On the 8th of September 2005, eTV in South Africa began the pilot run of the soapie, Scandal!. After 16 years, the series has come to be regarded as one of the best of its kind. Presently, it competes with the likes of Generation: The Legacy in the league of the oldest-running soap operas to ever come out of the country. Now, the massive success recorded in Scandal! wouldn’t have been possible without its crop of cast members. eTV Scandal! actors are a group of stellar entertainers, handpicked to suit different roles.
The show has one of the best cast of actors in the history of South African soapies. As the plot unfolds, we get to view each of the cast members depicting their different roles flawlessly. The day-to-day interaction of the actors, their personal and professional life, blended into the most captivating storyline that has had viewers glued to the screen for so many years.
What is Scandal All About?
Scandal! is a veritable melting pot of life portrayed. In this entertaining and heightened genre of soap, both heroes and villains play out the complex turns and twists of their lives. At the onset, the soapie was called The Voice but in the long run, the producers changed it to Scandal!
The show is set in Newtown, Johannesburg, and centers on a media company named Nyathi Family Holdings (NFH) which produces a gossip magazine named Scandal and a newspaper called The Voice. The lives and careers of the staff of Nyathi Family Holdings, including other characters, are the focus of the show. Scandal! equally shines a light on the socioeconomic divides within the local township of Soweto and the Joburg suburb Newtown, where the NFH media is based. It exposes the private desires of affluent people in society while the lower class struggles to make ends meet.
List Of eTV Scandal! Cast Members
1. Jerry Mofokeng (66 Years Old)
Jerry Mofokeng image source
Real Name: Jerry Mofokeng
Character: Neo Mokheti
Age: 66 years old
Cast Type: Main cast
Number of Episodes: N/A
Others: Matric at Orlando West High School and Youth Alive Ministries in Soweto, Masters in Theatre Directing (Columbia University)
Breathing life into the character of a crime lord known as Neo Mokheti on the set of the most-watched eTV show is a role perfectly depicted by award-winning actor Jerry Mofokeng. Jerry is among the oldest eTV Scandal! actors who are still part of the cast. In this case, art imitated life as the veteran’s health condition was written into the plot of the story. According to Jerry, after he was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2019, he approached the producers of the show to reflect his real-life condition in the character of Neo. Thus, Jerry Mofokeng battles with cancer both in real life and on the set of Scandal.
The popular South African movie producer, director, and actor was born on the 17th of April 1956 in Soweto, South Africa. After completing his basic education at both Orlando West High School and Youth Alive Ministries in his hometown, the veteran proceeded to Columbia University where he acquired a Masters in Theatre Directing. Though he became part of the Scandal family in 2013, Jerry has been active in the industry long before that. Some of his popular productions include television shows such as 90 Plein Street, Heist, End Game, Sober Companion, The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency, Let Heaven Wait, Isidingo, and Curious Culture. He was also seen in Cry, the Beloved Country, Lord of War, The Forgotten Kingdom, Mama Jack, Bones, A Good Man in Africa, and many more
2. Natasha Sutherland (51 Years Old)
Natasha Sutherland image source
Real Name: Natasha Sutherland
Character: Layla
Age: 51 years old
Cast Type: Main cast
Number of Episodes: N/A
Others: She is a presenter of a kiddies show
After she surfaced on the set of the South African TV show in 2012, Natasha Sutherland won the hearts of millions as she breathes life into the character of Layla. As she became a fan-favorite among the South African audience, the eTV show grew to be one of her most popular productions alongside other TV serials such as Honeytown and Tarzan: The Epic Adventures. Sutherland is one of the non-blacks among the eTV Scandal! actors.
Going by the records, Natasha’s date of birth is the 20th of November 1970 and she was born in Durban. Her parents have been identified as choreographers – Geoffrey Sutherland and his wife Kenlynn Ashby. Before she moved into acting, the South African actress started with the kiddies show video in the early 1990s as a presenter. As a teen, she was seen in the soapie Egoli: The Place of Gold in 1991. Natasha moved into prominent roles in 1996, appearing in a couple of TV serials – Tarzan: The Epic Adventures and Honeytown. 1997 was when she joined the cast of Operational Delta. Meanwhile, the actress was fast becoming a dominant figure in the SA theater featuring in stage productions like Gigi and The Revlon Girl. She is a five-time nominee of prestigious awards and has bagged a couple.
3. Gcina Nkosi (53 Years Old)
Gcina Nkosi image source
Real Name: Gcina Nkosi
Character: Zinzile Ngema
Age: 53 years old
Cast Type: Main
Number of Episodes: N/A
Others: Studying drama at Durban University of Technology (DUT)
Joining Scandal in 2009, South African native Gcina Nkosi started giving expression to the character of a respectful wife, completely averse to arguing with her spouse as according to Zinzile Ngema, the words of a husband are final. As the plot unfolds, the docile wife experienced a complete turnaround in her character and presently, she does not just speak, Zinzile can unabashedly give voice to her opinion. Though she appealed to the heart of many with her gentle character, Ngema’s new outspoken persona has even won her more fans as the viewing public can’t help but admire the previously docile wife as she puts down her feet in the face of disagreement.
Born in 1969, the SA movie star is the daughter of a politician and a cleaner cum site steward. Because her dad was imprisoned for a long while, Nkosi had to struggle to grow up with the support of her mother and grandmother. Because of the hardship they faced, she had to drop out of Durban University of Technology (DUT) where she went to study drama. Gcina has always harbored the ambition of pursuing a career in the performing arts, thus, she started auditioning early and in 2009 joined the cast of scandal! She is also good at stage acting and has excelled in classical singing.
4. Marjorie Langa (44 Years Old)
Marjorie Langa image source
Name: Marjorie Langa
Character: Gloria
Age: 44 years old
Cast Type: Main cast
Number of Episodes: N/A
Others: Matric at Capricorn High School, Degree in Medical Technology at Tshwane University of Technology
On the set of Scandal, Marjorie Langa depicted the character of Gloria, the mother of Kgosi – a troublesome boy who got caught stealing. While defending her son who later got parole, Gloria was keeping a love relationship with Caiphus and in a bid to get her hands on some millions, she had no qualms about letting her boyfriend go to prison for a crime he never committed. The callous character of Gloria may be far removed from her real-life persona but Marjorie really excelled in it.
Born in Limpopo, South Africa in March 1978, the eTV Scandal actor is an alum of Capricorn High School following which she studied Medical Technology at Tshwane University of Technology. After she spent six years practicing her profession, Langa decided to try her hands at acting but her first gig was in commercials. The Limpopo native went ahead to score real acting roles and presently, her most popular role is recorded on the set of Ekasi: Our Stories and Scandal!
5. Tshepo Mosese (39 Years Old)
Tshepo Mosese image source
Real Name: Tshepo Howard Moses
Character: Lerumo Chabedi
Age: 39 years old
Cast Type: Main Cast
Number of Episodes: N/A
Others: He is a hip hop artist with a solo record to his name
In 2013, Tshepo Mosese became part of eTV Scandal!, playing Lerumo Chabedi – a bodyguard to a lead character on set. As the plot thickens, Lerumo Chabedi developed from a mere bodyguard to a respectable police officer in the Newtown community (the setting of the show).
Being born on the 19th of July 1983 makes the South African movie star 39 years old. Acting is not his only career as Tshepo has also displayed competence as a rapper cum songwriter. After joining the Gunpowder hip hop group in 2002, the rap artist was offered his first solo record deal by Kabelo, AKA Bouga Luv under faith records. Apart from his Lerumo Chabedi role in Scandal, he had a supporting role in Generations: The Legacy and a lead role in Backstage on eTV, playing Chase.
6. Mapaseka Koetle (33 Years Old)
Mapaseka Koetle image source
Real Name: Mapaseka Koetle-Nyokong
Character: Dintle
Age: 33 years old
Cast Type: Main Cast
Number of Episodes: N/A
Others: She is a shrewd businesswoman and a blogger
The character Dintle is a survivor, abandoned by her biological parents and brought up by her aunt. After she joined the cast list of eTV Scandal! in 2013, Mapaseka Koetle depicted this character to perfection aided by her charm and looks which greatly improved her status. For more than eight years, she has held viewers spellbound as they can’t help but admire Dintle as she went through life successfully despite her predicament.
Mapaseka who was born in 1989 celebrates her birthday every 23rd of March. Born and brought up in Bloemfontein, Free State, she attended AFDA but completed her tertiary education with City Varsity. The SA actress, blogger, and businesswoman commenced her acting career immediately after she graduated from City Varsity, landing a role in the Andile Ncube-produced movie, Second Chances. Other productions she has been featured in include Show Off but her popularity came from playing Dintle in Scandal.
7. Ayanda Daveti (42 Years Old)
Ayanda Daveti image source
Real Name: Ayanda Daveti
Character: Chumani Langa
Age: 42 years old
Cast Type: Main Cast
Number of Episodes: N/A
Others: Studies Arts at Tshwane University of Technology
The role of Chumani Langa in Scandal is that of a promising young man who came from an affluent background. With his stellar acting prowess, the talented Ayanda Daweti was able to put the role across to the viewing public.
Born in 1980, the SA entertainer was raised in Tsolo. After he lost his mum at age 13, he went to live in Mhlakulo, Tsolo located in the Eastern Cape with his grandma and an aunt. Ayanda has lived in several places, including Joburg and Cape Town. He went to the Tshwane University of Technology in Pretoria to study Arts. As a musician, he goes under the moniker Tuckshop Bafanaz and has a six-track EP and an album to his name. His best-known role to date is giving expression to the character of Chumani in Scandal, though he was also part of the series, Blood Psalms.
8. Nqobile Khumalo (30 Years Old)
Nqobile Khumalo image source
Real Name: Nqobile Nunu Khumalo
Character: Hlengiwe
Age: 30 years old
Cast Type: Main Cast
Number of Episodes: N/A
Others: Matric at St Mary’s Diocesan Girls School, Pretoria Journalism from Midrand Graduate Institute
When Nqobile Khumalo surfaced on the set of eTV Scandal! in 2016, playing Hlengiwe Twala, she never know that the role would gain her international prominence. Her hard work and dedication soon earned her an international award at the 2019 New Vision International Film Festival in Amsterdam where she was given the best actress award. She is one of the eTV Scandal! actors that gained both popularity and awards from her role on the set of the soapie.
The South African model and actress was born into a Siswati family on the 15th of April 1992 in Mpumalanga, South Africa. Her academic foundation was laid at St Mary’s Diocesan Girls School, Pretoria. She later bagged a degree in journalism from the Midrand Graduate Institute. Nqobile recorded her acting debut in Isibaya but she has also played leading roles in series like Soul City.