Rami Chuene Biography, Daughters and Family

Rami Chuene is a 49-year-old South African actress, radio and TV host, author, voice-over artist, singer, and public speaker born on July 3rd, 1975. She is divorced and has three daughters named Kefiloe, Nthateng, and Botshelo Chuene.

At the age of nine, Chuene knew she was destined for acting. Hence, she began participating in school plays. Eventually, at the age of 20, in 1995, she got her first taste of fame when she landed a minor role in Backstage. Since then, she has grown her career in entertainment by leaps and bounds. And now, the Polokwane native is known not only for her acting prowess but for her other talents, including singing, book writing, and public speaking.

Rami Chuene’s Biography Summary

  • Full name: Ramatsui Chuene
  • Nickname: Rami Chuene/Ramz
  • Gender: Female
  • Date of birth: July 3rd, 1975
  • Rami Chuene’s Age: 49 years old
  • Ethnicity: Black
  • Nationality: South African
  • Zodiac Sign: Cancer
  • Sexual Orientation: Straight
  • Religion: Christian
  • Marital Status: Divorced
  • Rami Chuene’s Ex-husband: Tshepo Desando
  • Rami Chuene’s Children: Kefiloe Chuene, Nthateng Chuene, and Botshelo Chuene
  • Siblings: 5
  • Rami Chuene’s Height in Inches: 5 feet 4.9 inches
  • Rami Chuene’s Height in Centimetres: 165 cm
  • Rami Chuene’s Net worth: R41.5 million
  • Famous for: Her role as Khomotjo Mojalefa in Muvhango and Gracious Mabuza in The Queen
  • Rami Chuene’s Instagram: @ramichuene
  • Twitter: @ramichuene
  • Facebook: @RamiChuene

How Old Is Rami Chuene?

Rami Chuene is 49 years old. In Polokwane, South Africa, she was born on July 3rd, 1975. She was raised by her parents, along with her five siblings, in Polokwane.

Sadly, while growing up, the celebrated radio host was abused twice by her close relatives between the age of 6 and 8. She shared the painful experience in her book, “We Kissed The Sun and Embraced The Moon”.

Nonetheless, she has a strong bond with her parents. And in 2021, she took to Instagram to celebrate her mother on her 70th birthday. Interestingly, Rami Chuene is multi-lingual, speaking Sepedi (her mother tongue), Setswana, Sotho (Northern), and English.

Rami Chuene’s Education

Chuene completed her basic education at a boarding school in Polokwane. She then enrolled in a fashion design course but couldn’t complete her studies as she fell pregnant. Afterward, she proceeded to the Tshwane University of Technology, where she studied Music but didn’t graduate as she dropped out to pursue acting full-time.

What Does Rami Chuene Do For a Living?

Rami Chuene is an actress, singer, TV, and radio host, public speaker, author, voice-over artist, and musical director. She has been active in the entertainment industry for more than two decades. Amazingly, her illustrious careers have not only fetched her incredible fortune and fame but also a handful of accolades.

Acting

The multi-award-winning actress made her acting debut in the year 1995. She played the role of Pearl in the TV series, Backstage. Ten years later, she debuted in the e.tv soapie, Scandal. She scored the role of Thato in the second season of the show, and her depictions gained mainstream media attention.

Her character, Thato, is manipulative and cunning and has all the men in the soapie wrapped around her fingers, including Vusi (Siyabonga Thwala), Daniel (Sello Maake Ka-Ncube), and Stan (Luthuli Dlamini). Subsequently, the actress bagged another career-defining role and was cast as the new vixen in town, Khomotjo Mojalefa in the SABC2’s drama series, Muvhango.

Khomotjo was rich and fabulous and equally ruthless in the soapie. And she delivered iconic lines such as ‘My handbag is expensive that it could buy you a house in Seshego’, and this made her one of the fans’ favorite characters. Then in 2017, Rami Chuene was introduced as an unflinching matriarch, Gracious “TGOM” Mabuza in The Queen, who constantly challenged Harriet Khoza (Connie Ferguson) in the series.

Unfortunately, her role was written out in 2020 after she seemed to have sided with her co-star, Vatiswa Ndara, who called out the Fergusons for how they treat their actors. Nevertheless, Rami Chuene continued to land big roles on TV and in movies as well. From September 2020 to December 2021, she featured as Jumima alongside Nthati Moshesh in BET’s first original drama series, Isono – The Sin. And her performance got her nominated for the SAFTA Golden Horn Award for Best Supporting Actress in 2021.

Also, in the same 2020, the famous public speaker was featured as Aunt Grace in the Netflix comedy series, How to Ruin Christmas. She reprised her role in the second and third seasons of the series, released in December 2021 and December 2022, respectively. Additionally, in 2021, Rami joined the cast of Giyani Land of Blood, the first-ever scripted Xitsonga drama series, as Manoko Ledwaba in the second season. She is currently starring in the third season, which premiered on SABC2 on February 6th, 2023.

Rami Chuene’s Movies and TV Shows

TV Shows

  • Backstage (1995) as Pearl
  • Hijack Stories (2000) as Jolly
  • Abomzala as Lala
  • Jozi Streets as Phiwe Moiloa
  • Rockville as Tina
  • Scandal (2005) as Thato
  • Life, Above All (2010) as Aunty Ruth
  • iNkaba (2012) as Petunia
  • Strike Back (2012) as Senior Nurse
  • Muvhango as Khomotjo Mojalefa
  • Harvest as Lindiwe
  • It’s Complicated as Nomusa
  • Sokhulu & Partners as Dr Ngwane
  • The Republic as Victorious
  • The Queen (2017-2020) as Gracious “TGOM” Mabuza
  • Isono – The Sin (2020-2021) as Jumima Ndlovu
  • How to Ruin Christmas: The Wedding (2020) as Aunt Grace
  • How to Ruin Christmas: The Funeral (2021) as Aunt Grace
  • How to Ruin Christmas: The Baby Shower (2022) as Aunt Grace
  • Giyani – Land of Blood (2021-present) as Manoko Ledwaba

Films

  • Happiness Is a Four-Letter Word (2016) as Thembi
  • Happiness Ever After (2021) as Dineo

Radio and TV Hosting

Rami Chuene first had her radio gig on the online radio station Cliff Central, where she hosted radio shows #CountryDuty and BeLighted with Romeo Mabasa. Later in 2018, she began working as the host of the popular jazz show Jazz Ye Phelago on SABC’s radio station, Thobela FM. Before leaving the station, Rami’s Jazz show became one of the renowned shows on Thobela FM.

Furthermore, Rami Chuene hosted #FamousFreshFridays on Iono FM in 2019 before switching to TV gigs. In March 2020, she co-hosted the Backing Vocalists and Session Musicians Awards with actor Mzwandile Ngubeni at Soweto Theatre in Jabulani. In the same year, she hosted a corporate event for four days and got paid around R500,000. And in October 2021, Rami made her TV presenting debut with the Mzansi Magic reality show, Away for Repair.

She co-hosted the show, which was sponsored by South African National Parks (SANParks), with life coach Romeo Mabasa. Besides fostering stronger relationships among the contestants, Away for Repair offered R50,000 grand prize to the overall winners with an all-expense paid weekend getaway.

Singing

Rami Chuene started singing in choir and school plays at a young age. And her passion for music and love for singing got her to study Music at the university. Having a strong musical background, she has gone on to perform for different audiences across Mzansi, from corporate functions to social events in the townships. She has a band that performs with her at the events.

She released her debut studio album, ‘From Fear To Love’ in November 2014 through her own record label, Ramsgate Records. The album is a 12-piece band music featuring highly talented music artists. Interestingly, Rami Chuene sang most of the songs in ‘From Fear To Love’ in her mother tongue – Sepedi. She also flexed her muscle as a musical producer and arranger with the album.

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Book Authoring

It’s undeniable that Rami Chuene is a multi-talented woman who wears many creative hats. In 2015, “We Kissed The Sun and Embraced The Moon,” – a book authored by the seasoned actress, was published. She showed off her knack for writing in the book, which is a collection of memoir essays about her personal life journey. The stories in the book take readers on a sentimental journey that does not only remind them of childhood memories but how simple and beautiful life truly is.

Following the success of her book, Chuene is reportedly penning her second book as she is determined to show the world that her storytelling abilities know no limits.

Public Speaking

Rami’s positive approach to life has enabled her to make a difference in the lives of people. Over the years, she has motivated different audiences – youth, women, and men through her effort as an MC and public speaker. She has mostly worked with non-profit organizations that empower young people and equally, help them spot life-changing opportunities.

In the past years, she has been involved in several initiatives, such as Southern African HIV and AIDS Collaborations (SAHAC), Sensible Choices, Color Your Life, and Skills For Life. Also, she served as one of the faces of the #IAMME campaign by Ackerman, which encourages women to embrace and accept their bodies without shame. In the spirit of the campaign, Rami Chuene wore a bikini in 2019, showing off the stretch marks that made her insecure about her body for many years.

Furthermore, Rami’s passion for nurturing the youth has seen her go to boot camps as a life coach to encourage young men and women. She often reminds youngsters that they don’t necessarily need to be in the spotlight to be successful.

Philanthropy

As part of her 45th birthday celebration, Chuene launched her foundation, the Rami Chuene Foundation in July 2020. She believes that many people’s lives will change for the better when everyone makes other people’s well-being a priority. Hence, the motto of her foundation is “Do good where you are”.

The non-profit organization was established to help and support underprivileged children, vulnerable women, HIV/AIDS, and Cancer patients and also assist disadvantaged people in any way. In December 2020, when a massive storm damaged people’s properties in Sheshego, leaving many homeless, Rami Chuene’s Foundation stepped in to help rebuild Seshego.

The former Thobela FM presenter usually solicits help from the public to embark on humanitarian duties that will better the lives of people.

How Many Children Does Rami Chuene Have?

Rami Chuene has three beautiful daughters and also, is a grandmother. Kefiloe Chuene, Nthateng Chuene, and Botshelo Chuene are the names of her children. She often shares pictures of her family on social media, and here are interesting details about Rami Chuene’s daughters.

Kefiloe Chuene

The former Scandal actress reportedly had her first child, Kefiloe Chuene, when she was 19 years old. And in February 2020, her daughter had her traditional marriage with famed media personality Smash Afrika, whose real name is Afrika Similo Mdutyulwa. Rami Chuene then became a grandmother on July 1st, 2021, as Kefiloe gave birth to a baby girl christened Kaya Masa.

Unfortunately, the marriage crashed in 2022. It was reported that Smash Afrika applied for a protection order against his wife at Randburg Magistrate’s Court in October 2022. Kefiloe Chuene allegedly smashed the windows of her husband’s vehicle and damaged household appliances. Hence, Afrika opened a case of malicious damage to property against Rami Chuene’s daughter at the Randburg police station.

Though presently divorced, Kefiloe Chuene and Smash Afrika’s marriage allegedly collapsed some months after their wedding. Kefiloe was reportedly subjected to emotional and psychological abuse by her ex-husband, who allegedly called her a ‘gold digger’ and also asserted that he was conned by Rami Chuene’s family into marrying her against his will.

In addition to the abuse, Kefiloe’s marriage ended due to the alleged adulterous affair between Smash Afrika and singer, Asanda “Msaki” Mvana, which the latter has denied.

Nthateng Chuene

In the year 1996, Rami Chuene gave birth to her second daughter, Nthateng Chuene. She graduated from Rhodes University in 2018 and had plans to attend a culinary school in the future. The Polokwane-born actress and her daughter trended on social media in October 2019 when she retweeted Nthateng’s tweet asking her followers to subscribe to her OnlyFans account. Nthateng Chuene planned to use the money made from the social media platform to sponsor herself in a culinary school.

As OnlyFans is known to be used by people to share adult content, Rami Chuene’s parenting skill was questioned by many social media users who seriously frowned upon her actions. However, she hinted that she retweeted under duress, and some fraction of Twitter users praised her for endorsing her daughter’s OnlyFans account. Surprisingly, Nthateng later deleted the tweet.

Botshelo Chuene

Botshelo Chuene is Rami Chuene’s last child. She reportedly had her daughter while still married to her estranged husband, Tsepo Desando. Though her year of birth is uncertain, Botshelo is said to be born in the 2000s or early 2010s. She has a very close relationship with her sisters, who are much older than her.

Who Is Rami Chuene’s Husband?

Rami Chuene was married to veteran actor Tsepo Desando for several years. The two got divorced in 2013, and Chuene has gone on to say that the decision to divorce her husband is one of the best decisions she’s ever made in her life. She added that it isn’t bad to get out of something when you realize that you’ve made a mistake or it’s not working, and that’s what she did.

Rami Chuene’s ex-husband, Tsepo Desando is an actor, singer, director, and producer well known for scoring roles in Muvhango, The Queen, Scandal, and The Wild. He is the chief executive officer of White Charcoal – a film and Television production company. Surprisingly, in September 2021, Rami was rumored to have tied the knot for the second time as a picture of her in a wedding gown went viral.

She shared the photo on IG, hinting that the wedding took place the weekend after the Heritage Day celebration. And congratulatory messages flooded her timeline as many believed she got married in a private ceremony and decided to hide her husband’s identity. The 49-year-old radio host later explained that the photos were taken at the scenes of Giyani Land of Blood as her character, Manoko Ledwaba, got married in the second season of the series.

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