Where to see the cast of Shaka iLembe on Showmax

After years in the making, Season 1 of historical epic Shaka iLembe launched on Mzansi Magic in June 2023, and it was recently announced that Season 2 is set to launch on Mzansi Magic in June 2025. While you wait, binge all episodes of Season 1 on Showmax.

The 12-part series tells the story of the famous Zulu King and the events that shaped his remarkable life, with iterations from his early childhood through to adulthood.

Watch the trailer for Shaka iLembe S1

But while you wait, you can catch the cast of Shaka iLembe in a tonne of other shows and movies, all on Showmax, including Adulting, Isibaya, The Wife, Entangled, Gomora, No Love Lost and Umkhokha: The Curse.

See the cast of Shaka iLembe in these shows and movies on Showmax. 

Nomzamo Mbatha

Hollywood success Nomzamo Mbatha plays Queen Nandi, the revered mother of Shaka in Shaka iLembe. The superstar actress who’s had Hollywood acclaim is also executive producer on this series, helmed by award-winning producers Bomb Productions.

Mbatha is no stranger to our screens, having played Moratiwa in the hit movie Tell Me Sweet Something and the fan-favourite character of Thandeka in the popular South African series Isibaya. She went on to earn an AMAA nomination for Tell Me Sweet Something and a SAFTA nomination for her role on Isibaya. She takes the lead in the sci-fi thriller Assassin, sharing the screen with the legendary Bruce Willis in his final role.

Watch Nomzamo Mbatha in Assassin now »

Lemogang Tsipa

The incredibly talented actor Lemogang Tsipa plays the titular role of King Shaka Zulu, the protagonist everyone is waiting to see: the adult Shaka. 

The actor starred in the heartfelt movie Beyond The River, before starring in hit shows like Isithembiso, The Republic S2 and Blood Psalms.

Watch Lemogang Tsipa in The Republic S2 now »

Thembinkosi Mthembu

The River and The Republic S1 star Thembinkosi Mthembu portrays King Dingiswayo in Shaka iLembe.

If you haven’t watched the latest Showmax Original series Adulting, you don‘t want to miss Mthembu’s leading role in this sexy and thrilling show about modern-day struggles in South Africa. He is also starring in the Showmax Original, Outlaws, now streaming on Showmax.

Watch Thembinkosi Mthembu in Adulting »

Abdul Khoza 

Abdul Khoza also stars in this ensemble cast. 

Khoza’s career kicked off when he won the second season of Class Act and is now widely known for his role as Qaphela in the long running soap opera Isibaya, which earned him his first SAFTA. He’s had roles in shows like Nqobile but it’s his role as Nqoba in The Wife that gave him wide acclaim more recently when he was rightfully acknowledged for his second SAFTA win. He also featured in the Showmax Original, Red Ink.

Watch Abdul Khoza in The Wife now »

Mondli Makhoba

Mondli Makhoba is also part of the Shaka iLembe cast.

You’ll probably recognise Mondli Makhoba for his portrayal of Nkosana in The Wife and in other shows like Umkhokha, Isithembiso and eHostela.

Watch Mondli Makhoba in The Wife now »

Wiseman Mncube

Wiseman Mncube plays the role of King Zwide in Shaka iLembe.

Mncube is well known for his SAFTA-winning role as Jama in eHostela. He also played the role of Mqhele on The Wife S3.

Watch Wiseman Mncube in The Wife now »

Dawn Thandeka King

A familiar face on our screens, Dawn Thandeka King plays the role of Mkabayi in Shaka iLembe.

She’s had roles in shows like iNkaba but it’s her SAFTA-winning role as MaZ in Lockdown that had everyone talking about her, as well as her recent role in telenovela DiepCity.

Watch Dawn Thandeka King in DiepCity now »

Sthandiwe Kgoroge

Sthandiwe Kgoroge (wife to actor Tony Kgoroge) is also part of Shaka iLembe’s star-studded cast and plays Queen Mthaniya.

She’s known for her role in Umkhokha and has also been on Impilo: The Scam and The Road.

Watch Sthandiwe Kgoroge in Umkhokha now »

Senzo Radebe

Senzo Radebe takes on the role of Senzangakhona in Shaka iLembe. 

The actor is quickly becoming a household name, thanks to his roles in hit shows like Abomama and Ifalakhe. You can also catch this talented actor in his most recent roles in Gomora and Entangled.

Watch Senzo Radebe in Gomora now »

Hope Mbhele

Hope Mbhele plays Baleka in Shaka iLembe. 

Mbhele first melted our collective hearts with her portrayal of Mabusi in the Mzansi Magic drama series Umkhokha. The actress has previously starred in Showmax movies No Love Lost and Goodbye Gogo. She is now reprising her role as Mabusi in Umkhokha, which has been turned into a telenovela titled Umkhokha: The Curse. 

Watch Hope Mbhele in Umkhokha: The Curse now »

More like Shaka iLembe to watch on Showmax

Outlaws S1 | Binge now

Set in the lush but lawless land on the border between Lesotho and KwaZulu-Natal, Outlaws is the story of two families at war with each other: the Zulu, cattle-farming Biyela clan and the Basotho, cattle-raiding Ts’eoles. 

South Africa’s first modern-day Western series, Outlaws is created by Tshedza Pictures’ Phathu Makwarela and Gwydion Beynon. The team has won five Best Scriptwriting SAFTAs in the past four years for smash hit shows like The Republic and The River, which was also nominated for an International Emmy. Outlaws is Tshedza’s second Showmax Original, building on the success of Adulting, which set a record for the most first-day views of any drama on the streaming service in March 2023. 

Fresh faces Lehlohonolo Mayeza and Nirvana Nokwe-Mseleku co-star as Leruo Ts’eole and Sihle Biyela. Also look out for two-time SAFTA nominee Siyabonga Shibe (The Wife, Gaz’lam) as the Biyela patriarch and Mmabatho Mogomotsi (Snowey in Yizo Yizo) as the Ts’eole matriarch, not to mention the likes of SAFTA nominee Nolwazi Shange (The River), Men’s Health Cover Guy Challenge winner Mnqobi Kunene (How To Manifest a Man)  and man-of-the-moment Thembinkosi Mthembu (Adulting, Shaka iLembe, The River).  

Multi-award-winner Tebogo “Tebza” Malope directs the first two episodes, having won the Audience Award at Tribeca earlier this year for Rise: The Siya Kolisi Story.

Ifalakhe

As King Khombindlela leads his warriors into a fateful battle, both wives give birth to sons. But when a prophet declares that one son is his rightful heir and the other evil, the king has an impossible decision to make.

Blood Psalms | Showmax Original

In Ancient Africa, the young Princess Zazi must save herself and her people from the end of the world. She faces warring tribes, angry gods – and her own father in this groundbreaking fantasy epic.

Igazi S1-2

In this popular drama series, the war for the kingdom continues, with Bantu fighting to hold onto everything he loves and Nomarashiya scheming to reclaim what’s hers.

Mkhonto | Showmax Film

When a herd boy becomes possessed by the spirit of a great Zulu chief and warrior, a battle for the throne ensues to right all the wrongs of the past in the sacred kingdom.

Induku

Khethiwe defies her father in order to save her family by secretly entering her community’s biggest stick-fighting tournament.

Umnisamvula

Rejected by his father for being blind, Zanemvula grew up an outcast. Little does his family know that blindness is not all he was born with: he can summon the rain. Will he use his power to save the people who rejected him?

More telenovelas and soaps to stream online »

All episodes of Shaka iLembe are available to binge-watch on Showmax, with Season 2 airing on Mzansi Magic in June 2025.