A Johannesburg woman has captured the hearts of South Africans after sharing a deeply emotional video showing the dire living conditions of veteran actor Glen Gabela, best known for his role as Pastor Mdletshe on Uzalo. The video, which has since gone viral, has sparked a nationwide call to support the once-celebrated performer, now facing financial hardship and deteriorating health.
The good Samaritan, known on TikTok as @thulile_g, visited Gabela’s modest home on 13 August and was visibly shaken by what she found. The footage reveals a home in severe disrepair—doors marked by mould and water damage, outdated and broken television sets stacked on each other, scattered papers and discs, and furniture that has clearly seen better days. In his bedroom, piles of belongings surround a basic bed, reflecting the difficult circumstances he has been enduring.
Not content with simply documenting the situation, the compassionate visitor arrived with bags of groceries to help. The video shows her carrying long-life milk, sugar, brown sugar, rice, maize meal, and other basic necessities—small comforts intended to ease the veteran actor’s daily struggles.
In the heartfelt clip, Gabela becomes emotional, fighting back tears as he shares his simple wish:
“I just want to live a decent life. I want to live decently like every normal person.”
He explains that, since leaving Uzalo in 2018, he has been unable to secure steady work. His health has also suffered—he recently endured a heart attack, which he attributes to stress and depression. Since then, he has relied largely on the kindness of strangers for food and support.
Gabela expressed a strong desire to connect with younger actors in the industry, hoping to guide them so they do not face the same fate. He lamented the fact that many seasoned performers in South Africa end up struggling financially in their later years, despite years of contributing to the nation’s entertainment landscape.
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The most touching moment in the video comes when @thulile_g hugs Gabela and apologises for his situation. Both are visibly emotional, shedding tears as the reality of his hardships becomes overwhelming. The authenticity of this exchange resonated deeply with viewers—within hours, the video amassed over 144,000 reactions and more than 13,600 shares across social media platforms.
Moved by his story, @thulile_g has been urging South Africans to contribute whatever they can to help Gabela regain his dignity. Her message is clear: this is not about wealth, but about enabling him to live in comfort and with the respect he deserves after a lifetime of service to the arts.
This is not the first time Gabela’s struggles have been in the public eye. Earlier in the year, Briefly News reported on his plea for assistance, revealing that he had been hospitalised for three weeks due to health complications.
The viral campaign now underway offers hope that the beloved actor will receive the support he needs—not just to survive, but to live with the dignity he has long earned.
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