Mthandeni guns for
BRAAI stands are ready and meat is marinated as Zululanders await the outcome of the Simon Mabhunu Sabela KZN Film and Television Awards this Saturday.
Local fans will be in support of Durban Gen star Mthandeni Mbambo (37) who is one of the three finalists under the Best Film Actor category. The Ngwelezanaborn TV actor and theatre director was nominated for his role as Gawuza in the film Salamina by Buwa Films. He now shares the spotlight as a finalist with Byron McNeil and Arish
Sirkissoon.
"Just to be nominated in these prestigious awards is something special, and being a top three finalist is even more overwhelming.
"It came as a surprise but a good one. “I’m honoured and hope to bring it home to Zululand," he said.
Mthandeni is known for his current role as Detective Thulani Sibiya on the eTV medical soapie Durban Gen.
But the actor has been part of the small and big screen industry for a long time, and has taken some serious roles on many telenovelas.
He has made an appearance on the Mzansi Magic telenovelas Rockville and Isibaya, and portrayed a major supporting role in the South African movie Skororkoro.
His overflowing bucket of accomplishments include many theatre productions on which he has worked, such as the musical Afrika My Home, where he played alongside Mondli Makhoba of Uzalo and Abdul Khoza of The Road
fame.
He also portrayed the supporting role, Shwiliza on eHostela, the role of Jackson on SABC 1's Uzalo and Chef Valentine on Isibaya.
In 2020, he landed the role of a clan elder in the 13-part drama series Ifalakhe.
In Zululand, Mthandeni made his mark when he led a sterling cast in the theatre production Death of the Emperor Shaka
in which he portrayed the role of King Shaka.
He also played a leading role in The Devil’s Autograph and the international theatre production Daffi Falls at the Grahamstown Arts Festival, as well as on his one-man-show The JourneyUhambo.