The first season of 'The Makhenes' may be over, but Letoya Makhene says the journey has changed her.
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“The Makhenes” came to an end on Sunday, July 5, and with it came raw honesty and a deeper look into the Makhene family that viewers resonated with.
Over the past 13 weeks, the family gave viewers a glimpse into their lives as real as it gets, opening up conversations about addiction, mental health, motherhood, healing and complicated family dynamics while choosing vulnerability, accountability and unfiltered truth every step of the way.
At the centre of it all is actress, musician and spiritual healer Letoya Makhene, who recently opened up about rebuilding her life after public scrutiny, navigating motherhood, repairing family relationships and learning to choose herself again.
Alongside her were her father, Blondie Makhene, grandmother Ouma Lily and sisters Pauline and Gontse, whose own stories added another layer to the family’s journey.
Speaking about the season finale, the actress reflected on the impact the show has had on viewers, admitting she never expected so many people to connect with her family’s story.
“The response has been incredible. The show has touched so many people, and I’ve received countless messages from viewers who see themselves and their own families in our story. Knowing that our journey has resonated with others has been really special,” she said.
The show revealed the depth of her relationship with her children, and according to the 41-year-old mother of four, one of the hardest moments for her was revisiting the therapy session she shared with her children, saying it was one of the most emotional experiences of the season.
“Watching the scene where my children and I were in therapy was incredibly difficult. It was an emotional moment for all of us. We were fully present, and what viewers saw was completely authentic.”
Throughout the show, Letoya chose authenticity over hiding behind a polished version of herself, despite knowing some moments would leave her feeling more exposed.
“There were many moments that made me feel vulnerable, but I knew that if I was going to do this, I had to be completely honest. There was no point in telling the story if I was going to hide behind a version of myself that wasn’t real,” she recalled.
She also revealed that filming created space for her immediate family to confront issues they had avoided for years, such as uncomfortable conversations that led to the decision of choosing each other or walking away.
Looking back, Letoya says the experience reminded her that healing starts with honesty, boundaries, grace and learning to put herself first, adding that the experience has left her feeling stronger.
Along with her lessons comes regret. The former “Generations: The Legacy” actress shared that she wishes her younger self would’ve learnt much earlier that protecting her own peace was just as important as loving others.
“I would tell her to change her heart, even if it’s just a little. Not everyone has your heart, so don’t trust or love the world with all of it. Leave some love for yourself.
"Be comfortable with your boundaries and allow there to be consequences when the people you love cross them. If they leave, that’s okay. If they stay, let them stay knowing they have to do better.”
She added that one of the biggest lessons she would share with her younger self is to never lose herself in the pursuit of love.
Instead, she believes that choosing herself, setting boundaries and strengthening her relationship with God are what ultimately lead to feeling whole.
As season one came to a close, she said she was most proud of showing viewers exactly who she is, flaws and all.
“I’m most proud that I showed up as my authentic self. I didn’t pretend to have all the answers or try to be perfect. I shared my truth, and if that helped even one person feel less alone, then it was worth it.”