Rethabile Khumalo Reveals How Depression Left Her Feeling Like She Had Lost Hope
- Rethabile Khumalo opened up about battling severe depression that led her to self-harm and attempt to end her own life
- The singer described feeling stuck while her peers moved forward, with pressure mounting over her career and her mother's illness
- A single message to DJ Zinhle changed everything for Rethabile, setting off a chain of events that would alter her life
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Source: Instagram
South African singer Rethabile Khumalo has spoken candidly about a painful chapter in her life, revealing that depression once pushed her to the brink, to the point of throwing herself in front of a moving car.
The 31-year-old, who grew up in Protea Glen, Soweto, opened up during an appearance on Arthur Mafokate's Lifestyle Show podcast. The daughter of the late Winnie Khumalo, she has been surrounded by music since childhood, attending the National School of the Arts before carving out her own path as a singer-songwriter. But behind the performances and ambitions, she was quietly unravelling.
The weight she was carrying
Rethabile described reaching a point where emotional pain turned physical, recalling how she resorted to hurting herself before eventually attempting to take her own life by stepping in front of a moving vehicle. She spoke about the crushing frustration of watching her music career stall while those around her seemed to be thriving, a feeling that left her convinced time was running out.
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Adding to that weight was the responsibility she felt towards her mother, Winnie, who was ill at the time. The combination of personal and professional pressure made the situation feel impossible to escape.
How DJ Zinhle changed everything
What shifted things was a decision to reach out. Rethabile sent a message to DJ Zinhle, who responded by inviting her to the studio. That connection produced "Umlilo", a collaboration that became a breakout hit and fundamentally changed where Rethabile stood in the industry.
Zinhle went a step further, inviting Rethabile to stay with her in Fourways while they worked on the project together. As the song gained traction, Rethabile found herself doing radio interviews and television appearances for the first time. Royalties followed, offering financial relief after years of struggle.
Still, she was clear about what mattered most. The career momentum and the income were welcome, but none of it compared to simply being alive to receive them. She said, reflecting on how far she has come since those darkest moments:
"I'm still here now."
Rethabile's story carries extra weight given what came after. Her mother, Winnie Khumalo, passed away in January 2025, and she has since spoken about leaning on music to work through her grief and keep her mother's legacy alive. That she is still standing, still creating, is something she does not take for granted.
Rethabile Khumalo to release album in honour of late mom
Rethabile Khumalo is reportedly working on an album in honour of her late mother, acclaimed Afro-pop star Winnie Khumalo.
The singer has been channelling her grief into making more meaningful music, with her latest song currently dominating the airwaves.
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Source: Briefly News
