ENJOYING THE RIDE

Rachel Kolisi may have once been behind the wheel of a Land Rover or luxury Mercedes-Benz, but these days, the school run looks a little different – and far more relatable. 

The mother-of-two, known for her humility and grounded approach to life, has traded in high-end horsepower for the practicality of a Toyota Yaris. 

And, according to Rachel, she and the little silver Yaris – affectionately named "Betsy" – are getting along just fine.

Despite her glamorous past life alongside Springbok captain Siya Kolisi, Rachel has always struck a chord with fans for her girl-next-door charm.

These days, she’s juggling solo parenting duties in Cape Town’s Southern Suburbs, doing the school run daily and managing life with quiet resilience and a sense of humour. 

In a now-deleted Instagram post, Rachel shared a series of candid photos alongside Betsy, accompanied by a caption that was refreshingly honest. 

She wrote in the caption: “Life has a funny way of humbling you just when you think you’ve got it all figured out. 

“One day you’re riding high, the next you’re asking a friend to borrow their spare car and googling ‘how to parallel park a Yaris with dignity’."

Far from being embarrassed, Rachel leaned into the moment with characteristic humour, noting that her clutch control skills are still sharp.

She added: “It’s not forever. It’s just a chapter. But honestly? Betsy and I are kind of vibing.”

The post struck a chord with many of her followers – not because it was glamorous, but because it was real. 

Gone are the high-gloss snapshots of jet-setting life; in their place is a woman who’s recalibrating, rebuilding, and showing that your worth isn't tied to what you drive.

Whether or not Toyota comes calling with a sponsorship deal remains to be seen. 

But one thing’s for sure – Rachel Kolisi has once again reminded South Africans why she’s so loved: she’s just like us, doing her best, clutch control and all.

Rachel is currently in a CCMA battle with the Kolisi Foundation, which she founded with ex-husband and Springbok captain Siya Kolisi. 

She stepped down as CEO in March, claiming “constructive dismissal” amid the fallout of last October’s divorce announcement.