Siyabonga Melongisi Shibe (born February 23, 1978) is a South African actor from
Umlazi, KwaZulu-Natal
Umlazi is a township in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, located south-west of Durban. Organisationally and administratively it forms part of the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality and its South Municipal Planning Region.
It is the fourth larges ...
.
Early life
Shibe was born and raised in
Umlazi, Kwazulu-Natal. He attended Ganges Secondary School, where his teachers encouraged him to pursue acting. As a child, Shibe would regularly participate in community plays in Umlazi. After finishing high school, he went to study drama at
Technikon Natal. Shibe, along other fellow students at Technikon Natal, formed a theatre group called Amagugu. After completing his studies he went to
Johannesburg to further pursue his dream of being an actor.
Career
Upon his arrival in Johannesburg, he faced various obstacles but his luck changed when he bagged an advert for HIV/AIDS awareness. He went on to land a role in a feature film called ''The Stripes of a Hero''.
In 2002 to 2005, he bagged a leading role as Sifiso in the
SABC1 drama series ''Gaz'lam''. The series went on to receive multiple nominations from the South African Film and Television Awards. After he finished filming the first season of ''Gaz'lam'', Shibe was cast as James in the feature film ''
James' Journey to Jerusalem'', written and directed by
Ra'anan Alexandrowicz
Ra'anan Alexandrowicz ( he, רענן אלכסנדרוביץ', born August 29, 1969, Jerusalem, Israel) is a director, screenwriter and editor. He is known for the documentary ''The Law in These Parts'' (2011), for which received the Grand Jury A ...
. The film revolves around an African teenager named James who goes on a
pilgrimage to the Holy Land on behalf of his village.
Shibe ended up winning the Best Male Actor award at the Jerusalem International Film Festival. He also landed a role in the
Canadian mini-series ''
Human Cargo
''Human Cargo'' is a 2004 Canadian television miniseries. The series won seven Gemini Awards and two Directors Guild of Canada Awards. It premiered on CBC Television on January 4, 2004 and starred Kate Nelligan, Cara Pifko, Bayo Akinfemi and ...
''. The series won seven Gemini Awards and two Directors Guild Awards. He also starred in the British series ''Wild At Heart'' and ''Mtunzini.com''; however, Shibe resigned from the latter due to financial disputes.
In 2006, he played the role of Mad Dog in the feature film ''The Trail''. In 2007, he played the role of Mandla Nyawose in the drama series ''Bay of Plenty''. In 2008, he was cast to portray the role of Thami in the drama series ''A Place Called Home''. From 2010 to 2014, Shibe portrayed the character of Kila, a smart, shrewd and violent taxi driver in the e.tv soap opera ''
Scandal!
''Scandal!'' (formerly ''The Voice'') is a South African soap opera produced by Ochre Moving Pictures and broadcast on e.tv. It is one of the most watched soapies in South Africa, contending with SABC 1's longest-running soapie '' Generations: ...
''. He was awarded the Best Actor award at the Duku Duku Awards for his role as Kila.
In 2015, Shibe landed a role in the e.tv telenovela ''
Ashes to Ashes''; his portrayal of the character Kgosi earned him a SAFTA nomination for Best Actor.
In 2017, he left Johannesburg for
Durban to join the most viewed South African television show, ''
Uzalo'', where he portrays the role of Qhabanga Mhlongo.
Television roles
* ''Ashes to Ashes'' (Kgosi)
* ''Z'bondiwe'' (Bheka Shabangu)
* ''A Place Called Home'' (as Thami)
* ''Bay of Plenty'' (as Mandla Nyawose)
* ''Doubt'' (as Captain Dube)
* ''Gaz'lam'' (as Sifiso)
* ''Generations'' (as Joshua)
* ''Home Affairs'' (as Zakes)
* ''
Isidingo'' (as Detective Nelson Xaba)
* ''Is'thunzi'' (as Matthews)
* ''Madiba'' (as Chief Jongintaba)
* ''Mtunzini.com'' (as Waxy)
* ''Scandal!'' (as Kila)
* ''Silent Witness'' (as Maidstone)
* ''Stokvel'' (as Richard)
* ''Wild at Heart'' (Themba Khumalo)
* ''Uzalo'' (Qhabanga Khumalo)
* ''The Wife'' (Gwaza Majola)
Personal life
Shibe has a 6-year-old son.
Awards and nominations
See also
* ''
Uzalo''
*
''Ashes to Ashes''
*
''Scandal!''
* ''
James' Journey to Jerusalem''
References
External links
{{DEFAULTSORT:Shibe, Siyabonga
1978 births
Living people
People from Durban
Zulu people
South African male television actors