Drama alumni win big at the Saftas and DStv Mzansi Viewers’ Choice Awards

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Thobani Dlomo-Nzuza. Nthati Moshesh.

Drama alumni win big at the SAFTAs and DStv Mzansi Viewers’ Choice Awards

ANDILE DUBE

Three Drama & Production Studies alumni Thobani Dlomo-Nzuza, Nthati Moshesh and Kwenzo Ngcobo walked away with major awards during the 2022 awards season recently.

Dlomo-Nzuza was awarded Best Actor in a TV Drama for his role as Mndeni on Mzansi Magic’s eHostela, while Moshesh was announced as the winner of the Best Actress in a Telenovela category for her role as Mary Ndlovu on BET Africa’s Isono at the 16th annual SAFTAs (South African Film and Television Awards) held virtually on Saturday, 3 September 2022.

Kwenzo Ngcobo who is the breakout star of Showmax’ The Wife, won the Favourite Rising Star Award at the DStv Mzansi Viewers’ Choice Awards 2022 at a glitzy ceremony held in Times Square, Sun Arena in Menlyn, Pretoria on June 25, 2022.

The Wife which is based on a best-selling novel series Hlomu the Wife, by DUT Journalism alumna Dudu Busani-Dube, also scooped two awards at the SAFTAs. Mqhele Zulu and Nqoba Zulu, played by Bonko Khoza and Abdul Khoza, won for Best Actor in a Telenovela and Best Supporting Actor in Telenovela, respectively.

Kwenzo Ngcobo. This wasn’t the first time DUT Drama & Production Studies former students won top awards at the SAFTAs, proving they are a force to be reckoned with in the film and television industry. At the 14th SAFTAs in 2020, DUT Drama alumnus, Wiseman Mncube won Best Actor in a Drama for his role as Jama in eHostela, while alumna and renowned television writer, Christa Biyela was announced as the winner in the Best Achievement in Scriptwriting category for 1Magic’s telenovela, The River. Also, at the 2020 SAFTAs, another DUT Drama graduate, Ferry Jele won Best Achievement in Directing for The River. Jele won the same award for directing The River in 2019 at the 13th SAFTAs.

Also, in 2019, two other drama graduates, Dawn Thandeka King and S’dumo Mtshali, walked away with top awards at the SAFTAs.

King won Best Actress in a Lead Role for her role as tough ringleader Ma Z on Mzansi Magic prison drama series Lockdown. Mtshali, who shot to fame after winning SABC1’s reality competition Class Act in 2010, was announced as Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his role on season 2 of Is’Thunzi.

Queen Elizabeth II 1926-2022