Paul Ralekholela and Pinky Shange are kids of preachers, but they have both gone down a rather unholy path…with only one of them reforming, writes Debashine Thangevelo
PREACHERS Daughters and Preachers of L.A. are popular reality shows, offering fly-on-the-wall perspectives on how faith is tested by different lifestyles in the real world.
Now Mzansi has its own reality series, Preachers’ Kids, which documents the lifestyles of several kids who haven’t exactly followed in their father’s footsteps.
Some have become the black sheep of the family and others, while going down that rebellious path, have got their lives back on track and now live in accordance with their Christian upbringing.
Tonight caught up with two of them: Paul Ralekholela, 26, and Pinky Shange, 24.
ON THE PATH OF REDEMPTION
RALEKHOLELA is the youngest of four siblings and was the “problem child”.
He notes: “I used to be a serious party animal. I used to be rebellious. I didn’t go to church much. I didn’t really listen to anyone. I felt everything I did was right. No one’s opinion mattered.”
However, there was an incident that saw him clean up his act about six years ago.
So when the production house got hold of his sister to have him in the show, he was excited. He adds: “I also felt it was a great opportunity to tell people about what it was like to be a pastor’s kid. You are not able to do many things.”
Recalling his childhood, he notes: “I grew up in church full-time. Everything I was exposed to was church-related. In primary school I was very focused on sport. Then I began high school and I changed, having friends and being exposed to certain things. That’s how I became rebellious.
“Community-wise, it is very pressuring being a pastor’s kid. You don’t have room for mistakes. They expect you to be perfect, based on what your father preaches. Meanwhile, you have your own journey and mistakes ahead of you.”
As for what viewers will see on the show, he says: “You see the realness of me. I have stopped drinking. I enjoy listening to a lot of music. I think my parents will be proud when they watch the show, especially with me answering my calling.”
FOLLOWING THE ENTERTAINMENT BIBLE
SHANGE left her parents’ home in Richard’s Bay for a new life in Jozi.
While always regarded as “Daddy’s good girl”, she has been anything but good. Of course, that’s in the context of what her congregation believes.
An aspirant TV presenter, she loves the limelight. A real party girl, too, she loves hanging out with her friends and socialising.
It was via a friend of her brother’s that the production house got wind of her.
For her, it was a stepping stone to being closer to her TV dream: “I had an interview with them. I knew they wanted to know what I did on a daily basis. It is so difficult to show everything, though. There are things I can’t do because my parents would kill me. I said I don’t drink, but I do. The partying as well – they don’t know what happens in a club. We show that. I love dancing and it isn’t hard for me to party. That’s going to shock them.”
Although she works at a car rental place, she’s chasing after her dream.
Shange adds: “I’ve always wanted to be an entertainer or presenter. I took a chance with this show, hoping it might open a door.”
She moved to Jozi in 2009 to complete her tertiary studies here. She offers: “I tried auditioning before. My first year in Joburg. But I got so nervous in front of the camera. Now this reality show has helped with that.”
On life as the daughter of a pastor, she says: “There are good and bad parts. The bad part is the expectation of what they want you to be, how they want you to live. They (the community) forget that it is my father who’s the pastor. If I make a mistake, it becomes a huge thing. I am a rebel, though I try not to ruin my family’s name.”
However, her short outfits and tattoos will raise eyebrows. But she does reveal that her parents don’t impose many restrictions on her.
l Preachers’ Kids, Vuzu Amp (DStv channel 114), Friday, 7pm.