The star actor has appeared in many shows, including The Gamechangers, Ngeculo, and The River. He scored four acting nominations and bagged Best Actor at the SAFTAs for his role as King Dingiswayo in 2024.
Thembinkosi Mthembu
Thembinkosi bagged the Best Actor Award at the 2024 South African Film and Television Awards.
Quick Facts
Name:
Thembinkosi Brian Mthembu
Born:
31 July 1994 (age 30 years old)
Place of birth”
Kwandengezi, South Africa
Nationality:
South African
Education:
Drama and production studios
Alma mater:
Durban University of Technology
Occupation:
Actor
Years active:
2017-date
Children:
1
Residence:
Johannesburg
Early Life
Thembinkosi Mthembu was born on 31 July 1994 in KwaNdengezi, a township in Durban, South Africa. He grew up in KwaZulu-Natal as one of three siblings but sadly lost his sister in 2017.
His parents supported him and his siblings and didn’t judge them for their choices.
Education
Mthembu holds a diploma in drama and production studios from the Durban University of Technology.
Career
Thembinkosi Mthembu relocated to Johannesburg to focus on acting. He worked at Checkers and as a dancer at Cell C while looking for acting opportunities.
He later landed a minor role as Junior in the 2019 television series The Republic. The show producers were the award-winning Phathu Makwarela and Gwydion Beynon. After watching him play Junior, they created and reserved him a role as Mabutho.
Mthembu portrayed Mabutho in season 3 of the television drama series The River. In 2019, he played Shift Manager on a drama series, MTV Shuga Down South 2. In 2020, he played Malusi in the television short film Ngeculo.
Thembinkosi portrays Dingiswayo in the drama series Shaka iLembe.
In 2023, Thembinkosi landed major roles on the Showmax series – Shaka Ilembe, Adulting and Outlaws. In October 2024, he bagged Best Actor at the SAFTAs for his role as King Dingiswayo.
The award-winning actor played the critically acclaimed role of Mabutho in the television drama series The River. He also played King Dingiswayo, the son of King Jobe of Mthethwa in Shaka iLembe.
The role earned him a nomination as Best Actor for the Simon Mabhunu Sabela Film and Television Awards. He appeared on Podcast And Chill along with Wiseman Mncube.
Mthembu returned for season 3 of the Showmax television series Adulting as Bonga Tembe. He scored four acting nominations at the SA Film and Television Awards (Saftas).
Personal Life
Thembinkosi Mthembu has a partner and a daughter. He celebrated his pre-wedding traditional ceremony (umembeso) in 2024. He has been in a relationship with his partner and the mother of his daughter for over eight years.
Mthembu started dating his partner during his third year at Durban University of Technology (DUT). He lost his sister, who worked in the police force, to gunshot wounds from an ex-boyfriend at her office.
