A single sentence stopped many South Africans in their tracks on Friday morning.
When actress Manaka Ranaka wrote, “I will see you again one day,” some readers froze — wondering if the beloved television star was hinting at something unexpected, something hopeful, something mysterious.
But as the full message unfolded, the meaning became painfully clear.
It was not hope.
It was grief.
And it was Manaka honouring her late daughter, Katlego Ranaka, on what would have been her 25th birthday.
The actress, known for her outspoken personality and warm humour, marked the day with a tribute so raw that it dragged many into the depth of a mother’s heartbreak.
Her words revealed a woman still wrestling with the finality of loss — a loss no parent ever fully recovers from.
She described waking up with “a lump in my throat and tears soaking my pillow,” the first birthday she had to face without her daughter, without her firstborn, without the girl who changed her life at just 20 years old.
The memories she spoke of were vivid — almost painfully so.
“Today, 25 years ago, is a day I will never forget. And you, my dear 1st born child, I will never forget you.”
Each line carried the weight of a decade of silence, unanswered questions, and countless moments she would never get back.
Yet, even in sorrow, the day held meaning beyond pain.
Instead of allowing grief to consume them, the family gathered to unveil Katlego’s tombstone — an intimate and symbolic moment meant to honour a life that was short, but bright.
It was a moment that blended remembrance with the harsh reality of permanence; a day Manaka described as “bittersweet,” soaked in both heartbreak and gratitude.
They celebrated Katlego’s life the only way they could now — in memory, in stories, in love kept alive through those who refuse to forget her.
Manaka’s message spoke of a young woman who lived beautifully, laughed loudly, and loved deeply. A daughter who left behind memories powerful enough to survive the silence she left behind.
The public response to Manaka’s tribute was immediate and overwhelming.
