holy Spirit lead us."
Mokhethi claims that he has faced curses and threats since leaving traditional healing, but remains steadfast in his faith.
"That is a lie from the pit of hell. I was cursed a lot by people. But because I’m in Christ, the opposite is happening. Christ restored me. Now, He is in the process of restoring my finances and things I’ve lost. God is rewarding me and protecting me from the curse people put on my life."
He believes that his current success as a preacher and speaker is a testament to God's favour. "I am being invited to talk in places, not because I have a PR team but because God is behind me. Instead of me being punished, heaven is rewarding me. For anyone that is afraid, here I am. I am proof," he declared.
However, Mokhethi's views have been met with resistance from some within the traditional healing community. Sangoma Solly Mathebula warned of the potential consequences of abandoning ubungoma (the practice of traditional healing).
"There are consequences of leaving ubungoma. Your life could be destroyed and your loved ones too. It’s only people who want attention that stop being izangoma," said Mathebula.
He added: "An example I’ll give you is about Skhotheni who said she’s stopped. We know the worst will happen. Ubungoma and witchcraft are different, you can stop witchcraft, but you can't stop the other. You can die or go crazy. As long as your ubungoma is natural, you can’t quit."
