Lesego Marakalla biography: real age, height, husband, child and latest news
Lesego Marakalla is a South African actress, model, and television personality born on 16 May 1993 in Mpumalanga. She is best known for playing Rachel Kunutu on the SABC 1 soap opera Skeem Saam since 2011. After leaving the show in 2020 to further her education, she made a triumphant return in June 2025. Lesego Marakalla is 33 years old as of 2026 and remains one of South Africa's most recognised soap actresses.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- Lesego Marakalla's real age is 33, born on 16 May 1993 in Mpumalanga, South Africa.
- She joined Skeem Saam as Rachel Kunutu in 2011 and remained on the show for almost a decade.
- She left Skeem Saam in June 2020 to focus on her education full-time.
- She won the Outstanding Female Villain award at the 2018 Royalty Soapie Awards.
- She returned to Skeem Saam in June 2025, five years after her departure.
Profile summary
Full Name | Lesego Marakalla |
Date of Birth | 16 May 1993 |
Age (as of 2026) | 33 years old (as of 2026) |
Place of Birth | Mpumalanga, South Africa |
Nationality | South African |
Profession | Actress, model, television personality |
Education | Monis Arts House, Pretoria (dramatic arts) |
Relationship Status | Not publicly confirmed |
Children | None publicly confirmed |
Parents | Not publicly known |
Zodiac Sign | Taurus |
Height/Weight | Not publicly confirmed |
Hair/Eye Colour | Not publicly confirmed |
Net Worth | Not publicly confirmed |
Lesego Marakalla's early life and background
Where was Lesego Marakalla born?
Lesego Marakalla's place of birth is Mpumalanga, South Africa. She was born on 16 May 1993. She grew up in the province and developed a passion for performance from a young age.
She attended Motswedi Primary School in Seabe. Her early involvement in school drama and community theatre shaped her ambitions. After school, she moved to Pretoria to pursue formal training.
Is Lesego Marakalla still alive?
Yes, Lesego Marakalla is alive. She remains active in the South African entertainment industry. She returned to Skeem Saam on 10 June 2025 after a five-year absence.
Rumours about her well-being circulated during her hiatus from the show. Her 2025 comeback confirmed she is in good health and still working.
Source: Original
Lesego Marakalla's education and training
After school, Lesego Marakalla trained in dramatic arts at Monis Arts House in Pretoria. This formal training gave her the technical foundation for her professional acting career.
In 2020, she stepped away from Skeem Saam to focus on her education full-time. While her on-screen character, Rachel Kunutu, was written out of the show as moving to Cuba to study medicine. Marakalla has kept the specific details of her real-life degree and institution private.
Lesego Marakalla's acting career
Skeem Saam and the role of Rachel Kunutu (2011–2020)
Lesego Marakalla joined the debut season of Skeem Saam in 2011. She portrayed Rachel Kunutu, a complex, often villainous character whose storylines consistently trended on South African social media.
Her performance earned her the Outstanding Female Villain award at the 2018 Royalty Soapie Awards. She remained on the show for nearly a decade.
She made her final appearance in June 2020, departing to pursue her education. On leaving the show, she addressed her supporters directly:
To all my fans, I really appreciate the love and support you have given me since day one.
At the time, she said she was unsure whether she would return to acting.
She also supports a foundation in Mamelodi that donates school uniforms and shoes to children in need. She has expressed an interest in script-writing alongside her on-screen career.
Generations: The Legacy (2022)
In May 2022, Marakalla returned to television screens with a role on the SABC 1 soap opera Generations: The Legacy. She played Thuso, a troubled patient and accomplice to the villainous character Winston. Her debut scene featured her confronting Dr. Sphe Cele, marking a dynamic brief return to mainstream South African television.
Lesego Marakalla's return to Skeem Saam (2025)
After a five-year hiatus, Lesego Marakalla returned to Skeem Saam as Rachel Kunutu on 10 June 2025. The comeback was one of the most anticipated casting announcements the show had made in years.
She told journalists:
It feels good to be back.
She added that her supporters had kept asking when she would return. Rachel's return storyline involves her sudden reappearance in Turfloop after years away. She becomes entangled with new characters, including a figure known as "Ghost," played by rapper and television presenter Tshepo Howza Mosese.
Her on-screen estranged husband, Marothi Maphuthuma, had been searching for her. Rachel had taken a large sum of his money and staged her own death before disappearing. The dramatic setup has generated significant anticipation among Skeem Saam fans.
Lesego Marakalla's personal life
Husband: is Lesego Marakalla married?
The South African actress has not publicly confirmed a real-life husband or partner. She is known for keeping her personal life private. Speculation about her marriage is frequently linked to her on-screen storyline, in which Rachel was married to Marothi Maphuthuma on Skeem Saam.
No reliable source has confirmed a real-life husband as of 2026.
Does Lesego Marakalla have a child?
No verified information confirms that Lesego Marakalla has a child. She has not spoken publicly about having children. Claims circulating online cannot be verified against any credible source.
Latest news
Lesego Marakalla returns to Skeem Saam after five years (June 2025)
The biggest development in Lesego Marakalla's career in 2025 was her return to Skeem Saam as Rachel Kunutu. She made her on-screen comeback on 10 June 2025, five years after departing the show to study.
The comeback storyline introduces new characters and dramatic plot twists. Rachel's return to Turfloop is expected to shake up existing relationships on the show. Her co-star Macks Papo, who plays Marothi, also returned to the show from 13 June 2025 to continue the storyline.
Net worth
Lesego Marakalla's net worth has not been publicly confirmed. Estimates cited online vary widely and cannot be traced to any official or financial source. Treat any specific figure with caution.
Her known sources of income include:
- Her long-running role on Skeem Saam (2011–2020, June 2025–present)
- Her role on Generations: The Legacy (2022)
- Modelling and brand partnerships
FAQ
- What is Lesego Marakalla's real age? Lesego Marakalla was born on 16 May 1993. She is 33 years old as of 2026.
- Where was Lesego Marakalla born? She was born in Mpumalanga, South Africa.
- Is Lesego Marakalla still alive? Yes. She is alive and active. She returned to Skeem Saam in June 2025.
- Who is Lesego Marakalla's husband? She has not publicly confirmed a real-life husband. Rumours about her marriage are linked to her on-screen character's storyline on Skeem Saam, not her personal life.
- Does Lesego Marakalla have a child? No verified information confirms she has a child. She has not spoken publicly about having children.
- What is Lesego Marakalla's height? Her exact height has not been officially confirmed in any reliable source.
- What is Lesego Marakalla's latest news? She returned to Skeem Saam as Rachel Kunutu on 10 June 2025, five years after leaving the show.
- Where did Lesego Marakalla study? She trained at Monis Arts House in Pretoria. Reports suggest she studied medicine in Cuba from 2020, though this has not been officially confirmed by Marakalla.
Lesego Marakalla remains a dominant force in South African television. From her iconic breakout role as Rachel Kunutu to her high-profile 2025 return, her talent continues to captivate viewers nationwide. As she balances her privacy with her growing acting repertoire, fans eagerly anticipate the next dramatic chapter in her evolving career.
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Source: Briefly News
