Thembinkosi Mthembu rose to fame after playing Junior in the drama series The Republic.
Thembinkosi Mthembu (born 31 July 1994) is a South African actor. He is best known for starring as Junior in the Mzansi Magic drama series The Republic in 2017.
The talented actor has since then appeared in other series like The River, The Gamechangers, and Kalushi: The Story of Solomon Mahlangu. He was a cast member of the short film Ngeculo. His charismatic role on The River has charmed many viewers.
Early Life
| Thembinkosi Mthembu | |
|---|---|
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| Personal Information | |
| Full Name: | Thembinkosi Brian Mthembu |
| Other Names: | Mr Dimples |
| Born: | 31 July 1994 (age 28 years old) |
| Place of Birth: | Durban, South Africa |
| Nationality: | South African |
| Education: | Drama and production studios |
| Alma mater: | Durban University of Technology |
| Partner: | Sibulele Ndaba |
| Children: | 1 |
| Occupation: | Actor |
| Years active: | 2017-date |
Thembinkosi Mthembu was born on 31 July 1994 in the village KwaNdengezi in Durban. He has a sister, Nontuthuko Ntuthu, who passed away in 2015.
Education
Mthembu studied for a diploma in drama and production studios from the Durban University of Technology in 2017.
Career
After receiving his diploma, he relocated to the City of Gold in Johannesburg to practice what he had learned. He got a job as a dancer at Checkers and Cell C as a dancer. He then landed a minor role as Junior in the TV series The Republic.
In 2019, he landed a recurring role as Shift Manager on the MTV ShugaL Down South 2, an MTV Base drama series. His debut, on Season 7, Episode 7, aired on 2 April.
Mthembu played Mabutho in season three of the 1Magic soap opera The River. He appeared first in season three, episode twenty-one, on 24 February 2020.
The actor started as a recurring cast but later became a starring cast for the Season 4 premiere in 2021.
However, he gained prominence for starring as Junior in the Mzansi Magic drama series The Republic. The show follows a fictional president who fights the corruption wrought upon the country by her predecessor. It was the first starring role on TV.
In 2020, he played Malusi in the short television film Ngeculo. Kwa-Zulu Natal Entertainment Awards nominated him for Best Male Actor, Male Villain, and Outstanding Newcomer for his contributions to South African television in 2020.
Bonga is the role he plays in the Showmax series Adulting.
Personal Life
Thembinkosi Mthembu has a partner Sibulele Ndaba. He lives in Johannesburg with his daughter he had in 2019.
At first, the actor battled with finance but dreams of providing education for his daughter. He also wants to teach her to lead a life of independence and success.
Social Profile
Mthembu shares engaging posts on social media. He often posts about his current or upcoming work, family, or a time-out. He has amassed a massive follower base. He also posts about his daughter, who he says he can’t sleep thinking about.
On 7 July, he posted a framed picture of his daughter on Instagram to inform followers of her birthday.
Filmography
- Adulting as Bonga
- MTV Shuga as Shift Manager
- Shaka iLembe as Dingiswayo
- The Republic as Junior
- The River as Mabutho