Zweli Dube lifts the lid on Nubia bad boy Dingaan, the man who has everything
Sleazy pick-up lines and playboy antics: Zweli Dube discusses his promiscuous character Dingaan, who’s living in his dead twin’s shadow in local dramedy uBettina Wethu.
Season 1 Mon-Wed SABC1 (*191) 19:30
The last thing that bright-eyed and socially awkward Betty Sikhakhane (Farieda Metsileng, Polite in 2019 in telenovela Isibaya, 20152021) expected when she landed her dream job as an assistant at top brand management firm Nubia in brand-new dramedy series uBettina Wethu was that she’d be babysitting self-entitled newly appointed managing director Dingaan Jiyane (Zweli Dube, Pule from 2010-2017 in soap Muvhango, 1997-now, see p23).
If she isn’t clearing his bad reputation in tabloid blogs, she is covering for him in a meeting with investors because he is in a hotel, hungover and crammed between two random women following a night of partying. “Dingaan is a classic playboy – a rebel without a cause,” says Zweli, adding that his character seeks attention from women because he is trying to fill a void after his identical twin Dumisani’s offscreen death.
“Dingaan is accustomed to repressing his emotions because he believes that showing vulnerability is a sign of weakness. However, as season 1 progresses, viewers can expect to see Dingaan take accountability for his actions and growing into himself,” adds the 35-yearold Zweli, who lifts the lid on Dingaan’s messy love life and complicated working relationship with Betty, which may later develop into a steamy romance.
Although Dingaan is dating equally narcissistic social media influencer Naomi (Manie Malone, Nina in drama series Agent, 2019now), who he refers to as “the woman of his dreams”, he can’t stop himself from landing in bed with different women. Why is that? As far as he can remember, Dingaan has had access to everything he wants – be it money, new sports cars, attractive women… What Dingaan – or D-Gunz, as he likes to refer to himself – wants, he gets. It’s simple as that. And it doesn’t help that women fall for his corny pick-up lines, which has turned him into an arrogant egomaniac. Dingaan and Naomi were in a long-distance relationship while she was in Paris, which allowed him to openly cheat. How did her return to South Africa in late April change their dynamic? He is currently on a tight leash. Dingaan cares about Naomi and at times, he considers settling down with her. But that thought only comes once in a blue moon. One woman isn’t enough for him. Dingaan enjoys hanging out with Naomi and showing her off as his girlfriend, but he continues with his illicit affairs behind her back.
Behind the confident façade, is Dingaan battling his demons? Of course. Dingaan hates being compared to his dead twin, who was responsible and levelheaded. Dingaan is out to prove to the world and to their mother Linda (Tsholo Mashishi, Lillian in 2017 in drama show Saints And Sinners, 2017now) that he is more than capable of running the family empire.
Tell us about your audition process. How did you shape the character, and what were your thoughts when you first read the script?
I was taken aback and somewhat pleased that Dingaan is different from any character that I’ve played before. At first I struggled with wrapping my head around his personality because he is this airhead and dim-witted character [unlike articulate, good-guy lawyer Pule]. But after some time, I realised that Dingaan isn’t just a player, he plays to win, which requires a level of skill.
And what are Dingaan’s thoughts on Betty? He likes the idea of Betty having his back all the time. Initially, Betty isn’t his usual type [as she’s unfashionable and naïve]. But after they spend more time together, he notices that they have more in common than he’d perceived. You’ll have to keep watching uBettina Wethu to see their interaction unfold. What is the most challenging aspect about acting on a dramedy, and delivering funny lines on cue? It has been a wonderful experience. I’ve been praying for a lead role and a big comeback as it has been three years since my last acting gig, alongside Naomi on drama series Agent as Phumlani. We start filming uBettina Wethu at 06:00 and we wrap filming at 18:00 – sometimes, later than that. But 12-hour shifts go by quickly when you’re enjoying yourself on set.