This year marks 10 years since actress, mom, and businesswoman Mapaseka Koetle first joined the soapie Scandal! to play the role of feisty Dintle. Mapaseka has opened up to ZiMoja about the 10-year whirlwind and how grateful she is for the wins and losses that have shaped the woman she is today.

10 YEARS AND STILL GOING

On Scandal!, Dintle's life has been nothing short of a rollercoaster ride filled with heartbreak, grief, loss, betrayal, success, and also fun. "It's been quite an amazing ride," Mapaseka says. "When I met Dintle, she was 16 years old and I was 22 going on 23 years old. It's been nothing short of amazing. I have watched her grow. She has been through a lot of things that I have not gone through, but it just shows how sometimes circumstances will make one be forced to grow up quickly," she adds. "I am however so grateful to the producers and writers who are always writing great stories for Dintle. I enjoy how I sometimes draw inspiration from her. I get to meet new people that I as Mapaseka never thought that I would meet. Being on the show for 10 years has been like spending every day with family, they have watched me grow and it's a beautiful environment." Dintle at first was this young feisty girl who wanted shortcuts in life. "She messed up, lied, and later on realised that life is not all about that and you have to work hard. So, One thing I learned from her was that she doesn't give up. When I go through my own struggles, I look at Dintle's life and think that I should never give up," she says. "When she was pregnant with her second child, I was pregnant with my daughter Nema. So, the growth of motherhood was similar. When she had her business, I was also getting into business. So her growth has really aligned with me somehow despite us being very different." 

ACTING

She arrived in Johannesburg many moons ago to study acting. She recalls getting on a bus and going for her dreams. "I came to Johannesburg to study acting and to grow. I had no family members and knew no one in Joburg," she says. "I had one friend who showed me around and that was tough for me. But it helped me to understand that sometimes you have to get to a place, do what you need to do, dream big, and leave the rest to the universe."

MOMMY DIARIES

Mapaseka recently launched the Mommy Diaries podcast where she interviews guests, and they discuss issues related to fertility, motherhood, and femininity. "Mommy Diaries is about motherhood. After I gave birth to Nema, I started a movement called Mommy Diaries where we discuss all things motherhood," she says. "I used to host events and we would get together, and talk as mothers. It wasn't even a business venture or about making money but it was about being around like-minded people, exchanging ideas and thoughts. I wanted those moments to live somewhere. I stopped doing the events and moved everything to the podcast," she says. "I wanted people to be able to go back to the podcast and watch. So, we talk about healing, birth, parenting, co-parenting, marriage and it's been amazing," she adds. "I don't know much about presenting and I don't like being myself in front of a camera. But with the podcast, I was very intentional. It's not just interviews but it's for women with kids, those who still want and those who have lost, and those planning to have children and families. It's taught me to hold a conversation. I always used to be scared to preset and be myself, but there's nothing wrong with trying."

DIVORCE

Earlier this year, Mapaseka confirmed that she had been separated from her ex-husband and was in the process of finalising her divorce. "But what I learned about myself through the divorce is that it's okay to start over. I learned that I am not the first and last," she says. "As people who are in the limelight, we are often scared to go through real-life problems because we are too worried about things coming out into the public and batho batlo reng." she says. "But I learned that; people can talk but this is my story, I drive the narrative. I am strong and it's okay to start afresh." Mapaseka says what motivates her to keep going is her daughter. "Some days it gets really hard. At times I get to set at 5 am, come home late, and don't see her but I realise that she keeps me going," she says. "I don't want my daughter to struggle the way I did. It was painful for me, I want to change that and give her the life she wants. But also teach her to respect people, respect money and where she comes from. My mom did a good job with nothing and I am blessed and making sure that I work hard," she adds. 

BALANCING

"Balancing life is tricky, I don't think there's a formula. I just show up for work, my daughter and sometimes I struggle. But I just show up. I'm also not scared to ask for help and say I am drowning." Mapaseka still runs her wellness eatery, Gorge in Barloworld. "But my focus is my clothing brand Uzuri Secrets which has been doing great. I love fashion and clothes and it's been fun pushing fashion and business. I am grateful to have people around me helping me and pushing me."