Top 10 Mzansi Actors Who Disappeared From TV Without A Trace.
We have been wondering about the whereabouts of some of our favorite Mzansi actors and presenters who have disappeared on television. It was sad to notice that some of them might never come back on our screens because they are caught up in other endeavors.
Top 10 Actors We Might Never-Ever See On Mzansi TV Again.
1. Dawn Matthews
- Dawn Matthews is a South African-born actress best known for her role as Shakira on e. tv’s drama series Scandal! from 2007-2015.
- Actress Dawn Matthews was born in Oudtshoorn, South Africa. She worked in South Africa as an actress for more than a decade. Our chances of seeing Dawn on Mzansi television ever again were taken when she got married to an American who relocated with her to his home country. Dawn gave up her life in South Africa for this man and its almost impossible for us to see her again on Mzansi television except in Hollywood production.
2.Smangele Mathibeli
- Smangele Mathibeli is a South African Actress and Radio Personality. born in KwaZulu Natal South Africa in 1982.
- She is best known for the roles in the television serials such as; Imbewu, Yizo Yizo and Zone 14.
- She is the CEO of the Calvin and Family Group.
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- Born: 1982 (age 42 years), Soweto, South Africa
- Smangele used to be known as Nomcebo in etv Scandal and appeared in Imbewu season 4 until she taps into business. On her last television appearance, all her fans hoped to see her again but they didn’t know she would disappear in other endeavors.
- Smangele is now a CEO of the Calvin and Family Group established with her husband.
- There is no hope that she will ever appear on television screen again since she is too busy with overseeing the day to day proceedings of their company
3.Vatiswa Ndara
Vatiswa Ndara is a South African actress and media personality.
- Born: September 28, 1970 (age 53 years), Middelberg, South Africa
- TV shows: Home Affairs
- Actress Vatiswa Ndara has been on some of the country’s biggest shows such as Generations, Muvhango, Home Affairs, and Igazi, but she doesn’t want to set foot on a set.
- This is after she claimed that actors and actresses in South Africa were exploited.
- According to June 2023 reports of Daily Sun, Vatiswa once wrote to former sport, arts and culture minister Nathi Mthethwa, asking him to do something about the alleged abuse and unfair treatment by production houses.
- Despite seeking help from the government, Vatiswa saw no hope in the acting industry and decided to quit acting, so we will never see her again on TV.
4.Maggie Benedict
Maggie Benedict is a South African actress, writer and director. She studied acting at Pretoria Tech. Benedict is best known for playing the role of Akhona Miya on the SABC 1 soap opera Generations. Benedict has appeared in films including Attack On Durfur, Step to a Start Up and Queen of Katwe.
- Born: February 10, 1981 (age 43 years), Pretoria, South Africa
- Siblings: Abel Benedict, Nkoni Benedict
- Maggie Benedict-Photo- IMDb
- The last time we heard of the actress Maggie Benedict was that time she was arrested for shoplifting.
- Mzansi was shocked of the situation, perhaps we never thought actors were under paid to an extent of stealing pain killers in store.
- Even by that time when she came to court she was driving a Toyota Tazz, the most cheapest and affordable car in South Africa.
- So, where has she disappeared to and why is it almost impossible to see her again? Well, Maggie relocated to United States where she is acting in Hollywood Productions and obviously earning more money to afford better cars than Toyota Tazz, even to afford pain killers.
- So, why would she come back, to earn peanuts from Mzansi industry again? Obviously not!
5.Candice Derman
- Actress and author Candice became a well known actress and TV host in South Africa where she acted in soapies.
- After appearing in etv soapie Scandal, she disappeared from television and there is no record of where else she appeared.
Candice Derman - In 2011 she published an autobiography called Indescribable, in which she paints a detailed picture of the trauma she went through as a child when she was abused almost daily by her stepfather.
- Following the publication, Candice relocated to United Kingdom with her husband and daughter.
- There is no hope we will ever see her again on South African television.
6.Musa Mthombeni
Dr Musa Mthombeni, a former YoTV presenter turned medical doctor, has once again showcased his dedication and perseverance by adding another feather to his cap in the medical field. Taking to social media, he proudly announced his graduation from the College of Diagnostic Radiologists of South Africa.
- Former actor and presenter Musa Mthembeni played different roles on television including in Ek Joke and eKasi our Stories before he disappeared from television.
- This happened after he finished his medical studies which he did concurrently with media lifetime career since childhood.
- He is now a full time doctor who gave up on his television career to take care of our health.
- Would he leave daily life of being a doctor and grace viewers with his appearance again? We doubt!
7.Selae Thobakgale
Selae Thobakgale is now a Strategy Director and Consultant at The Odd Number and Founder of Africanvass, a social creative agency based in Johannesburg, South Africa. Africanvass’ core belief is in the power of creativity in coming up with solutions that can add real value in making the world a better place.
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- Another ex childhood star who disappeared is Former Yo TV presenter Selae Thobekgale.
- She is one of those television celebrities we are likely not gonna see on TV again.
- Selae worked at Yo TV as a presenter from young age then hosted numerous shows before starting a business.
- She ventured into business of marketing and has kept her busy everyday which will give her zero chance to come back on TV.
8.Mandisa Nakana
She revealed that she is writing a feature film, while Byron moved to New Zealand three years ago and he owns a production company. Mandisa lives in London and is a mother-of-three, she now works as a teacher at a primary school and she absolutely loves her job.
- Another former Yo TV child star who has cemented that she won’t come back on TV is Mandisa Nakana.
- She hosted the show Yo TV Disney Cartoon Café through out her childhood.
Top 10 Mzansi Actors Who Disappeared From TV Without A Trace. - When she became an adult and got married everything changed in her life.
- She relocated to United Kingdom where she is working as a psychologist and also as a TV presenter. At least she didn’t give up her career completely but the chance for us to see her again on Mzansi television are absolutely slim.
9.Cornet Mamabolo
He said he has been living between Limpopo and Gauteng for business and work. Mamabolo also has businessman interests in the finance sector.
- Skeem Saam actor Cornet Mamabolo also known as Tbose is no longer into acting like before but he is pushing different businesses in the country.
- In 2021 Cornet left fan’s favorite character on Skeem Saam by the name of Tbose to focus on his financial services and insurance company.
- His aim of starting business was to build an empire that creates jobs and to focus on his family.
- He was replaced by former Scandal actor Hungani Ndlovu. In 2022 he re-emerges in The River claiming “the demon in me woke up”.
- In December 2023 he opened a resort in Limpopo close to nature reserves.
- It’s quite obvious that Cornet will have very little time for acting considering the number of businesses he is running, but there is hope since he is still in the country.
10.Carol Bouwer
Carol is now a speaker, children and women’s rights activist, television producer and businesswoman. She is an independent and forthright thinker.
- So actors who left the spotlight for corporate business are quite a lot because Carol Bouwer did the same. She was well-known for acting in Generations as Kgomotso and for being a presenter. After series of years in acting since the 90s, Carol decided to invests in media, horse racing, mining and property development.
- She is the founder and CEO of Carol Bouwer Productions so she has limited time to appear on daily soapie operas. Though we won’t see her on soapie dramas we will continue to see her on her SABC talk show which empowers women.
11.Loyiso “Chippa” Mangena
Mr Loyiso Mangena is the former Chief Operations Officer of Pamodzi Group, a multi-billion Rand diversified African Investment company that was established in 1979.
Mangena, a former kwaito artist known as Chippa, has since vacated their matrimonial pad in the affluent suburb of Parkmore and now stays in Bryanston, north of Joburg in Gauteng.
- Another actor who has ventured into business and might never appear on our television screen is Loyiso Mangena. The actor who was also a Kwaito star is now a hotshot executive at one of the biggest black -owned companies in South Africa.
- Loyiso told Sowetan that he ventured into business while he was still acting so it was easy to transition from acting to business. He is now a member of Pamodzi group initially known as Pamodzi Investments and there is no hope that he will leave corporate working to earn peanuts in television dramas.
12.Chris Beasley
- Actor and director Chris Beasley was known for playing Len Cooper in SABC drama Isidingo before disappearing from our screens.
Chris Beasley | TVSA - So, where is he? Well, the actor is now a full time director and is likely not going to come back on front of the camera. According to some sources he enjoys directing more than acting, so let’s just forget about him unless he changes his mind.
- If you’re wondering what has become of Len, he has once again ridden off into the sunset on his bike to escape the shackles of the law and being in a witness relocation programme. “He hasn’t been written out. I’m sure if there was some meaty story, he would return.
13.Precious Kofi Schamel
Best known for her capabilities as a TV show host and her second show, Keeping It Real, Precious Kofi, also known as Precious Schamel, is a charming personality. She has been through a few ups and downs in life but still came out to the other side standing strong.
She was at the centre of the public eye for a large part of her life, and since then, she has been under the radar. We explore her childhood and how she got where she is today. Get to know more about her life from childhood to motherhood.
- Former Mzansi television personality Precious Kofi disappeared from spotlight after tying the knot to a white American.
Precious Kofi Schamel - She relocated to United States with her husband and children and there is no hope that she will come back to appear on our local screen.
- The mix race couple was blessed with two children and it appears Precious is now a full time mother.
- There were rumors of divorce but we don’t know if they finalized it.
Precious Kofi age
Precious was born Nwabisa Precious Kofi on March 20th in 1987. This makes Precious Kofi current age 37 years.
Precious Kofi early life
She was born in Alice, in the Eastern Cape in South Africa and later went on to spend some of her childhood in Queenstown, Ciskei. Precious Kofi parents then moved to Mandela Park, Haute Bay in Cape Town.
Precious Kofi education
The move would see young Precious attend Korendal Primary School. Precious completed her primary education at the dawn of a new Millenium in 2000.
- From here, she went forth to enrol in Camps Bay High. Precious took well to Drama as a course and effortlessly excelled at it. It did not take much for anyone to notice her talent and passion. Through this, she landed her very first hosting opportunity.
- Precious Kofi was cast as the TV host of the popular show, Hip 2B Square, which aired on SABC 2’s tube. She completed her high school studies and matriculated in 2005.
14.Thuso Mbedu
Thuso Nokwanda Mbedu is a South African actress. She rose to prominence for her performance in the South African teen drama series Is’Thunzi for which she was nominated consecutively for an International Emmy in 2017 and 2018.
Mbedu later appeared on the 2018 Forbes Africa 30 under 30 list.
- Born: July 8, 1991 (age 32 years), Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
- Education: Stella Adler Studio of Acting
- Siblings: Masentle Nomalungelo Mbedu
- Notable work: The Woman King; The Underground Railroad; Is’Thunzi; Scandal!; MTV Shuga
Most people got to know Thuso Mbedu as an actress who appeared on etv drama series Scandal and Isidingo before relocating to United States. She is now acting in Hollywood movies and has appeared on several Hollywood films such as Underground Railroad series, the Women King and others.
She is now one of the highest paid actors and the local producers of South Africa will never afford her, so we must kiss her goodbye for local dramas. But she will continue to appear on commercial adverts and on international serials on our television.
15.Atandwa Kani
Atandwa Kani is a South African actor. He is the son of actor John Kani.
Atandwa and Fikile planned their traditional marriage lobolo after their wedding. Atandwa is the son of John Kani and Mandi Kani. Fikile and Atandwa separated in 2019 and divorced amicably in 2023 based on irreconcilable differences.
- Born: June 6, 1984 (age 39 years), Gqeberha, South Africa
- Spouse: Fikile Mthwalo (m. 2015), Thembisa Mdoda (m. 2012–2015)
- Parents: John Kani, Mandi Kani
- Education: University of the Witwatersrand (BA); New York University (MFA)
Another actor who disappeared to Hollywood is Atandwa Kani. Again because of salary differences between South African acting industry and Hollywood, Atandwa cannot be afforded by South African industry. So, we will continue to see him on local commercial adverts like the recent commercial of Chicken Linkin .But let’s forget him when it comes to local dramas.
