JOHANNESBURG – Bukiwe Keva, the South African actress famed for her role in the now-concluded Mzansi Magic telenovela Gomora, has revealed a heartbreaking confluence of personal and professional struggles. The 31-year-old is battling severe depression, exacerbated by three years of unemployment and the tragic loss of her triplets last year.
Keva, who portrayed the character of high school bully Asanda, left Gomora in its third season in 2022. Speaking to City Press this week, the actress, born in Queenstown (Eastern Cape) and raised in Cape Town, laid bare the emotional and financial hardship she has endured since.
“There were times when I was like, ‘you know what, let me just take my life’," she confessed. "I cry almost every day because people tell me that I am talented. I don’t want to accept that I have to take antidepressants."
Adding to her woes, Keva revealed in October last year that she had tragically lost the triplets she was expecting. She shared her pain in a heartfelt Instagram post, saying she was pregnant with triplets and has unfortunately lost all of them.
At the time she wrote: "I hold my babies in the sanctuary of my heart, counting each precious moment as a treasure, loving them with a devotion that transcends time. The sorrow of losing a child—or three innocent souls—creates a wound that cuts deeper than any other. Oh, Jesus, how I wished to gather my little ones upon my knee, to share the stories of Your boundless love. In my absence, I ask that You hold them close, and speak of me in the softest tones.
"In a mere six months, I lost my three beautiful angels, and from this profound sorrow, I birthed a foundation in their honor. I strive to believe in my healing, though it unfolds like flowers in the spring—layer by delicate layer. Though shadows may linger, I choose to seek the light that dances beyond. Grief is a testament to love. Today, I reach out to women who share this heart-wrenching path, reminding them that their voices resonate, that they are seen in their pain, and that their grief is a sacred journey. You are not alone; you are held in this deep feeling of love and loss.
"When a baby is born, it’s a mother’s instinct to protect her baby. When a baby dies, it’s a mother’s instinct to protect their memory. Planted on earth to bloom in Heaven."
Professionally, Keva's struggles have been equally challenging. She revealed that since Gomora, she had auditioned for dozens of characters but only had one callback, which never materialised.
She further claimed that there were gatekeepers in the industry, adding that some of them spoke ill of her to casting directors. She said she was once told that because of her lifestyle, some producers thought they would not afford her.
Desperate for a chance to work, Keva pleaded with producers to give her an opportunity, emphasising that money was not her primary concern. "Treat me like you would treat others; I just want to work," she lamented. "If you want to offer R2 000, offer it. I want to be out there; people need to see me. The passion is now driving me insane; I wake up and cry; I just want to work. I hated auditions, but I have been doing auditions like a crazy person; sometimes it is discouraging."
The actress hopes that getting her foot in the door will lead to more opportunities in the future. She is even considering producing her own show, drawing inspiration from her upbringing and the people she grew up around.
Although she is being taken care of by her partner, Keva expressed her need for independence and the desire to showcase her talents and skills.
Keva fell in love with acting as she grew up in church, where they used to participate in plays. When she got to high school, she opened a drama class.
That became a passion and skill she wanted to hone, and she enrolled at City Varsity, but dropped out because she fell pregnant two years in.
However, she later joined the Duma Ndlovu Academy in 2017. She has since been part of shows like Rhythm City, Isidingo, Ngempela, Scandal! and Gomora, she said.
In addition to her acting career, Keva is also a philanthropist. She shared that she now had a small circle of friends – not because she was full of herself – but to protect her peace and private life.
She said some things were leaked to the media, and she would not know who the culprit was because she had a lot of friends.
“It’s depressing because I am a people's person. I love hanging out with people, but now I choose my space more than people. It is depressing, especially when you are not working; you are just sitting in the house,” she said.
Keva also opened up about her motherhood journey. In 2014, she gave birth to a son but was unable to raise him, and did not have a close relationship with him until recently. Now, her 11-year-old son, whom she described as inquisitive, lives with her full-time. While she admits that it is challenging, she is enjoying the experience of motherhood.
"I had problems with the baby daddy’s family, and then there was a time when I did not speak to the child. Now there is a mutual relationship and respect that we are trying to build, not for us but for the child. It’s best for the child to have both parents … coparenting is not easy; sometimes you have to be the bigger person."
