The Wife Season 3 cast and the stars who portray them

The Wife Season 3 cast includes beloved talent, guaranteed to shake things up. This season focuses on two star-crossed lovers, Naledi and Qhawe. Naledi His Love is played by the talented actress, Gaisang K Noge. When Naledi met Qhawe, played by Kwenzo Ngcobo, the couple set the social media streets alight with their on-screen chemistry. We finally get to meet the new Mqhele in the upcoming season, played by Wiseman Mncube. Season 3 expands beyond the Johannesburg taxi industry to Royal Thabeng and the North West. This means a new twist to raise the stakes of this groundbreaking telenovela.

Naledi and Qhawe are two star-crossed lovers who met under unusual circumstances and fell in love. Like Hlomu and Zandile, Naledi will come to understand what it’s like to love one of the Zulu brothers. The Wife Season 3 focuses on this story as they both face a dark and tumultuous past that follows them.

Mqhele and Hlomu became Mzansi’s most loved couple in a story inspired by the novel Hlomu the Wife, a bestseller by Dudu Busani-Dube. Hlomu is an investigative journalist who also fell in love with a taxi driver, Mqhele, not realising that when you marry a man, you marry his secrets.

Zandile and Nkosana gave us a love story and an in-depth history of the matriarch of the Zulu family, the glue who held the Zulu brothers together. In Season 2, Zandile came back from jail to reclaim her position, a role that Hlomu had taken over in her absence.

Sambulo and Xoli begin their relationship in Season 3. Xoli enters the world through Sambulo, after having helped nurse him back to health following his near-death experience. When Sambulo returns to the family fold, very much alive, the brothers are happy to see Sambulo is in love. But Xoli is a wild card, and they soon find out, when she shows off her gun-toting skills.

Gaisang K Noge as Naledi

The rising star Gaisang K Noge plays the role of Naledi Montsho, a doctor who fell for one of the Zulu brothers, Qhawe Zulu. She’s also a princess daughter of the chief of the Royal Thabeng. Gaisang is known for her role as Mampho in House of Zwide. She has also done stage and commercial work before bursting onto our screens. She is the daughter of renowned TV legend and presenter Dosto Noge who is loved for his work on Selimathunzi and Speak Out.

Instagram – @ms_noge

Twitter – @ms_noge

Facebook – Gaisang Noge

Kwenzo Ngcobo as Qhawe

Kwenzo Ngcobo became South Africa’s favourite leading man, thanks to the role of Qhawe on The Wife. Dubbed “the Woolworths of amadoda” by Twitter, the KZN-born actor won the DStv Mzansi Viewers Choice Award as Favourite Rising Star in 2022. The DUT graduate rose to prominence when he booked a role in eTV daily drama Imbewu: The Seed after spending years doing stage theatre. He plays the fourth-born and sweetest of the Zulu brothers. Qhawe fell head over heels for Naledi at first sight, but little does he know the secrets Naledi is keeping.

Instagram – @kwenzo_pholoba

Twitter – @kwenzo_pholoba

Facebook – Kwenzo Ngcobo

Mbalenhle Mavimbela as Hlomu

Mbalenhle Mavimbela became a household name when she booked the role of Hlomu on The Wife, earning her the nickname “national wife”. She plays Hlomu, a young investigative journalist who falls in love with a taxi driver, not realising that when you marry a man, you marry his secrets. Love forces her to choose between a life of uncovering the truth and a life of hiding it. Mbalenhle has featured on several TV shows like Skeem Saam, Isipho, and Durban Gen.

Instagram – @mbalenhle_m

Twitter – @MbalenhleMavim

Facebook – Mbalenhle Mavimbela

Khanyi Mbau as Zandile

Khanyi Mbau is no stranger to South African screens as she has starred in hit shows like Abomama, Unmarried and Happiness is a Four-Letter Word. This year she became the first African woman to be roasted in the latest edition of the Comedy Central Roast. In The Wife, she plays the role of Zandile, who spent 10 years in prison. Upon her return, she had to fight tooth and nail to win back her children’s love, rebuild her marriage with Nkosana, and reclaim her power as a Zulu matriarch.

Instagram – @mbaureloaded

Twitter – @mbaureloaded

Facebook – Khanyi Mbau

Mondli Makhoba as Nkosana

Mondli Makhoba plays Nkosana, the firstborn of the Zulu brothers. Nkosana took charge of the family after his parents’ murder. He’s a man of few words and thinks carefully before he acts. Mondli has been featured in TV shows like Umkhokha, Generations, Imbewu: The Seed and will also star in the upcoming epic Shaka Ilembe.

Instagram – @mondlimakhoba

Twitter – @makhobamondli

Facebook – Mondli Makhoba The Talent

New cast of The Wife Season 3

Wiseman Mncube as Mqhele

Wiseman Mncube is no stranger to Mzansi screens, having played Jama in eHostela, a role that earned him the Best Actor in a TV Drama Golden Horn at the 2020 SAFTAs. He has also featured in shows like Uzalo, Generations The Legacy and will star in the upcoming epic Shaka iLembe. In The Wife Season 3, Wiseman replaces Bonko Khoza, who became a household name during The Wife’s run, hailed as “the national husband” by fans and nominated for DStv Mzansi Viewers’ Choice, and won Best Actor in a Telenovela award at 2022 SAFTAs for the role.

Instagram – @wiseman_mncube

Twitter – @wiseman_mncube

Facebook – Wiseman Mncube

Sello Motloung as Chief Kgosi Montsho

Sello Motloung plays Naledi’s father Kgosi Lerumo Montsho, the Chief of the Royal Thabeng. The patriarch Kgosi is ruthless, cunning and always gets what he wants. The seasoned TV and stage actor has been on numerous TV shows like Ring of Lies, The Queen, and Showmax’s epic fantasy Blood Psalms.

Stoan Seate as Sefako

Kwaito legend and seasoned actor Stoan Seate is the newest addition to The Wife Season 3 cast. The Bongo Maffin member plays a sophisticated suitor Sefako. He is charming, generous, kind but also a bit of a softy. He is the most eligible bachelor in all of Royal Thabeng. Stoan is no stranger to South African screens as he is famously known for hosting the long-running music variety show Afro Cafe. He has also appeared in TV shows like Molo Fish and Society.

Instagram – @stoanito

Twitter – @stoanito

Facebook – Stoanito Seate

Lungelo Mpangase as Xoli

Lungelo Mpangase is one of the latest additions to the new cast of The Wife Season 3. She plays Sambulo’s love interest, Xoli. She comes into the Zulu brother’s life as he goes through some adjustments, and everyone is shocked at who he has evolved into. Lungelo’s rise to prominence came when she booked the role of Khethiwe in the Mzansi Magic drama series eHostela and followed up with a leading role in another Mzansi Magic drama series Mzali Wami as Ntokozo.

Instagram – @lungelo_mpangase

Twitter – @LungelMpangase

Facebook – Lungelo Mpangase

Mo Setumo as Tshedi

Motsoaledi Setumo plays the role of Tshedi, the loyal older daughter of the Chief and Naledi’s elder sister. Tshedi is cunning but a double agent and craves power and recognition. Mo has starred in several TV shows like Greed and Desire, The Queen, and Generations.

Instagram – @mo_setumo

Twitter – @Mo_Setumo

Facebook – Motsoaledi Setumo

Terrence Ngwila as Detective Baloyi

Terrence Ngwila plays the role of Detective Baloyi who is a formidable force against the Zulu brothers during Season 3. He’s been a cop from a young age and his obsession with righting the wrongs of society sometimes makes him cross the line. Ngwila has been featured in shows like M-Net’s original series Lioness, Unmarried Season 2 and Generations the Legacy.

Instagram – @terrencengwila

Twitter – @NgwilaT

Facebook – Terrence Ignacious Ngwila

Thabang Lefoa as Tseitsi

Thabang Lefoa plays the role of Tseitsi – Naledi’s close friend from med-school. Throughout the years Tseitsi has secretly fallen in love with Naledi, but unfortunately for him, he’s been friend-zoned. Thabang is known for his leading role as Andile and Prince in Seasons 1 and 2 of the eTV drama series eKasi: Our Stories. Thabang has also had roles in the drama series 90 Plein Street, Generations and Zone 14 and has had leading roles in several short films as well as in numerous theatre productions.

Instagram – @thabanglefoa

Twitter – @lefoaa

Facebook – Thabang Lefoa

Binge-watch all three seasons of The Wife on Showmax. Plus, watch The Wife: Behind The Veil, an 8-part special that takes you behind the scenes on the hit telenovela.