Christmas came a little early for Rachel Kolisi this year. The motivational speaker and director opened her home to a warm family gathering, celebrating the festive season ahead of schedule with her two children and the siblings of her estranged husband, Springboks captain Siya Kolisi.
On Friday, 19 December, Rachel shared glimpses of the joyful occasion on Instagram, explaining that the early celebration was necessary as her kids would soon be leaving to spend Christmas with their father.
“The kids are leaving tomorrow,” she wrote, capturing the bittersweet mix of gratitude and farewell.
Rachel and Siya share two children together—Nicholas, 11, and Keziah, 9. Years ago, the couple also legally adopted Siya’s younger siblings, Liyema and Liphelo, raising them as part of their own family. Though the marriage has ended, Rachel’s bond with Liyema and Liphelo remains strong, and she expressed her joy at having all four children together under one roof for the day.
The celebration wasn’t limited to the Kolisi clan. Rachel’s brother, Joel Smith, and his wife, Olympic swimmer Tatjana Smith, joined in the festivities, adding to the warmth of the gathering. Interestingly, Siya has reportedly unfollowed Tatjana on social media, though Rachel’s post focused solely on the love and togetherness of the moment.
Sharing photos of laughter and festive cheer, Rachel captioned: “Christmas 2025 ❤️. We celebrated a few days earlier this year, the kids are leaving tomorrow. So grateful I had all 4 together for the day! Hope you all have a beautiful time celebrating this festive season.”
It was a celebration marked not by grandeur, but by the simple joy of family—proof that even in times of change, love and connection remain at the heart of Christmas.