Where else to watch the cast of The Wife

Showmax’s first telenovela The Wife boasts a brilliant cast. These actors are known to star in some of Mzansi’s hit shows – here’s where else you can see them on Showmax.

Update: Want to know more? Watch the behind-the-scenes special The Wife: Behind the Veil. Plus, binge all of Season 1 and 2 of The Wife on Showmax.

Mbalenhle Mavimbela (Hlomu)

Watch Mbalenhle on Showmax in Isibaya S7

Rising star Mbalenhle Mavimbela plays Hlomu, the journalist who falls in love with a taxi driver, not realising that when you marry a man, you marry his secrets. “When I found out Hlomu the Wife was being turned into a series, I jumped at the chance to audition,” says Mbalenhle. Mbalenhle also had roles in Skeem Saam and Isipho.

Bonko Khoza (Mqhele)

Mqhele is played by Bonko Khoza. He burst onto the acting scene as Jabz in the multi-award-winning film Necktie Youth and has since appeared in the likes of Professionals and the Emmy-nominated Roots.

Mondli Makhoba (Nkosana)

Watch Mondli on Showmax in Isithembiso

If you recognise this well-known face on our screens, it’s because Mondli has had roles in Umkhokha, Generations and Imbewu. As Nkosana on The Wife and the firstborn of the Zulu brothers, he took charge of the family after his parents’ murder. He’s a man of a few words and thinks carefully before he acts.

Abdul Khoza (Nqoba)

Watch Abdul on Showmax in Isibaya, Nqobile, The Road and Ring of Lies.

Fans of The Wife telenovela has been raving about Abdul’s performance as this hot-headed sibling, and describe it as a perfect casting. Abdul Khoza already has a SAFTA win under his belt, and his roles of Isibaya and on Kings of Joburg has garnered him much praise and attention. In his role as Nqoba, he is a ‘hit first and explains later’ type of guy. Sometimes he doesn’t even explain.

Zikhona Sodlaka (Mandisa)

Watch Zikhona on Showmax in Grassroots, Housekeepers and Igazi.

Nqoba’s partner and mother of his children is Zikhona Sodlaka, who plays Mandisa. She is a SAFTA nominee for her role in After 9 and also features in the upcoming Showmax Original epic series Blood Psalms.

Kwenzo Ngcobo (Qhawe)

The sweetest of the brothers, Qhawe is also the family strategist. He saw Hlomu first, and it was love at first sight, but this once, he failed to put a plan into action. Kwenzo has spent his early acting days mainly in theatre, travelling the world, and he also appeared in Imbewu – but his role in The Wife has no doubt sent his career into the stratosphere.

Sipho Ndlovu (Sambulo)

Watch Sipho on Showmax in Isibaya, The Queen and Omen.

Sipho has an instantly recognisable set to his face, and he has played roles in some of the biggest soapies in South Africa, namely Isibaya and The Queen. As Sambulo, there’s more to this brother than meets the eye. Laid back, funny, and we learn, he is also an undercover hitman. He’s not after power but is his brothers’ keeper and the true glue working silently to hold them all together.

Thulane Nkululeko Shange (Mqoqi)

Watch Thulani on Showmax in Is’thunzi and iNumber Number.

You can’t have a conversation about the Zulu brothers without mentioning The Youth Squad aka the younger brothers who round up this oddly charismatic criminal family. Look out for SAFTA nominee Thulane Nkululeko Shange (Is’thunzi, iNumber Number) as Mqoqi, who eventually joins his older brothers in their cash heists and is badly injured when they are set up.

Ishmauel Songo (Mpande)

No stranger to the camera, Ishmauel has had roles in Rhythm City, as well as the South African Oscar-winning film Tsotsi. Flamboyant, colourful and always hustling, Mpande balanced out the Zulu brothers’ serious side. While Hlomu’s life was spared after her traditional wedding was sprayed with bullets, others were not so lucky.

Swelihle Luthuli (Ntsika)

Watch Swelihle on Showmax in eHostela.

Swelihle plays the youngest of the brothers, who are often sent on errands by Nkosana and the older Zulu clan, who also do their best to protect their younger siblings from the criminal life that they have taken up for reasons as yet unrevealed to viewers. Soft-hearted Ntsika becomes drawn into the drama and doesn’t handle the loss of life and loved ones as well as his elder brothers.

The Wife is streaming exclusively on Showmax. New episodes drop every Thursday. Season 3 landing on 10 November 2022.