We’ve been wondering about the whereabouts of some of our favorite actors and presenters who have disappeared on television. It was sad to notice that some of them might never come back to our screens again because they got caught up in other endeavors. Maybe some will return, since we can’t give a final say on anyone’s life, but the chances of them returning are slim. So we thought we should list at least 15 actors we will probably never see on our Mzansi television screens again.

1. Don Matthews

Actress Don Matthews was born in Durban, South Africa. She worked in South Africa as an actress for more than a decade. Our chances of seeing Don Matthews on our screens ever again were taken when she got married to an American who relocated with her to his home country. Don gave up her life in South Africa for this man, and it’s almost impossible for us to see her again on television, except in Hollywood productions.

2. SMM

SM used to be known on ETV’s “Scandal” and appeared in season 4 until she tapped into business. On her last television appearance, all her fans hoped to see her again, but they didn’t know she would disappear into other endeavors.

SMang is now the CEO of the Celvin and Family Group, which she established with her husband. There’s no hope that she will ever appear on television again since she is too busy overseeing the day-to-day business processes and dealings of their company.

3. Vatis Wanda

Actress Vatis Wanda has been on some of the country’s biggest shows, such as “Generations,” “Mango,” “Home Affairs,” and “Igazi.” But she no longer wants to set foot on set. This is after she claimed that actors and actresses in South Africa were underpaid.

According to June 2023 reports by The Daily Sun, Vatis once wrote to the former Sports, Arts, and Culture Minister, Nathi Mthethwa, asking him to do something about the alleged abuse and unfair treatment by production houses. Despite seeking help from the government, Vatis saw no hope in the acting industry and decided to quit acting. So we will never see her again on TV.

4. Maggie Benedict

The last time we heard of the actress Maggie Benedict was when she was arrested for shoplifting. Mzansi was shocked by the situation; perhaps we never thought actors were underpaid to the extent of stealing painkillers in a store. Even by the time she came to court, she was driving a Toyota Tazz, the most affordable car in South Africa.

So where has she disappeared to, and why is it almost impossible to see her again? Well, Maggie relocated to the United States, where she’s acting in Hollywood productions and obviously earning more money to afford better cars than the Toyota Tazz and can even probably afford painkillers as well. So would she come back to the South African film industry? Obviously not.

5. Candice Dlamini

Actress and author Candice Dlamini became a well-known actress and TV host in South Africa, where she acted in soaps. After appearing on the ETV soapie “Scandal,” she disappeared from television, and there’s no record of where else she appeared.

In 2011, she published an autobiography called “Indescribable,” in which she painted a detailed picture of the trauma she went through as a child when she was abused almost daily by a stepfather. Following the publication, Candace relocated to the United Kingdom with her husband and daughter. There is no hope we’ll ever see her again on the South African television screen.

6. Musa Mthombeni

Former actor and presenter Musa Mthombeni played different roles on television, including in “eKasi: Our Stories” and “eHost” before he disappeared from television. This happened after he finished his medical studies, which he did concurrently with his media career since childhood.

He’s now a full-time doctor who gave up on his television career to take care of our health. So would he leave his daily life of being a doctor and grace viewers with his appearance again? We doubt it.

7. Sizwe Toak

Another ex-childhood star who disappeared from our screens is former UTV presenter Sizwe Toak. She’s one of those television celebrities you are likely not going to see on TV again.

Sizwe worked at UTV as a presenter from a young age, then hosted numerous shows before starting a business. She ventured into the business of marketing, and it has kept her busy every day, which will give her zero chances to come back on TV.

8. Mandla Sgana

Another former Y TV star who has cemented the fact that she won’t come back on TV is Mandla Sgana. She hosted the show “Y TV Disney Cartoon Café” throughout her childhood.

When she became an adult and got married, everything changed in life. She relocated to the United Kingdom, where she’s currently working as a psychologist and also as a TV presenter. At least she didn’t give up on her career completely, but chances of us seeing her again on Mzansi TV screens are absolutely slim.

9. KET Mamabolo

Actor KET Mamabolo, also known as Tusi, is no longer into acting like before but is pushing different business ventures in the country. In 2021, KET left the fan-favorite character on “Scam” by the name of Tibos to focus on his financial services and insurance company. His aim of starting a business was to build an empire that creates jobs and to focus on his family.

He was replaced by former “Scandal” actor Hungani Ndlovu. In 2022, he reemerged in “The River,” claiming the demon in him woke up. In December 2023, he opened a resort in Limpopo, close to nature reserves. It’s quite obvious that KET will have very little time for acting, considering the number of businesses he’s running, but there is hope since he’s still in the country.

10. Liso Mngoma

Another actor who ventured into business and might never appear on our television screens again is Liso Mngoma. The actor, who was also a Qobo star, is now a hotel executive at one of the biggest black-owned companies in South Africa.

Liso told Soar that he ventured into business while he was still acting, so it was easy to transition from acting to business. He is now a member of the PZI Group, initially known as PZI Investments, and there is no hope that he will leave corporate working to earn peanuts in the television dramas.

11. Carol B

So actors who left the spotlight for corporate business are quite a lot because Carol B did the same. She was well known for acting on “Generations” as Koto and for being a presenter. After a series of years in acting since the ’90s, Carol decided to invest in media, horse racing, mining, and property development.

She is the founder and CEO of Carol B Productions, so she has limited time to appear on daily soap operas. Though we won’t see her on soap dramas, we will continue to see her on her SABC talk show, which empowers women.

12. Chris Basley

Acting director Chris Basley was known for playing L Cooper on the SABC drama series “eDingo” before disappearing from our screens. So where is he? Well, the actor is now a full-time director and is likely not going to come back in front of the camera. According to some sources, he enjoys directing more than acting, so let’s forget about him unless he changes his mind.

13. Precious Coffee

Zenzi television personality Precious Coffee disappeared from the spotlight after turning to a white American. She relocated to the United States with her husband and children, and there is no hope that she will come back to appear on our local screens.

The mixed-race couple was blessed with two children, and it appears like Precious is now a full-time mom. There were rumors of divorce, but we don’t know if they finalized them.

14. Toni Bentivoglio

Most people got to know Toni Bentivoglio as an actress who appeared on the ETV drama series “Scandal” and “eDingo” before relocating to the United States. She’s now acting in Hollywood movies and has appeared in several Hollywood films such as “The Underground Railroad,” “Women King,” and others.

She’s now one of the highest-paid actors, and the local producers of South Africa will never afford her, so we must kiss her goodbye for local dramas. But she will continue to be on commercial adverts and on international serials.

15. Atani

Another actor who disappeared to Hollywood is Atani. Again, because of salary differences between the South African acting industry and Hollywood, Atani cannot be afforded by the South African acting industry.

So we will continue to see him on local commercial adverts like the recent commercial of Chicken L’Or, but let’s forget him when it comes to local dramas.

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