'BBMzansi’ Star Thandeka Tshabalala Opens Up About Missing Her Father’s Funeral: "I Was a Mess"
- Big Brother Mzansi Season 6 runner-up Thandeka Tshabalala opened up about her late father during a podcast interview
- Thandeka revealed she was unable to attend his funeral due to the state she was in emotionally and mentally
- The emotional interview on Engineer Your Life with Lungelo KM has moved Mzansi, with fans rallying behind her
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Source: Instagram
Big Brother Mzansi Season 6 runner-up Thandeka Tshabalala left many people emotional after she broke down during a deeply personal interview, revealing that she never attended her father's funeral. The candid moment aired on the podcast Engineer Your Life with Lungelo KM on Tuesday, 25 August 2026, and has since moved thousands of viewers across social media.
Thandeka, who is often perceived as bold and unshakeable, became visibly tearful as she opened up about one of the most painful chapters of her life. Filmed inside a podcast studio bearing the branded "eyl." logo, the interview quickly shifted in tone as host Lungelo KM created a safe space for her to speak freely.
Thandeka Tshabalala's
Speaking through tears and pausing several times to compose herself, Thandeka recalled the final phone conversation she had with her father before he passed. He had asked her when she was coming to visit, and she told him she would be there in spring. He never made it.
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"I never got to see him for the last time," she said before adding, "There [are] a lot [of things] [I] would have loved to have said to him. And I even couldn't come to his funeral because I was a mess. I would go to a store, and I would just break down and have panic attacks. Oh my God, oh my God, he's dead. I'm never going to see him again."
She explained that the grief had rendered her completely incapable of travelling, leaving her unable to say goodbye in the way she would have wanted.
"It's a moment that you can never have back. That's the issue with it," she added.
Thandeka shared that she has since worked through the guilt, leaning on the understanding that things happened the way they were meant to.
Watch Thandeka's emotional interview on Facebook:
Mzansi rallies behind Thandeka Tshabalala
The video struck a deep chord with viewers, drawing an outpouring of empathy and support online.
Mathapelo Memza Mokoena wrote:
"Even Ice Queen break 🤗🤗🤗 ❤"
Amogelang Kgapo said:
"That's Lungelo for you, a very special person who will create a space for the person he interviews to break down if it happens ❤️"
Petunna Sthenjwa Muji commented:
"She is not ok; she has bottled up her pain. That's why she's aggressive..."
Irene Mokhorong shared:
"Not her fan but I hope she heals from the things she does not talk about. Losing a parent is not easy, and it is not a joke 🥹"
Debra Dee Nkomo added:
"Guys, let's vote for Engineer Your Life at the SAMA Awards! 🏆🔥 This guy is honestly one of the best interviewers out there. The way he connects with his guests and brings out real, meaningful conversations is unmatched 🙌🏽❤️"
Thandeka clashes with Londie London on podcast
Thandeka Tshabalala’s emotional interview on Engineer Your Life comes just days after she made headlines following a clash with Read the Room co-host Londie London, as previously reported by Briefly News.
The tense exchange reportedly became so heated that fellow panellists stepped in several times, urging both women to remain professional. The incident sparked debate among viewers, with fans divided over who was in the wrong, as some sided with Thandeka while others supported Londie.
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Source: Briefly News
