The unstoppable Shibe
DEDICATED ACTOR ON THE RISE: GOING FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH
People struggle to distinguish between Siyabonga and his Uzalo character.
Mzansi has watched him grow from one character to the next; portraying each one with exceptional skill, making viewers fall in love with Sfiso from
Gaz’lam, Kila from Scandal, Detective Bheka Shabangu from
Z’bondiwe, and now corrupt gangster cop Qhabanga in Uzalo.
It’s his latest role that shows how much Siyabonga Shibe has matured as an actor.
At 12 years old, he knew he was a storyteller, so he studied drama at Natal Technicon.
On Uzalo:
Shibe is from KwaZulu-Natal and although he had very little money to his name, he decided to try and make a mark in the acting industry in a place known for its many opportunities in that arena – Johannesburg.
“Once you make it, people see you in a certain way and have a lot of expectations,” he said.
However, it’s a challenge having a job for six months and then being unemployed for three months while going for castings and covering expenses at the same time.
“I’m very dedicated to my job. You have to be when playing a role like Qhabanga. He is a chameleon that fits into any situation that makes him money.
“Though he hates to admit it, he loves his brother and kind of wants to be like him. It’s quite interesting to play a character with so many facets.
He explained that Qhabanga is a cop, a criminal, a dedicated church member and a lover.
Bringing the character to life:
“Not to sound arrogant, but I honestly believe that I’m doing my role on Uzalo justice, and if I could, I would pat myself on the back,” he said, pointing out that some viewers are convinced that he is actually Qhabanga in his life off-screen.
“People take the role very personally at times and this shows that I portray it well. Despite the confusion, I have received a lot of positive responses from Uzalo fans, with some indicating that the role displays my maturity as an actor.”
Shibe says he enjoys playing a man not everyone will love, who often leaves viewers angry and at times astonished. “I admire Qhabanga, he is doing a lot of things I wish I was able to do. He goes for what he wants and never backs down; an attribute that Siyabonga sometimes also possess- es,” he said.
“He is manipulative and egotistical; traits that make he and I poles apart. He is a character that I would be very wary of speaking to if I met on the streets,” he adds.
However, like the character he plays in this award-winning drama series, he pushes himself and works hard to leave a legacy, saying he wants to be remembered as one of the actors who helped put Mzansi on the map.
Dedicated storyteller:
Although he has been in a lot of television productions and in local movies, the role that opened doors for him in the acting industry was Sfiso in Gaz’lam. “Playing the role of Matthews in Mzansi Magic’s Isthunzi helped me grow as an actor.
“I had to dig very deep to play the role of a character who was the complete opposite of me.”
He believes that doing research is vital for a convincing character portrayal, and he learns from observing people every day. Shibe acknowledges the growth in the South Africa acting industry, but he feels that at the end of the day it’s all about the numbers.
“It’s sad for the industry. Some people don’t have a love and passion for acting and are merely doing it to get celebrity status.
“The industry is moving in the wrong direction because of social media and numbers.
“People don’t invest in creativity anymore.”
Working on himself:
“I’m always working. “I write as well. I’m venturing into producing now,” he said.
He describes himself as shy, humble, jolly and spiritual, even though he doesn’t go to church much.