Menzi Biyela and Nompilo Maphumulo set to exit ‘Uzalo’
IN A JOINT statement, SABC1 and Uzalo announced two of their key characters, Pastor Gwala, played by Menzi Biyela, and Nosipho, played by Nompilo Maphumulo, will be leaving.
The characters will exit the popular soapie at the beginning of season nine, early next year.
Maphumulo has been with Uzalo since its debut on SABC1 and her character has grown over the years. Viewers have seen her go head to head with Nkuzi (Masoja Josiah Msiza) over her father’s estate, making her his enemy and, in so doing, almost getting buried alive.
She has had her fair share of lovers, from dating ruthless criminal Amos, to and the abusive Njeza, until she found her prince charming in Pastor Gwala.
Nosipho may have started out as a gangster’s daughter, but her business skills made her Kwamashu’s resident money-lender and the brains behind the business hub.
Before becoming Nosipho’s prince charming, Pastor Gwala arrived in
Kwamashu to help the community regain their church from the ruthless Nkunzi who he later learned was his biological father.
SABC1 acting channel head Thuli Nhlapo said: “We want to take our hats off to the stellar performances of Nompilo and Menzi over the years.”
Biyela and Maphumulo’s exits have been described as “amicable”.