Written by: Almarie du Preez
Article source: JUIG! Tydskrif
Her friends call her TC, but her full name is Thuthula Liyandanelisa Mngenela-Malgas. The name “Liyandanelisa” means “she will bring us satisfaction” and was given to her on her wedding day as part of her husband Thabo Malgas’s Xhosa culture, where it is a tradition for a new bride to receive a special name from her in-laws.
Colourful tradition
“Before we got married, my husband had to pay lobola. Lobola is not about buying a wife but rather about creating a new relationship, two families becoming one, something I regard as sacred. I was introduced to Thabo’s family in the makoti regalia, which is symbolic of a new bride. As a Christian makoti, I decided to make the attire a symbol of the full armour of God, as described in Ephesians 6.”
From Matatiele to Sea Point
Although TC’s roots lie in Matatiele in the Eastern Cape, she grew up in cosmopolitan Sea Point, where her mother, Portia, worked as a domestic worker. She recalls her primary school days at Sea Point Primary as a safe haven filled with close, diverse friendships. “I was one of the first non-white children in a Model C school. My mom’s employer, Moira, fought hard for me to live with her at a time when it wasn’t allowed. That was my first experience of someone treating all people as equals and standing up for it.”
Jesus as the foundation
Every Sunday, TC travelled by train with her mom from Sea Point to a church in Khayelitsha, where she had a powerful encounter with Christ as an eight-year-old girl. “My mom grew into a prayer warrior – she would proclaim things in prayer, and I would see miracles unfold before my eyes.” At Camps Bay High School, TC’s love for the arts flourished, and today she holds a BA degree in Public Relations Management and Media. As a freelance presenter and content producer at Cape Pulpit 729AM, a voice artist, plus-size model, and entrepreneur, she lives with passion and gratitude for a good upbringing with Jesus as her foundation.
A wish fulfilled
As a young girl, she hoped that marriage would be part of God’s will for her life, and in 2024, He fulfilled this dream. “Thabo is the opposite of me. He’s traditional; I’m modern. He’s quiet; I’m a talker. But our faith in Christ bridges everything. My husband is called to evangelize. He even made a spontaneous altar call at our wedding.”
Compassion and boundless grace
TC’s colourful life journey contrasts traditional and modern elements, with an adaptability that strengthens her compassion and grace for others – regardless of class, race, culture, or tradition. She encourages readers to live out their Christianity fully by serving others with an attitude of growth and humility.
From left to right: Felix Mngenela (Brother), Thabo Malgas (Groom), Thuthula TC Liyandanelisa Mngenela-Malgas (Bride), Portia Mngenela (Mother of the Bride).
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Date published: 14/01/2025
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