Thuli Phongolo Says Goodbye to Generations: The Legacy Again

Thuli Phongolo, who became a household name for her role as Namhla Diale on Generations: The Legacy, has allegedly left the popular SABC1 soapie again — and this time, it may be for good.

She first joined the show in 2014, playing the daughter of gangster Jack Mabaso and businesswoman Lucy Diale. Fans quickly fell in love with her character, and she became one of the show’s biggest stars. But in March 2018, after four years on the show, Thuli announced she was leaving, much to the heartbreak of her many supporters.

After leaving Generations, Thuli shifted gears and followed her passion for music by becoming a DJ. Like other celebrities such as Dineo Ranaka and Pearl Thusi, she found success in the male-dominated DJ industry.

“She is a busy human being, so the schedules clashed,” a source told DRUM. “She couldn’t do everything at the same time, so that’s why she left.” According to DRUM, another source added, “She’s a globetrotter now and travels often. She didn’t have time to shoot every day as the show demands.”

Although she made a brief return to Generations in April 2025, the plan was always for it to be short. Publicity manager Eugene Cele confirmed this: “She was only meant to be back on the show for two months. That was the understanding, because of how busy she is.”

In early April, Thuli herself spoke about her return in an interview with Briefly News, saying: “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.”

But as her DJ career continues to soar, it looks like Namhla Diale will once again be stepping away from our screens. The good news? Her character wasn’t killed off, so there’s still hope fans might see her again one day. For now, fans will just have to catch Thuli behind the DJ decks, where she’s clearly thriving.