Showmax has released an emotional and powerful new episode of Untied, featuring one of South Africa’s most respected entertainers, Dawn Thandeka King. The talk show, hosted by award-winning broadcaster Relebogile Mabotja, focuses on the deeply personal topic of divorce, through the voices of well-known South African women who’ve lived through heartbreak and found the courage to heal.
Dawn is well-known for her strong on-screen roles and award-winning performances, including her current role as Mkabayi in Shaka iLembe and her upcoming appearance in BET’s Black Gold. But on Untied, we get to know the woman behind the fame — a mother, a healer, and someone who has had to make some of the hardest choices in her life.
In this touching episode, Dawn opens up about her spiritual journey and how it shaped her career and her healing. She shared that her connection with her ancestors and her faith helped guide her through difficult times. “Because I then found an agency, and then my agency found me a job, and that was my first acting gig in 2012. I often wonder whether it was the reason I went through this journey that opened that door.”
She also speaks about the struggles of being a mother of five while chasing her dreams. When she landed the role of Lindiwe Xulu on Uzalo, she had to move to Durban — alone. This meant leaving behind her children and husband in Johannesburg. “I don’t know when it became an ‘I’ thing. I moved alone to Durban,” she said, showing the emotional toll that separation took on her family life.
One of the most heartbreaking parts of the episode is when Dawn opens up about the infidelity in her marriage. She explains how painful it was when she realised that her husband was emotionally confiding in someone else instead of her. “He wasn’t saying that to me. He was saying it to someone else. I think that killed me. I felt abandoned.”
Dawn’s honesty continues as she speaks about the moment she knew she had to choose herself. Walking away from her marriage wasn’t easy, but she did it in order to protect her peace and rebuild her life. Her story is one of bravery and self-love, proof that healing is possible, even after deep hurt.
