‘He always created magic out of the script’: A look at Don Mlangeni Nawa’s memorable TV roles

Tributes continue to pour in for veteran actor Don Mlangeni Nawa, who passed away at the age of 65.

Nawa is being remembered for a celebrated television career that spanned decades.

His former Isidingo colleague Jack Devnarain — known for his role as Rajesh Kumar — told The Citizen that Nawa’s work ethic was unmatched.

“He was an absolute professional, and he was very comfortable working with all the directors.

“He was very welcoming and excited to work with young performers, and he always showed the kind of seniority you would expect from a veteran actor.”

Devnarain said he would always remember how masterfully Nawa worked with the script.

“He was always creating magic out of the script and was always looking to make scenes better. He was wonderful at it, creating little moments of improvisation.

“And he always knew how to get the best out of his fellow actors — that’s my lasting memory of him,” he added.

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Don Mlangeni Nawa’s memorable TV roles

Laqhasha (Sgudi ’Snaysi)

Sgudi ’Snaysi was a popular comedy show about the humorous and often chaotic life of an unemployed man, Sdumo, played by the late Joe Mafela. On the show, Nawa portrayed Laqhasha, a smooth-talking loan shark who often made life difficult for Sdumo when demanding his money back.

Bra Zeb (Isidingo)

In the popular soapie Isidingo, Nawa played Zebedee “Bra Zeb” Matabane, the principled head of the Matabane family.

Thato Mokoena (The River)

In the award-winning drama The River, which tells the story of two families caught in a mining battle, Nawa played the role of Thato Mokoena, a caring and protective father.

Zakhe (Hlala Kwabafileyo)

In the classic SABC drama Hlala Kwabafileyo, he played Zakhe, a man dealing with strange events after death. The drama series explored themes of life, death, and family, following different characters as they faced loss, love, and ghostly experiences shaped by those who had died.

King Langa (Shaka iLembe)

One of his most recent roles was as King Langa in season one of the historical series Shaka iLembe.

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