Thabo Mkhabela, who plays Leshole Mabitsela on SABC1’S Skeem Saam, made his long-awaited return to the small screen this week, and it didn’t go unnoticed as the character’s “stingy” ways set tongues wagging on social media.

 
This after his character Leshole asked the woman he had taken out to dinner to pay for half the bill – a move which has divided public opinion.

The actor told Sunday World that what his character did opened up a debate on how couples ought to share financial responsibilities.

“I think what Leshole did has always been there. We have had people complaining about the 50/50 concept,” he said.

“To Leshole, who has an independent woman, this meant that she wouldn’t mind paying for her food, and no it was not about the money but goodwill.”

In 2020 his on-screen father, Charles Maja, sadly passed away and this has been very hard for the actor as they shared a special bond on and off screen. “We would discuss everything and being with him I learnt a lot, and I hope wherever he is he is proud of how far I have come with the character.”

Mkhabela grew up in a village in Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga, and has always loved dancing and poetry.

He initially wanted to study law at the University of Limpopo but because of space limitations he decided to study performing arts two years later.