South African actress and DJ Thuli Phongolo has reportedly bowed out of Generations: The Legacy once again—this time, possibly for good.
Thuli, who rose to fame as Namhla Diale, the daughter of Jack Mabaso and Lucy Diale, first joined the SABC1 soapie in 2014. She quickly became a fan favorite, but after four successful years, she exited the show in 2018 to explore new opportunities.
Since then, the multi-talented star has pivoted toward a career in music, building a name for herself as a DJ, joining the likes of Dineo Ranaka and Pearl Thusi in a male-dominated industry.
Although Thuli made a brief return to Generations in April 2025, sources say it was always intended to be a short stint. A production insider told DRUM that her busy schedule made it difficult to commit to the demanding filming routine:
“She is a busy human being, so the schedules clashed. She couldn’t do everything at the same time, so that’s why she left.”
Another source added, “She’s a globetrotter now and travels often. She didn’t have time to shoot every day as the show demands.”
Publicity manager Eugene Cele also confirmed her return was never permanent, stating, “She was only meant to be back on the show for two months. That was the understanding, because of how busy she is.”
Despite her exit, Thuli had expressed joy about reprising her role in a previous interview with Briefly News:
“Returning to Generations: The Legacy feels like coming back home. I’m excited to reconnect with the cast, crew and fans and to bring new energy to my character’s journey.”
The silver lining for fans? Namhla’s character wasn’t killed off, leaving the door open for a possible future comeback.
For now, it appears Thuli is focused on her thriving music career, commanding stages both locally and internationally.
