Durban Living Legend – Thembi Mtshali-Jones
Thembi Mtshali-Jones was born on 7 November 1949 in Durban, eMkhumbane and grew up in KwaMashu Township where she started singing in school concerts.
Thembi is a South African singer, actress and playwright best known for her starring role as aspiring actress Thoko on the CCV sitcom ‘Sgudi ‘Snaysi, from 1986-1992. She is also known for her starring role as shebeen queen Hazel Dube in the SABC2 sitcom Stokvel, from 2003-2012. She had a starring role as Andiswa Sigcau in the M-Net soccer drama series League of Glory, in 2010; and took over the role of Dineo Nkgatho from Warona Seane for the fourth season of the SABC2 parliamentary drama 90 Plein Street, in 2013.
She was a finalist in the Tribute Achievers 2002 Awards in the category of African Excellence in Entertainment & Arts and Awards Kentucky Colonel.
Renowned for her acting roles in Sgudi Snaysi and Stokvel, she was honoured with the Living Legend Award at the 2019 National Theatre Festival, in North Carolina, US.
Thembi’s theatre credits include: Marabi and Mabatha which toured in South Africa, UK and USA.
She co-wrote and starred in Eden and Other Places and Woman of Africa, Have You Seen Zandile. She has also appeared in the TV series Divers Down; Generations; Interrogation Room; Madam & Eve; Scoop Scoombie; Takalani Sesame; S.O.S.; Stokie, Fishy Feshuns; Backstage; Silent Witness; The Queen & Broken Vows .
She has recorded four albums in her own name, and recorded as lead vocalist with the Sipho Gumede band Peace and the African Jazz Pioneers on both occasions making one album. She performed lead vocals on the soundtrack to the film Story of an African Farm, which was released by Sony as a CD in 2004, and winning a SAMA Award in 2004.
Thembi’s most recent film roles were in Themba shot in 2009, Country of my Skull, Cape of Good Hope and The Wooden Camera all shot in 2003.
Her favourite moment was singing Happy Birthday in Zulu for the late president Nelson Mandela on his 80th birthday in Washington D.C, broadcast live on CNN. She performed for President Thabo Mbeki and the Parliament after the 2004 State of the Nation Address.
Thembi Mtshali is now playing MaNdlovu Bhengu on imbewu ,e.tv.