Nomvelo Makhanya is best known for her breakout role as Lindiwe Ngema on e.tv’s Scandal. In front of our eyes, the actress similar to her character started off young and green-eyed. But in the years since her introduction, has grown leaps and bounds.
Read more: Nomvelo Makhanya opens up about her mental health issues
From the initially rebellious character who was known to make rash and disastrous decisions, to a character which embraced her growth to eventually become a fan-favourite character on the soapie. As such, it was a tearful goodbye as Makhanya bid farewell to her beloved character of Lindiwe.
Lindiwe Maseko may be gone but she will never be forgotten! ❤️
To Nomvelo Makhanya, thank you for sharing your talent with us over the past 9 years. Thank you for the magic and memories! We wish you all the best with your career! 🤩 ❤️
From your #etvscandal family! pic.twitter.com/kocM3mnuTL
— Scandal! (@etvScandal) November 10, 2022
In the shared statement ahead of her exit, e.tv had shared a promotional statement which shared details on her exit by stating that:
“Her beautiful marriage with Nhlamulo was a perfect example of how young couples take on the hardships in South Africa and get through it day by day, emerging stronger together.
Being a strong black woman, Lindiwe decided that she would fight her chronic disease and see through the birth of her baby, Larona. On the 10th of November, we witnessed Lindiwe’s last breath as she left whilst holding her mother’s hand. Now, Nhlamulo is left alone with his family to take care of his newborn daughter Larona.”
Her farewell was touching as it saw the return of Mlungisi Ngema, played by Patrick Mofokeng, returned to bid farewell to his onscreen daughter. But the most touching were the final moments between Lindiwe and her mother, Gcina Nkosi as Zinzile Nkosi, bid
Given that Nomvelo Makhanya as Lindiwe had seemed to be one of the fan-favourite characters who seemed would have a permanent role on the soapie, it came as a surprise that she would exit the soapie indefinitely. As such, the biggest question following her heart-wrenching and tear-jerking exit was what made her make the decision to leave the soapie?
Unlike some recent exits, The River’s Lawrence Maleka and his mysterious departure, Makhanya did not make the question remain the elephant in the room. This might be due to the fact that at the time, it was suggested that her reasons for leaving the role was her relationship with stylist and influencer Simiso Ngwenya and his alleged jealousy over her kissing her male co-stars.
Therefore, following her formal exit from the soapie, she took to Twitter to address her reasons for bidding farewell to her beloved role. Ih her tweet addressing her departure Makhanya wrote that:
“I want more of that. I want to ACT! I’m too talented for me to be selfish with my craft. I want to share my talent & craft with you guys.”
THANK YOU!!! And you know what’s crazy? I shot I Am All Girls in 2018/2019 and that was one of the greatest experiences of my career… I want more of that. I want to ACT! I’m too talented for me to be selfish with my craft. I want to share my talent & craft with
— Nomvelo Makhanya 🤍 (@_MveloMakhanya) November 11, 2022
Makhanya’s sentiments came off the back of the defence from actress Masasa Mbangeni who played Thembeka on Scandal, who also in 2021 delivered her own heart-felt final goodbye to her beloved villainous character.
It’s so fascinating to me that when men leave a show it’s always “great actor, he needs to expand his horizons” but when a woman leaves a show after 10 years it’s allegedly because of a man’s please let’s apply our minds. https://t.co/kfz032ZrUB
— Bhut’ Masasa (@MsMasasa) November 11, 2022
Mbangeni also faced some seclusion following the end of her own relationship with Tshedza Pictures’ Gwydion Beynon earlier this year.