Siyabonga Thwala
{{short description|South African actor|bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{Unreliable sources|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Siyabonga Thwala
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_name = Siyabonga Thwala
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1969|9|8|df=y}}
| birth_place = Umlazi, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
| nationality = South African
| alma_mater =
| occupation = Actor
| years_active = 1989- present
| works = Isibaya
| spouse = Thandi Thwala
| children =
}}
Siyabonga Thwala (born 8 September 1969) is a South African actor, businessman, television presenter, producer. He is best known for his role of Mpiyakhe Zungu on Mzansi Magic's Isibaya. Siyabonga Thwala has starred and appeared in a number of high profile television shows in South Africa winning multiple awards for his acting.{{cite web|url=https://briefly.co.za/36283-siyabonga-thwala-biography-age-son-wife-brother-family-leaving-isibaya-generations-instagram.html|title=Siyabonga Thwala|publisher=Briefly|accessdate=2020-06-27}}
He starred as newspaper publisher Vusi Zwane opposite Luthuli Dlamini on e.tv's Scandal! when the first went on air in 2005, a role that would earn him his first South African Film and Television Award. In 2007 he joined the cast of Generations as Paul Mashaba opposite Seputla Sebogodi. Siyabonga Thwala also portrayed the character of Busani Mojalefa on Muvhango and briefly returned to e.tv as DH Radebe on Rhythm City opposite Jamie Bartlett. In 2018 he created and hosted a documentary series, Yobe (a Zulu word for "forgive").{{cite web|url=https://www.tvsa.co.za/actors/viewactor.aspx?actorid=7636|title=Siyabonga Thwala|publisher=TVSA|accessdate=2020-06-27}}
Career
Thwala began his acting career in 1989.{{Cite web |last=Alayi |first=McAnthony |date=2021-02-05 |title=New: Siyabonga Thwala Net Worth 2023 |url=https://avenuegh.com/reviews/siyabonga-thwala-net-worth-2021-2022-2023-2024-2025/ |access-date=2023-02-22 |website=Technology Reviews Online Portal |language=en-US}} He made his screen acting debut in the 1996 made-for-TV movie Born Free: A New Adventure. In the same year, he played a cameo in an episode of the television series Tarzan: The Epic Adventures entitled “Tarzan and the Scarlet Diamond” (Season 1, Episode 5). In 1998 he was offered the role of Godlieb Mofokeng in the SABC 3 soapie Isidingo but turned it down, as he felt he was not ready for a long-term commitment to television. Shortly after, he was cast on TV sitcom Streaks based on a Cape Town hair salon, where he acted alongside Themba Ndaba. In 2003 he was cast in the recurring role of Jimmy on Gazlam.
Thwala rose to fame through his role as Vusi Zwane on the e.tv soap opera, Scandal!. His role went on to earn him a Golden Horn Award (South African Film and Television Award) for Best Actor in a TV Soap.{{citation needed|date=January 2022}}
In 2007, he was cast in the role of Paul Mashaba, the journalist younger brother of ruthless businessman Kenneth Mashaba played by Seputla Sebogodi, on SABC 1's Generations. He left the show in 2010.
In 2013, he earned what is arguably the biggest role of his career as taxi boss Mpiyakhe Zungu on Mzansi Magic's highly acclaimed Isibaya. The role of Mpiyakhe Zungu became so well loved by viewers that, for most of the show's run, the character remained the central figure around whom the story was written. The role earned him the 2014 South African Film and Television Award for Best Actor in a TV Drama.{{cite web|url=https://www.tvsa.co.za/user/blogs/viewblogpost.aspx?blogpostid=28669|title=2014 SAFTAs - all the winners|publisher=TVSA|accessdate=2020-06-27}}
Thwala joined the cast of Muvhango in a leading role as Busani Mojalefa. In the same year he appeared on e.tv's Rhythm City as DH Radebe.{{cite web|url=https://viralfeed.co.za/10-things-need-know-siyabonga-thwala/|title=10 Things you need to know about Siyabonga Thwala|publisher=viralfeed|accessdate=2020-06-27}} He also appeared on the HIV/AIDS drama series Intersexions winning him his 2nd South African Film and Television Award in 2014 for Best Actor in TV drama.
Thwala created and hosted a documentary series, Yobe, which sought to unite victims and perpetrators - helping them reach a point of understanding and forgiveness. In 2019, he was cast in the award-winning political drama-thriller The Republic as corrupt former president Hendrik, starring alongside Florence Masebe and Hlomla Dandala.{{cite web|url=https://mzansimagic.dstv.com/news/africa-s-most-loved-storyteller-scoops-over-45-awards-at-safta-2020|title=Africa's most-loved storyteller scoops over 45 awards at SAFTA 2020|publisher=viralfeed|accessdate=2020-06-27}}
Awards
{{BLP unsourced section|date=June 2020}}
- 2007 South African Film and Television Awards for Best Actor in a TV Soap (Scandal!){{Cite web |title=Siyabonga Thwala Awards |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0878501/awards |access-date=22 February 2023 |website=IMDb}}
- 2014 South African Film and Television Awards for Best Actor in a TV Soap (Isibaya)
- 2014 South African Film and Television Awards for Best Actor in TV Drama Series (Intersexions)
- 2014 Royalty Soapie Awards for Outstanding actor in Soap (Isibaya)
=National Film and Television Awards =
{{Awards table}}
!{{abbr|Ref.|References}}
|-
|rowspan=2|2024
|rowspan=2|Himself
|Best Actor 2024
|{{Nom}}
|rowspan=2|{{cite news|access-date=2024-10-16 |url=https://www.news24.com/life/arts-and-entertainment/tv/sas-2024-national-film-and-television-awards-lawrence-maleka-leads-nominations-list-with-four-nods-20241001|date=2024-10-01|title=SA's 2024 National Film and Television Awards: Lawrence Maleka leads nominations list with four nods|publisher=News24|url-access=subscription|location=South Africa|language=en-ZA|first=Nokuthula|last=Khanyile}}{{cite web|access-date=2025-04-05 |url=https://www.bizcommunity.com/article/best-of-local-talent-named-at-the-national-film-tv-awards-south-africa-2024-922634a|date=2024-11-11|title=Best of local talent named at the National Film & TV Awards South Africa 2024|publisher=Bizcommunity}}
|-
|Best Actor in a TV Series 2024
|{{Nom}}
{{end}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://thenation.co.za/ The Nation News]
- [https://briefly.co.za/36283-siyabonga-thwala-biography-age-son-wife-brother-family-leaving-isibaya-generations-instagram.html Siyabonga Thwala biography]
- [https://www.tvsa.co.za/actors/viewactor.aspx?actorid=7636 TVSA biography of Siyabonga Thwala]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Thwala, Siyabonga}}