‘Generations: The Legacy’ star Manaka Ranaka. Picture: X/@OkMzansi
South African actress and media personality Denise Zimba recently opened up about a deeply personal betrayal, revealing on X that her ex-husband, Jakob Schlichtig, allegedly had an affair with her childhood best friend.
Zimba’s post detailed the heartache of discovering that the friend she had trusted since she was 14 had been involved with her husband.
She shared her pain, noting how this so-called friend ghosted her during critical life moments - her pregnancies, birthdays, baby showers and bridal showers.
"Generations: The Legacy" star, Manaka Ranaka, has stood firmly in Zimba’s corner since her post.
Ranaka addressed the issue in a now-deleted Instagram video, supporting Zimba’s decision to call out her former friend. “I’m not excusing the husband at all … blast them all, in fact,” Ranaka said.
X users had plenty to say, with some backing Zimba and others questioning her continued loyalty to a friend who had already shown signs of disinterest.
One user commented: “Wait a minute ...She ghosted you when you were pregnant and never celebrated your birthdays or anything and you still go ahead and be friends with her.... Girl I'm judging you on that sorry.”
Another stated: “If she ghosted you during such important moments, sweetheart, that’s on you for still calling her a best friend.”
Adding to the conversation, another user shared a personal story of betrayal, revealing how they discovered a similar affair involving a close family member.
“My niece slept with my husband for a good year. I was working as a technician and too tired to have sex ... Only found out much later that he broke her virginity,” the person wrote.
The TV personality confirmed her divorce from her German husband, with whom she shares two daughters.