fb
play_arrow

keyboard_arrow_right

Listeners:

Top listeners:

skip_previous skip_next
00:00 00:00
chevron_left
volume_up
Go to album
  • play_arrow

    On The Street On The Air | Kaya 959

  • home Home
  • keyboard_arrow_right ENTERTAINMENT
  • keyboard_arrow_right Posts
  • keyboard_arrow_rightYizo Yizo season 1 stars: Where are they now?

Yizo Yizo season 1 stars: Where are they now?

By Katlego Sekhu

image: Department of Education/Bomb Productions

Last year, Streaming giant Netflix acquired the rights to stream all the seasons of the iconic South African series Yizo Yizo. The drama aired between 1999 – 2004. 

Set in a fictional school, Supatsela High, Yizo Yizo was commissioned by the South African Department of Education through a campaign called Culture of Learning, Teaching, and Service (COLTS).

The show was aimed at creating awareness around the challenges faced by learners and educators in high schools in townships.

Since Yizo Yizo started streaming on Netflix, viewers have had the opportunity to relive some of the moments that shaped their childhoods. In turn, this has left many wondering what happened to some of the original cast members.

Here’s what happened to some of the cast from Yizo Yizo season:

Meshack Mavuso – Javas

The rebellious yet flamboyant Javas was played by actor Meshack Mavuso who we can all agree owned that role. The name Javas still follows him to this day.

Mavuso, who’s gone on to star in shows like Isidingo, Hijack Stories, Zalabala, Durban Gen, and The River, currently stars in the drama, Lenyalo Ha Se Papadi alongside Mapaseka Koetle.

The comedy follows the drama that ensues after Desmond (Mavuso Magabane) and Mpho (Koetle) decide to end their marriage, and try to navigate a new life of co-parenting, family, finances, and attempting to date – all while still living under the same roof!

Speaking to 959 Breakfast with Dineo and Sol in 2022, the legendary said that the industry has changed a lot compared to when he started. “Now they don’t put a lot of focus on the craft. They just ask you how many fans you have on social media before they hire you,” expressed Mavuso.

Innocent Masuku – Bobo

Innocent Masuku’s Bobo was another fan-favourite. Sadly drug addiction has deterred him from achieving his full potential as an actor. He opened up to Kaya 959 about his battle with addiction.

“There’s so many regrets I have because I lost so many opportunities while I was using. Drugs cost me to lose all my friends, family stopped trusting me and I can’t get that time back, you understand. Everything you saw on-screen was what was happening off-screen which is the sad truth and I felt completely trapped. Yizo Yizo was like a mirror which was reflecting everything that was happening in my life.”

Moreover, the actor said that he had undergone rehab to help him clean up his act. “I need to do everything I can at the moment, take it a day at a time, a step at a time, and not dwell on the past. I can’t change that,” said Masuku.

Nomsa – Charmaine Mtinta

Actress Charmaine Mtinta played Nomza in Yizo Yizo and won an Avanti Award for Best Actress in a Drama Series for the role.

Mtinta has gone on to become one of SA’s most decorated thespians, starring in shows such as Generations, Isibaya, Scandal! and more recently How To Ruin Christmas.

Patrick Shai – Edwin Thapelo

Ntate Patrick Shai played the noble teacher Mr Edwin Thapelo who embodied what a great educator should be. Shai passed away in 2022, reportedly by suicide. He was on The River 1 Magic before his untimely passing.

Lorraine Mphephi – Mantwa

Lorraine Mphephi played the “forward” Mantwa in Yizo Yizo for three seasons. Her last notable role was as ‘Pam’ in Isibaya.

Sandy Mokwena – Ken Mokoena

The late Sandy Mokoena played corrupt teacher Ken Mokoena who took over the reins as headmaster after Mr Mthembu’s resignation. Ken was the total opposite of Sandy’s role on Scandal! as Bra Eddie. He passed away on 25 January 2018 in the morning of natural causes at the age of 68. 

Patrick Ndlovu – Mr Mthembu

Legendary South African actor Patrick Ndlovu played the no-nonsense Principal of Tsupapele High, who was a firm believer in instilling discipline in his learners, even if it meant using corporal punishment.

Apart from Yizo Yizo, Ndlovu has starred in many other leading roles, including Ntate Moloi in Zone 14. Ndlovu passed away in 2023.

Sthandiwe Kgoroge – Zoe Cele

Actress Sthandiwe Kgoroge played Zoe Cele, a teacher fresh out of University who believed in using progressing and creative methods to educate learners. A big favourite with the learners at Supatsela.

Sthandiwe is set to star in the forthcoming Shaka Zulu biopic, Shaka iLembe. The actress and her husband celebrated Kgaroge’s 21 years of marriage in 2022.

Hazel – Nomonde Gongxeka

Nomonde Gongxeka played Hazel, Supatsela’s IT girl. After leaving Yizo Yizo, Gongxeka went on to work behind the scenes. She has worked at MTV and the SABC.

“I like to call myself a child of the arts because as much as I am not in front of the camera anymore, I still get this rush through my body every time I step on set even as a producer when I see other actors and actresses go through their lines and get ready to shoot. I have been in many theatre productions and even danced for many years so the art is in me,” she told Zalebs.

Ronnie Nyakale – Papa Action

After Yizo Yizo Ronnie Nyakale has gone on to feature in many shows including Rhythm City, Number Number, and Generations: The Legacy. Nyakale is married to Lebogang Mashilo.

Tshepo Ngwane – Thiza

Actor Tshepo Ngwane, known for playing Thabo ‘Thiza’ Nonyane in Yizo Yizo season 1, passed away in 2015 aged 39. Ngwane died at the Bheki Mlangeni Hospital in Jabulani, Soweto, after a short illness. He is survived by his mother Sonto Mashinini, children, sisters, and brothers.

Christopher Khubeka – Gunman

Actor Christopher Khubeka who played Gunman died in 2017 aged 39 by suicide. He was found dead in his home in Pretoria North.

According to a suicide note the actor left behind, reportedly seen by Sunday World, he took his life after making a discovery that his wife was having an affair.

Ernst Msibi – Chester

After Yizo Yizo actor Msibi (Chester), leveraged his success on Yizo Yizo to propel his acting career to greater heights. He’s gone on to feature in Zone 14, eHostel, Gomora, and Uzalo.

In 2021 Msibi got married to the love of his life, Nkosingiphile Nana Zondi – the pair had been dating for more than four years. Their wedding was officiated by Bishop Makamu.

Read Next: Generations: The Legacy bids farewell to Ronnie Nyakale

Don't miss out on the latest local news, interviews and competitions.

Interests
Katlego
Kaya 959 Digital Writer
All Posts

Similar posts

  • MORE ARTICLES

    • QUICK LINKS

    UpComing Shows

    Connect with Kaya 959

    Facebook X-twitter Youtube Instagram Linkedin

    DownLoad Our Mobile App

    google play store
    apple app store icon
    Huawei App Gallery Icon

    Privacy Policy

    THIS PRIVACY STATEMENT FORMS PART OF KAYA 959’S TERMS OF USE POLICY. IF YOU DO NOT AGREE WITH ANY TERM OF THIS PRIVACY STATEMENT, YOU MUST CEASE YOUR ACCESS OF THIS WEBSITE IMMEDIATELY. 

    POPIA Act – To promote the protection of personal information processed by public and private bodies; to introduce certain conditions so as to establish minimum requirements for the processing of personal information; to provide for the establishment of an Information Regulator to exercise certain powers and to perform certain duties and functions in terms of this Act and the Promotion of Access to Information Act, 2000; to provide for the issuing of codes of conduct; to provide for the rights of persons regarding unsolicited electronic communications and automated decision making; to regulate the flow of personal information across the borders of the Republic; and to provide for matters connected therewith.

    RECOGNISING THAT—

    • section 14 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, provides that everyone has the right to privacy;
    • the right to privacy includes a right to protection against the unlawful collection, retention, dissemination and use of personal information;
    • the State must respect, protect, promote and fulfil the rights in the Bill of Rights;

    AND BEARING IN MIND THAT—

    • consonant with the constitutional values of democracy and openness, the need for economic and social progress, within the framework of the information society, requires the removal of unnecessary impediments to the free flow of information, including personal information;

    AND IN ORDER TO—

    • regulate, in harmony with international standards, the processing of personal information by public and private bodies in a manner that gives effect to the right to privacy subject to justifiable limitations that are aimed at protecting other rights and important interests,
    1. Definitions and Interpretation

    1.1.“Personal Information” means information relating to an identifiable, living, natural person and where it is applicable, identifiable, existing juristic person, including all information as defined in the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013. 

    1.2  Parliament assented to POPIA on 19 November 2013. The commencement date of section 1, Part A of Chapter 5, section 112 and section 113 was 11 April 2014. The commencement date of the other sections was 1 July 2020 (with the exception of section 110 and 114(4). The President of South Africa has proclaimed the POPI commencement date to be 1 July 2020.

     
    1.3. “Processing” means the creation, generation, communication, storage, destruction of personal information as more fully defined in the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013.  

    1.4. “You” or the “user” means any person who accesses and browses this website for any purpose. 

    1.4. “Website” means the website of the KAYA 959 at URL www.kaya959.co.za or such other URL as KAYA 959 may choose from time to time.   

    1. Status and Amendments

    2.1. KAYA 959 respects your privacy. This privacy policy statement sets out KAYA 959’s information gathering and dissemination practices in respect of the Website. 

    2.2. This Privacy Policy governs the processing of personal information provided to KAYA 959 through your use of the Website. 

    2.3. Please note that, due to legal and other developments, KAYA 959 may amend these terms and conditions from time to time.  

    1. Processing of Personal Information

    3.1. By providing your personal information to KAYA 959 you acknowledge that it has been collected directly from you and consent to its processing by KAYA 959. 

    3.2. Where you submit Personal Information (such as name, address, telephone number and email address) via the website (e.g. through completing any online form) the following principles are observed in the processing of that information: 

    3.2.1. KAYA 959 will only collect personal information for a purpose consistent with the purpose for which it is required. The specific purpose for which information is 
    collected will be apparent from the context in which it is requested. 

    3.2.2. KAYA 959 will only process personal information in a manner that is adequate, relevant and not excessive in the context of the purpose for which it is processed. 

    3.2.3. Personal information will only be processed for a purpose compatible with that for which it was collected, unless you have agreed to an alternative purpose in writing or KAYA 959 is permitted in terms of national legislation of general application dealing primarily with the protection of personal information. 

    3.2.4. KAYA 959 will keep records of all personal Information collected and the specific purpose for which it was collected for a period of 1 (one) year from the date on which it was last used. 

    3.2.5. KAYA 959 will not disclose any personal information relating to you to any third party unless your prior written agreement is obtained or KAYA 959 is required to do so by law. 

    3.2.6. If personal information is released with your consent KAYA 959 will retain a record of the information released, the third party to which it was released, the reason for the release and the date of release, for a period of 1 (one) year from the date on which it was last used. 

    3.2.7. KAYA 959 will destroy or delete any personal information that is no longer needed by KAYA 959 for the purpose it was initially collected, or subsequently processed. 

    3.3. Note that, as permitted by the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act 25 of 2002, KAYA 959 may use personal information collected to compile profiles for statistical purposes. No information contained in the profiles or statistics will be able to be linked to any specific user.    

    1. Collection of anonymous data

    4.1. KAYA 959 may use standard technology to collect information about the use of this website. This technology is not able to identify individual users but simply allows KAYA 959 to collect statistics. 

    4.2. KAYA 959 may utilise temporary or session cookies to keep track of users’ browsing habits. A cookie is a small file that is placed on your hard drive in order to keep a record of your interaction with this website and facilitate user convenience. 

    4.2.1. Cookies by themselves will not be used to identify users personally but may be used to compile identified statistics relating to use of services offered or to provide KAYA 959 with feedback on the performance of this website. 

    4.2.2. The following classes of information may be collected in respect of users who have enabled cookies: 

    4.2.2.1. The browser software used; 

    4.2.2.2. IP address; 

    4.2.2.3. Date and time of activities while visiting the website; 

    4.2.2.4. URLs of internal pages visited; and 

    4.2.2.5. referrers. 

    4.3. If you do not wish cookies to be employed to customize your interaction with this website it is possible to alter the manner in which your browser handles cookies. Please note that, if this is done, certain services on this website may not be available. 

    1. Security

    5.1. KAYA 959 takes reasonable measures to ensure the security and integrity of information submitted to or collected by this website, but cannot under any circumstances be held liable for any loss or other damage sustained by you as a result of unlawful access to or dissemination of any personal information by a third party. 

    1. Links to other websites

    6.1. KAYA 959 has no control over and accepts no responsibility for the privacy practices of any third party websites to which hyperlinks may have been provided and KAYA 959 strongly recommends that you review the privacy policy of any website you visit before using it further. 

    1. Queries

    7.1. If you have any queries about this privacy policy please contact us by emailing [email protected]