However, two days before her big day, the sexy starlet had to cancel her celebrations after she found out that her uncle, Simon Murembiwa, had died after a long illness.
Speaking to Sowetan yesterday, Makapila said after receiving a call about the news, she stopped preparing for her big day and broke down.
“I remember at some point I had asked God ‘please make this day as you would want it to be’. Nothing could prepare me for this tragedy as everyone was happy and looking forward to my graduation. We got a call that my uncle had died and after that, I stopped being thankful and started questioning a lot of things,” she recalled.
Makapila, 24, who plays Rendani on the SABC soapie said, with the support of her parents Enock and Fortunate, she put on a brave face and attended her graduation ceremony at the University of Johannesburg’s Kingsway Campus in Auckland Park.
She graduated with honours in language practice and linguistics on Tuesday last week. She said after the ceremony her family drove to Venda for funeral arrangements.
“I was very close to my uncle. It broke my heart when I got home and I saw his children, my cousins, who also lost their mother three years ago, now have to deal with yet another heartbreak,” she shared.
Makapila, who was born in Ha-Sinthumule in Venda, said she had gone all out to celebrate her graduation day.
The star hired a photographer, make-up artist and had her dress especially made by Kbubbledesigns.
“It has not been easy because I was on set from morning until 6pm every day. I am thankful for the support I got from my production company ,” she said.
