Rachel Kolisi takes legal action against Kolisi Foundation, alleges ‘constructive dismissal’

Siya and Rachel Kolisi

Cape Town – Former CEO and co-founder of the Kolisi Foundation, Rachel Kolisi, has filed a case with the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation, and Arbitration (CCMA), alleging “constructive dismissal”.

The ex-rugby WAG resigned as CEO of the organisation she co-founded in 2019, just before the Rugby World Cup final.

According to reports, she claims the foundation’s board made her position intolerable, forcing her to resign.

The papers claim that Rachel “resigned because the employer acted unfairly and made continued employment intolerable,” The South African reported.

Rachel is seeking reinstatement or compensation.

Her departure from the foundation, which was not officially announced by the organisation, was first revealed by The Justice Desk, an NGO she collaborated with.

“We were saddened to hear that she will no longer be CEO of the Kolisi Foundation, but we know she will continue to do incredible things. Rachel, you will always be a GBV activist at heart, and your impact will be felt for years to come,” the organisation wrote on Instagram.

The foundation, however, insists that both Rachel and her former husband, Springbok captain Siya Kolisi, remain committed to their roles as co-founders.

According to Daily Maverick, Sources within the NGO sector describe Rachel as the driving force behind the foundation

“The strength of the foundation has always been the co-founders, but the vision is very clearly Rachel’s,” said the executive director of an NGO which works with the Kolisi Foundation, who asked to remain nameless, together with the organisation, in case the foundation’s board responded retributively in terms of funding.

“In this sector, you can always sense fluff coming through. Rachel is not just a figurehead. She is the real force of the foundation in terms of making the vision work.” 

Rachel Kolisi’s dispute with the foundation follows her widely publicised divorce from Siya Kolisi in October 2024, MDN News reported.

While the board has not commented, sources suggest tensions may have stemmed from her social media activity during the split. As a key figure in shaping and running the foundation, her departure marks a major shift for the organisation, the report said.

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Compiled by Betha Madhomu

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