Television and radio personality Pearl Modiadie has celebrated her son Lewatle’s sixth birthday with a soccer-themed celebration, giving fans a rare glimpse into the private side of her life as a mother.
Lewatle Olivier was born on 18 September 2020 and is Modiadie’s only child. The media personality has generally kept him away from the spotlight, choosing to share photographs of him only on special occasions.
For his sixth birthday, the celebration took on a football theme, with the venue decorated with turf-inspired elements, balloons and soccer details. Reports indicate that the theme was chosen around Lewatle’s love of the sport.
The celebration also brought Modiadie together with Lewatle’s father, French businessman Nathaniel Oppenheimer, as they marked their son’s milestone together. The pair welcomed their child in 2020 and have since maintained a co-parenting relationship after their romantic relationship ended.
Pearl’s heartfelt message to her son
While the birthday party offered a glimpse into the celebrations, Modiadie has also used previous birthdays to reflect publicly on motherhood and how much her son means to her.
When Lewatle turned six, she shared photographs showing how much he had grown, including a throwback image from when he was a baby.
In her birthday message, she wrote:
“6 years of loving you and what a privilege it has been. Happy birthday, my boy. I love you more than you’ll ever know.”
The message reflects the more private side of Modiadie, who is better known to South African audiences for her television, radio and entertainment career.
A private approach to motherhood
Modiadie has spoken through her social media posts about the importance of motherhood while maintaining boundaries around her son’s privacy.
In May 2025, she shared a Mother’s Day tribute to Lewatle, describing him as her “entire world” and reflecting on the support system that helps her balance motherhood with her professional life.
She wrote:
“Lewatle la Mama, forever and always. I look at him — my Ocean, Lewatle laka, my entire world — I’m honoured to be your mom my boy.”
She also acknowledged the people who support her as a mother, saying she was grateful for her support system because it allowed her to be a mother while continuing to pursue the parts of her life that bring her joy.
From television presenter to actress and radio personality
Modiadie has built a career across television, radio and acting. She first became familiar to many viewers through youth television before moving into presenting and entertainment programming.
She has been associated with programmes including Craz-e, Expresso and the SABC1 music and lifestyle show Zaziwa, where she interviewed musicians and other personalities about their lives and careers. She has also worked in radio and appeared as an actress in productions including Scandal! and Generations: The Legacy.
Her career has continued alongside motherhood, with Modiadie often sharing glimpses of her professional life while keeping much of her family life away from the public eye.
Lewatle continues to grow away from the spotlight
The sixth birthday celebration comes after several years in which Modiadie has occasionally marked her son’s milestones online.
For his fourth birthday in 2024, she described him as a “bright spark” and expressed how much joy, laughter and love he had brought into their lives. She also mentioned their shared dance parties and the affection between mother and son.
Her latest birthday tribute once again highlighted the passage of time, with fans commenting on how quickly Lewatle has grown.
