It may surprise fans that Siyabonga Thwala, known for his commanding on-screen presence as Mpiyakhe Zungu in Isibaya, has opened up about his and his wife’s two-year struggle to have a child.
After months of disappointment, his wife sought spiritual intervention at Emoyeni Temple, a division of the Shembe Nazareth Church, to pray for a child.
Watch the full YouTube video here.
A prophecy of a light-skinned baby boy
Without informing Thwala, his wife spent the day at the temple, praying for a child.
The next morning, she recalled a dream in which a prophet sent a young girl to deliver a message: “Tshena lo sisi ukuthi angakhathazeki, uzuthola ingane yomfana emhlophe”—translated as, “Do not worry; you will soon have a beautiful, light-skinned baby boy.
Shortly after, she became pregnant.
Siyabonga Thwala and his wife welcomed a son who matched the dream’s description.
Today, their son is healthy and thriving.
From Isibaya star to spiritual testimony
Thwala’s revelation adds depth to his public image.
While he played a powerful, fearless character in Isibaya—a popular drama series that aired on Mzansi Magic until its cancellation in 2021—behind the scenes, he faced personal struggles.
At a Shembe Church conference, Thwala shared how faith guided him through this difficult time.
Upon his son’s birth, he expressed gratitude, saying, “Ngavele ngayobonga, angibuzanga lutho”—“I simply went to church to thank God without questioning anything.
Addressing Shembe Church controversy
Thwala also responded to criticisms of the Shembe Nazareth Church, which some critics view as engaging in idol worship.
He defended his faith, stating, “Abanye abantu bacabanga ukuthi ngihlanya mangibatshena kodwa iqiniso”,translated as “Some people think I am crazy, but the testimonies we share are real and not fabricated.
”
While the church has faced scrutiny, it remains influential in South Africa, with many followers finding spiritual guidance and healing through its teachings.
Siyabonga Thwala: The man beyond the screen
Beyond Isibaya, Thwala has starred in Generations, Scandal!, Muvhango, and Rhythm City.
Thwala’s story is one of faith, resilience, and belief in spiritual guidance.
His journey resonates with many couples facing similar struggles, reminding them that hope and patience can lead to life-changing moments.
Siyabonga Thwala: Actor Mpiyakhe from Isibaya is a businessman in real life, net worth revealed
With decades of an illustrious career, Siyabonga Thwala has fast become one of Mzansi’s finest. He has been making all sorts of headlines of late with his unmatched flair. He had his shot with theatre plays like those before him, and the rest was history.
The seasoned actor is best known for his lead role in the Mzansi Magic drama series Isibaya as Mpiyakhe Zungu. He started acting in 1989, but his debut on small screens came in 1996 in the backdrop of a feature in Born Free: A New Adventure.
However, this was a turning point in his acting career. He hogged headlines when he played a lead role in the SABC3 soap opera Isidingo as Godlieb Mofokeng in 1998. He played a cameo role award-winning television series Tarzan: The Epic Adventures entitled Tarzan and the Scarlet Diamond in the same year.
Isibaya actor Siyabonga Thwala (Source Savannanews)
In the backdrop of his exit from Isidingo, he starred alongside celebrated actor Themba Ndaba in a TV sitcom, Streaks, based on a Cape Town hair salon. From there, he has been winning big. He starred in etvs drama series Scandal as Vusi Zwane. In the backdrop of his exit, he was cast in Mzznasi’s second most-watched drama series Generations as Paul Mashaba, a celebrated on-screen journalist.
Despite keeping his private life under wraps, the actor has often celebrated his birthday publicly. In 2013 he was cast as Zungu on the now canned drama series Isibaya. However, in between, he starred in Muvhango and Rhythm City. However, of late, Mzansi has wondered how the star actor could be? We have managed to connect the dots when it comes to his age.
Siyabonga Thwala business empire and net worth revealed
The 52-year old was born on 17 March 1969 in Umlazi, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. After all, he is older than we thought. However, his net worth was implicated in the equation in the mix of things.
No doubt he has a jack of all trades and master of all. Apart from acting, he doubles as a celebrated business mogul with business interests in real estate and media.
Isibaya actor Siyabonga Thwala (Source Savannanews)
As of 2022, he has an estimated net worth of R10 million. However, one can note that a more significant chunk of his net worth comes from acting gigs as he is one of the highest-paid actors in South Africa.
