After Leading the Charitable Organization She Co-Founded with Estranged Husband Siya Kolisi Since 2019, Rachel Exits Her Role Following Their Divorce, Sparking Speculation and Support as She Graces Women’s Health SA Cover on March 3, 2025
Cape Town, South Africa – March 3, 2025, 6:24 PM CAT
Rachel Kolisi, the fitness influencer and philanthropist once married to Springbok captain Siya Kolisi, has officially stepped down as CEO of the Kolisi Foundation, closing a significant chapter in a journey that began when she co-founded the organization in 2019. The announcement, confirmed today through a poignant farewell from anti-gender-based violence (GBV) NGO The Justice Desk, comes months after her high-profile divorce from Siya in October 2024, signaling a shift as she embraces a fresh start spotlighted by a stunning swimsuit cover on the March/April 2025 issue of Women’s Health SA.
Rachel Kolisi, the fitness influencer and philanthropist once married to Springbok captain Siya Kolisi, has officially stepped down as CEO of the Kolisi Foundation, closing a significant chapter in a journey that began when she co-founded the organization in 2019. The announcement, confirmed today through a poignant farewell from anti-gender-based violence (GBV) NGO The Justice Desk, comes months after her high-profile divorce from Siya in October 2024, signaling a shift as she embraces a fresh start spotlighted by a stunning swimsuit cover on the March/April 2025 issue of Women’s Health SA.
The Kolisi Foundation, born from the couple’s shared vision to tackle food security, education, sport, and GBV, grew under Rachel’s stewardship into a beacon of hope, with her at the helm as CEO since 2023. Her departure, first hinted at by The Justice Desk on February 28, was met with a bittersweet tribute: “We were saddened to hear she will no longer be CEO, but we know she will continue to do incredible things.” The NGO praised her “unwavering support” for initiatives like the iNtsika yeThemba and Mbokodo Programs, cementing her legacy as a GBV advocate—a mantle she’s vowed to carry forward.
Rachel herself broke her silence on social media today, responding to the outpouring with a simple, “Love and appreciate y’all,” alongside images of her foundation work. The timing aligns with her Women’s Health SA feature, dubbed the “Performance Issue,” where she posed in Cape Town, radiating strength in a swimsuit shoot that’s already turning heads. “This feels like my next era,” she told the magazine, hinting at a pivot to wellness and personal reinvention post-divorce—a split she’d called herself “full on ready for” in a viral video last year.
The move has stirred South Africa’s tight-knit rugby and charity circles. Siya, who remains tied to the foundation, has stayed mum, though the ex-couple pledged in October to co-parent their two children and collaborate on the NGO. Insiders suggest Rachel’s exit reflects a natural divergence after their personal parting, with the foundation’s board promising “stability and continuity” in a statement to News24. “Rachel built something extraordinary here,” said a source close to the organization, anonymity requested amid the transition. “Now it’s about her finding her own path.”
Public reaction spans support to curiosity. On X, fans lauded her—“A queen stepping into her power!”—while others mused on the divorce’s ripple effects: “Foundation’s losing a star.” Her cover shoot, unveiled this week, amplifies the narrative—a sculpted Rachel against Cape Town’s backdrop, symbolizing resilience amid KwaZulu-Natal’s floods and national budget woes. “She’s not just a WAG anymore,” noted fitness blogger Zandi Mthembu. “This is her reclaiming the spotlight.”
As the Kolisi Foundation plots its next steps, Rachel’s departure marks more than an end—it’s a bold stride into uncharted turf. With her GBV activism intact and a wellness empire budding, the 34-year-old mother of two leaves a legacy of impact—and a nation watching her soar anew.
