Former Uzalo actress Baby Cele bans man from praying for her: I’m very spiritual

Johannesburg – Former Uzalo actress Baby Cele has ignited a conversation about spiritual boundaries and personal autonomy after declining a stranger’s offer to pray for her. The incident, which unfolded while Cele was shopping, has sparked debate about the role of faith in public spaces and the importance of respecting individual beliefs.

Cele, known for her role as the formidable and beloved character of Gabisile in the popular SABC1 soap opera, Uzalo, explained her decision, stating, “I’m a spiritual person. I don’t control what happens in my life and can’t do anything on my own. Hence, I declined the man’s offer to pray for me. I didn’t explain anything to him, I just said no.”

The man, who approached Cele with a request to pray for her well-being, was met with a firm “no.” Later, Cele found herself questioning her decision, wondering if the man had been sent to avert potential misfortunes.

“I thought maybe this man was spiritually sent to pray for me, maybe to stop bad things that might happen to me,” she shared.

However, while shopping later, Cele witnessed the same man approaching an elderly lady with the same request, only to be met with a similar refusal. This encounter reassured Cele, confirming her initial instinct. She realised that not everyone who offers to pray is driven by genuine spiritual intentions.

“I don’t do things my way. I’m a spiritual person. Some might see my rejection as arrogance, but it wasn’t. When my spirit says no, I must respect that. I can never let anyone pray for me,” Cele asserted.

Her decision has sparked a lively debate on social media and in various online forums. Some have praised Cele for standing her ground and respecting her spiritual boundaries. Others have questioned her decision, arguing that it’s always good to accept prayers, regardless of the source.

Cele, however, remains steadfast in her position, highlighting the potential risks associated with allowing others to pray for her without her consent.

“What if I allow someone to pray for me and then encounter problems? Do I blame them or myself for not listening to my spiritual instincts?” she questioned.

This incident underscores the importance of respecting individual beliefs and boundaries, even in seemingly innocuous situations. While prayer is a deeply personal and often comforting practice for many, it’s crucial to acknowledge that not everyone shares the same beliefs or feels comfortable with unsolicited spiritual interventions.

Cele’s decision to decline the prayer offer has also prompted a broader discussion about the role of faith in public spaces. In a society increasingly diverse in its religious and spiritual beliefs, it’s essential to navigate these interactions with sensitivity and respect.

It ended in tears: Uzalo actress Baby Cele (Gabisile) divorced

Mzansi actress Baby Cele has been in the limelight for two decades and she continues to steal the hearts of many people with her acting prowess and her larger-than-life personality.

Miss Cele has dropped a bombshell that she is divorced. The Uzalo actress who plays Gabisile on the popular SABC1 show, revealed that she is going through the healing process of her divorce privately.

“I have mastered divorce, honestly, it doesn’t hurt anymore because I just believe that if a marriage no longer works it should end.”

Baby Cele recently had an interview on Engineer Your Life podcast where she explained that her marriage to Thabo Maleka, whom she met through the sister of Thembi Mtshali in the mid-2000s has crumbled into pieces. “As a sangoma, my ancestors gave me all the signs that it was time to end the marriage, I was really happy but the signs were too loud and I had to make the decision. Right now I am single and mingling and I am happy.” Baby Cele also spoke about how it is high time middle-aged married people accept that as humans we are polygamous in nature and that having one partner doesn’t work for us.

In the same podcast episode, she also spoke about her spiritual journey and how she has to constantly take breaks from her spiritual work as a sangoma/healer because sometimes people come to her not because they genuinely want help but because they want to see Gabisile from Uzalo.

She also spoke about her journey in acting, and what has kept her consistent and never without a job. “You have to honour your contract, negotiate well and respect your job. Other actors are out of work all the time and complain about the industry because they get to set and become complacent. Some people don’t know their lines, some people think because they have 1 million followers that the show depends on them or they are bigger than the show. The industry doesn’t work like that,” Cele explained.

The actress opened up about the lowest point in her life when she was told that Backstage would be coming to an end. She starred role as Katlego Rathebe on the e.tv show for 8 years. Baby revealed that she had no money safe, had a credit card, and had just bought a new car and house.

“It was sometime during the week we received emails that there is a meeting at lunchtime, all the top bosses were there but we did not know the agenda of the meeting. We went on set where the meeting was taking place. When they informed us that Backstage would be canned after 8 years on air. I always used to hear people saying they saw the world rotating I also felt that, the first on my mind was that I had just bought a house, my child was in boarding school, I was not married, I just changed my car.

The actress revealed that she was pressured by her then-boyfriend to get a new whip. “Why did I change my car because I had just paid off my drop-top,” she said.

Uzalo actress Baby Cele comes back from the dead

Baby Cele who plays Gabisile in Uzalo is returning to the show next Friday, 20 August.

But she’s not returning to KwaMashu alone.

She will be companied by two new characters, Hlelo and Mthunzi.

According to the show’s spokeswoman Nomfundo Zondi, the two characters that will be shockingly surfacing in KwaMashu with Gabisile are set to shake things up.

“They are different characters and their purposes are different,” said Nomfundo.

She said Hlelo, who will be portrayed by Nothando Ngcobo, wants to change her life after her experience as a street kid.

“She is a broken young girl with a thick skin that was hardened by challenges of living in the streets. But she is ready to fight her demons and embrace the new chapter of her life,” said Nomfundo.

She described Mthunzi, who will be portrayed by Andile Msomi, as manipulative.

“He portrays himself as someone who provides refuge to those who feel rejected in life. He is charming at first sight. But he’s manipulative and he will try by all means to conceal his secret taboo relationship with Hlelo, whom he has convinced she’ll never escape the life of poverty,” said Nomfundo.

She said viewers of Uzalo can expect to be touched by the storyline around Gabisile’s return.

“She’s determined to convince church congregants and people of KwaMashu that she’s not a ghost and that she didn’t die in the river. Will people believe her? We don’t know, but we just have to wait and see,” she said.

Everyone in KwaMashu was convinced that Gabisile died after her husband Qhabangu (Siyabonga Shibe) told them that she committed suicide after she confessed to killing his son Khehla (Thobani Nzuza) and his wife Nomcebo (Nombulelo Mhlongo).

But according to Nomfundo, Gabisile will come with a story that she floated down the river and she was helped by kids who pulled her out. And she currently lives in the village.

Actress BABY CELE (GABISILE) RETURNS TO UZALO

Actress Baby Cele makes her return to Uzalo soon, joining Vuyo Dabula, Zandile Msutwana, and Bongani Masondo in 2021’s comeback craze.

Gabisile first reappears next month and not as a ghost thankfully, but actually alive.

And transformed apparently.

When we last saw her she confessed her evil sins to her husband Qhabanga, who strangled her in rage and despair and tossed her in the river, leaving her for dead. But things happened between then and now.

Gabisile’s been lost and found in her own version of Amazing Grace while Baby filmed a series on e.tv.

As we mentioned here, e.tv’s gone on a local blitz with two other series in the works, over and above House Of Zwide.

One is titled Isiphindiselo and the other is a boxing series – Baby’s been filming on one of these in her Uzalo break.

Word from Uzalo’s publicist Nomfundo Zondi is that Gabisile’s return comes with a backstory.

What we know is that she floated downstream in the river and was found by children who rescued her. Once she returns we’ll get clarity on what became of her after this.

And who she is now that she’s been saved.

Is it possible for someone to truly change? Has she? And if so, does she deserve forgiveness?

Catch your first glimpse of her in the latest teasers here: Uzalo Teasers – August 2021

Legendary Actress Baby Cele attacked for being an evil pastor

Legendary actress Baby Cele-Maloka has been in front of the camera for more than 30 years.

But she felt Uzalo was her big breakthrough.

The 49-year-old actress revealed that her character, Gabisile Mdletshe, introduced her to Mzansi.

“It’s not been easy going to malls since I joined Uzalo in 2015 as many people always shout at me asking me why I’m an evil lady pastor.

“Many people have forgotten my real name as they call me Gabisile everywhere I go.

“My character made people feel like they know me personally, and I couldn’t disappoint them because I know they love Gabisile.”

The mother of two told Daily Sun many scenes scared her when she read the script.

“My script always had surprises as Gabisile was evil, and for her, it was easy to kill someone and hide the evidence while pretending nothing happened.

“I even used to have bad dreams about misreading the script on set. My character was controversial.

“Gabisile is dead, but we still have many surprises for viewers. They must keep watching.”

Baby said although her character’s scenes scared her, she was in love with her and she didn’t have the strength to watch the episode where she died.

She said that relocating from Joburg to Durban in 2015 restored her groove.

“Now I’m going back to my family in Joburg. Durban was good for my career and for me as a sangoma.”

Gabisile’s body is still missing on the show after she was killed and thrown in the river. She’s set to come back to the show later this year.

Her character was introduced to spice up the show after Leleti Khumalo left.

Meet Uzalo actress Baby Cele (Gabisile)’s beautiful daughter Yolisa

Mzansi young star, actress Yolisa Cele is the daughter of the veteran actress; Baby Cele who currently plays the role of Gabisile on Uzalo.

Yolisa who is 21 years today is known for her role of playing 14-year-old Mpumi who was sister to Zamani Mbatha in Isithembiso. The actress was also doing commercials for a long time before her big break in Isithembiso.

She had this to say about her role on Isithembiso:

“I decided to stop acting for two years to focus on my studies. But my agent phoned me about this show, Isithembiso. I went for auditions and I was really nervous. I was shocked when I got the part. I doubted myself, but when I got the part I was so happy.”

When the actress was interviewed three years ago about moving to Durban to shoot some scenes for her Isithembiso role and she had this to say:

“I’m getting the hang of things, but shooting scenes where I’m not talking has been difficult. So I have to think about difficult times in my life like parting way with friends or failing certain subjects to bring out emotions.”

The actress also gave credit to her talented mother; Baby Cele who’s currently playing the role of Gabisile on Uzalo and also acted on Home Affairs, and Zabalaza to mention a few.

“My mother is my idol. You don’t see her name in newspapers for bad reason: she’s able to keep her life private. She also helps me with my acting. Even though I know isiZulu, my mom is very good with it. She helps me with translations. I learnt that the talking is much easier than when you’re quiet.”

Although the actress followed in her mother’s footsteps today, she mentioned that acting was never part of the plan and she’d always wanted to be a fashion designer.

“It was unexpected. I love fashion. I would sleep and dream myself in a beautiful dress I would wake up and draw it.”

The actress is still hopeful that she’ll make her fashion designing dream a reality.

“I’m still not sure where I want to study.”

Her mother; Baby Cele mentioned in an interview a while ago that she never wants her children to be unhappy…she’ll support whatever career fields her children take. Yolisa also mentioned that she doesn’t just want to be Baby Cele’s daughter, but her own person.

Uzalo Actress Baby Cele opens up about the Struggles of Being a Sangoma in Real Life

Actress Baby Cele Maloka who currently plays the role of Gabisile Mdletshe on the award-winning SABC 1 telenovela Uzalo has opened up on the struggles that come along with being a sangoma in real life.

“It was not my choice to be a sangoma, but I decided to accept it in May [2004] following the mysterious deaths of my younger brother Thembinkosi and my sister Zodwa. The family and I tried everything, including prayers, to resist my ancestors’ call, because we felt it was going to disturb my acting career,” she is quoted as saying.

However, after accepting the ancestral gift, Baby now describes it as an amazing. “Having this gift is a beautiful feeling, it’s just that sometimes it is so scary. Sometimes you foresee things and you can’t tell the people involved. Like if its something that’s bad, you’d foresee those things and keep them to yourself, which is not easy.”

The actress is now at peace with her precious gift and even posts pictures on social media in which she is dressed in traditional insignia associated with sangomas and traditional healers. Earlier this year, she posted a picture of herself wearing a traditional attire at Umsamo Institute, located in Albert Falls close to Pietermaritzburg and captioned it “My place of peace.