Thembinkosi Mthembu named Best Actor at SAFTAs for Shaka iLembe

The epic drama Shaka iLembe won 12 SAFTAs this weekend, setting a new record as the most awarded drama series in the event’s history.

One of Shaka Ilembe’s biggest wins was for Best Actor for Thembinkosi Mthembu as King Dingiswayo. 

He had strong competition in the category, largely from his own performance as Bonga in Adulting, and from his co-star in the Showmax Original bromance: Nhlanhla Kunene as Tsiki Tsiki. 

Thembinkosi was also nominated for Best Actor in a Telenovela as Bandile Biyela in the Showmax Original Outlaws, which came in joint second overall at the SAFTAs with eight awards, including Best Telenovela. 

He lost the Best Actor in a Telenovela category to Presley Chweneyagae as Cobrizi in The River, a show Thembinkosi was also nominated for Best Supporting Actor in as Mabutho, although Thembinkosi lost that category to The Estate’s Mpho Sebeng, who tragically passed away in a car accident in May 2024.

Thembinkosi had never been nominated for a SAFTA before, but those four nominations were the most of any actor this year. They topped an incredible run that’s seen him also win Hunk of the Year at The Feather Awards, the People’s Choice Award at the GQ Men of the Year Awards and Best Actor at the Simon Mabhunu Sabela Film and TV Awards, also for Shaka iLembe, with Daily Sun headlines about how “Actor Thembinkosi Drives Women Wild!”

In the build-up to the awards,  we asked him if he had a feeling about which of his nominations was most likely to convert at the SAFTAs. “All of them,” he said. “I’m joking. It’s definitely Dingiswayo in Shaka iLembe. I love that character. He took me and put me in a place I never thought I’d reach as a performer. I think it was my first time reaching that level of connection with the character. He pushed me to break through my limits.”

He says finally cracking not just one but four SAFTA nominations meant a lot to him. “I’m truly happy. When you love your work, you keep pushing every year. Even when I wasn’t getting nominated, I kept telling myself that I needed to work hard - not just for the awards, but to keep improving in my job.”

Actually winning meant even more. “Being recognised by the NFVF [The National Film and Video Foundation] for the SAFTAs is a big deal for me. I’m grateful that they see me and acknowledge the work I put in: the time, the love and passion I poured into this character of Dingiswayo. I feel blessed. I’m grateful.”

He was quick to share the credit. “I want to say thank you so much to everyone I’ve worked with and to those close to me for their support - from the executives to my family, including my mom and my wife. I also have to mention Kabelo [Chalatsane Mokoena], the stunt guy at Shaka iLembe, along with his team. I’m grateful to them because they helped me get into character from scratch. They truly built the character of Dingiswayo, from his structure to the way he walks. I’m also especially thankful to my colleague Mondli Makhoba [who played Ngomane in Shaka iLembe].”

But Thembinkosi did also take a moment to congratulate himself too. “I also thank myself for pushing through.”

In addition to setting SAFTA records, Shaka iLembe set a DStv record with more than four million premiere views on Mzansi Magic, with the series going on to become the most Googled TV series in South Africa last year. 

We asked Thembinkosi why he thinks the series has done so well, and what it means for our local industry. 

“First of all, I love that it was done in our language,” he says. “It’s a story that truly speaks to our roots and honours the heroes who came before us - those who paved the way for us. We’re here because of them, especially the Zulu nation. Thank you to Bab’ Zulu, Oyi-Nkosi Siyakhothama, for blessing this show, and also to our King Misuzulu for his support and for allowing it to continue. It means a lot to us. Our kids will grow up watching this show again and again. When they want to learn about the history of Shaka Zulu, they’ll turn to this show.”

He’s delighted with the recognition for both Shaka iLembe and Outlaws. “It means a lot. Speaking on behalf of all the other actors, we prepare extensively and sometimes work under pressure. So, for the NFVF and the SAFTAs to acknowledge and celebrate us means a great deal. It shows that we are making a contribution to our industry and to the viewers at home.”

Watch the trailer for Shaka iLembe S1

You can binge Shaka iLembe and Outlaws on Showmax, as well as Adulting and The River. While The River has come to an end, new seasons of Adulting, Outlaws and Shaka iLembe are all on their way. 

Showmax remains the best place to stream the SAFTA winners, after content on Showmax won 37 Golden Horns from its 142 nominations - the most of any streamer. 

Season 2 of Shaka iLembe is due to start airing on Mzansi Magic in June 2025. While you wait, binge all the episodes of Season 1 on Showmax now.