As a little boy, Sihle Nzima, who grew up in a rural area in Nquthu in KwaZulu-Natal, had big dreams of becoming a famous actor one day. Mr Nzima finally got his big break, and is now starring in Mzansi Wethu’s telenovela Sibongile and the Dlaminis.
The show airs every Monday to Wednesday at 6.30pm on Mzansi Wethu (DStv channel 163).
Sibongile and the Dlaminis also stars award-winning actor Siyabonga Shibe and Isibaya stars Ayanda Borotho and Zodumo Shange, who bring the rags to riches story to life.
The storyline is pinned on the extraordinary journey of Sibongile Mbambo (Luyanda Zwane), an innocent rural young woman forced to leave her family and dreams behind, to become a domestic worker in the lavish mansion of the affluent Dlamini family.
Nzima, 24, a second-year journalism student at Durban University of Technology (DUT), said he plays the role of Government, a troublesome young man who was recently released from jail. He said he has been yearning for this opportunity and hopes this is the start of many great things. He said he aims to inspire the youth from the rural areas to believe that through hard work and determination, every dream can come true.
His love for acting was so deep, he recalled, that when he was a little boy, he would save his pocket money to pay his neighbour to watch his favourite shows on television. He said his friends helped him bag the role on Sibongile and the Dlaminis.
“My friends shared a link of a social media post calling for actors. I sent an email where I attached my profile and requested an audition script. The following day, I went to the audition. I patiently waited for months for their response. Finally, they got back to me and offered me the role of Government,” said Nzima.
After hearing the news, he said, he was ecstatic and jumped around his room, screaming at the top of his lungs in disbelief. However, he did have reservations about his ability to take on the role and was anxious and doubtful, he said.
“I immediately knew how big this was, not only for me but for representation of my hometown (Nquthu). I was so scared because my lifelong dream had come true – it was no longer a fantasy but a reality,” he said. “But now I am enjoying the journey and I hope more acting roles come my way.”
He said the highlight of his acting career so far was being part of the team on Sibongile and The Dlaminis.
Referring to his first scene in which he is seen holding the stolen chicken, he said he felt it was a brilliant way of introducing his troublemaker character to the viewers.
Nzima said after matriculating in 2017, he moved to Johannesburg where he stayed for four years, hoping to get his big break in the acting industry. He landed a role on Isibaya and Generations: The Legacy as an extra. Bt he decided to return to Durban to study because he realised that to tap into any industry of his choice, he needed a qualification.
“I enrolled for my higher certificate in public administration at DUT and successfully completed it. I then enrolled for a bachelor's degree in journalism but faced financial problems. It was a stressful period for me, and I feared that I might have to take another gap year. Coming to my rescue was Mr Zwakele Ngubane, Director: Advancement and Alumni Relations at DUT, who settled my outstanding fees and paid my registration fees for the journalism programme. I will forever be grateful to Mr Ngubane and his team for their assistance and support when enrolling for my bachelor's degree in journalism,” he said.
Besides acting, he is also passionate about the radio industry, and he is keen on venturing onto the airwaves once again. He said during his high school years, he was a radio presenter at Anchor FM in Nquthu.