Menzi Nxumalo is a rising star on South African television despite having no training as an actor.
The KwaDukuza resident stumbled into an acting career after being spotted by a talent scout when he randomly grabbed an opportunity to appear as an extra during a shoot.
Nxumalo had always wanted to get into entertainment, but initially thought that his home would be on radio after taking a mentorship from well-known DJ, Makhosi Khoza.
As often happens in showbusiness however, Nxumalo was in the right place at the right time and is currently enjoying a run of performances on popular shows.
“After appearing as an extra, I got a call to request I read some lines on an upcoming shoot, and it just snowballed from there,” said Nxumalo.
His first major role was as DJ Mporoma on Mzansi Magic’s iGomora, before he landed two eTV roles, playing Xolani Nxumalo on DurbanGen and Mthokozisi Zondo on iMbewu. He can now be seen in his biggest role to date on SABC1’s uZalo, where he portrays brooding detective, Thalente Bhengu.
This meteoric rise has been matched by a strong following on TikTok, where his motivational videos have been watched by 74 000 followers hundreds of thousands of times.
“I went on there to talk about some of the things that have happened in my own life to see whether they would resonate. I think the fact that it’s coming from a place of honesty is why people like the content,” he said.
And in an industry where so much of the output is focus-grouped and market tested to try and generate mass appeal, sometimes authenticity is what breaks through.
It appears that Nxumalo, who also runs the Nokusa Support for Disabled People non-profit organisation, has got that mix right.
He still lives in KwaDukuza given all of his work so far has been Durban-based but concedes the next step could take him to Johannesburg.
Until then, you can find him on any of the aforementioned shows or at 516Menzi on TikTok.
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