- Nelisiwe Sibiya is a South African entertainer best recognized for her award-winning role in e.TV’s telenovela “Durban Gen”
- The Durban Gen actress lost her dad when she was only nine years old and was raised by her mother
- The 32 years old slept in the loo while working at Glen Mall as a product promoter for six months before her rise to fame
Nelisiwe Sibiya is an award-winning actress and singer who is best known for her role as Dr. Mbali Mthethwa in South African Telenovela Durban Gen and as Linda in the first season of Abangini.
While she has captured the hearts of television lovers, she is also celebrated for her rise to fame story.
The award-winning actress reflects on her early days and recounts periods of hardships and moments she almost gave up but her dreams stood stronger than her challenges. Everything changed for Nelisiwe when her song Mama Ka Bafana became a sensational hit song that was used for the Mzansi Magic’s female prison drama series, Lockdown.
The Early Life of Nelisiwe Sibiya
Nelisiwe Faith Sibiya was born on September 13 1992 and grew up in a nuclear family. She was raised by her parents alongside two sisters in the Gauteng province of South Africa which accounts for only 1.5% of the country’s land area.
She had her primary school education in Gauteng and then proceeded to M.O.M Sebone Secondary School where she obtained her matric and was admitted into the Tshwane University of Technology to study Musical Studies. Although life took a toll on her, the Johannesburg-born star graduated in 2017 having overcome hardship.
Did Nelisiwe Really Sleep in Toilets Before Fame?
The South African actress took to her Instagram to share that her fame didn’t come on a platter of gold. Nelisiwe reflects on how she struggled to complete her tertiary education before climbing the ladder of success. The movie star revealed that she slept in the ‘Glen mall’ loo for six months while working as a product promoter.
As a way of inspiring her fans, Nelisiwe said “she took a job where she had to be very punctual. With this, she resumed work very early and would sometimes sleep in the loo until her shift started”. Many of her fans also recalled moments they bumped into her at the mall adding that she deserves her present face of fame.
It’s easy to tell that Nelisiwe Sibiya makes her money as an entertainer. She is an award-winning actress, a star musician, and a model. While her net worth is still under review, it has been speculated to be around R 5.7 million.
Other Facts About Nelisewe Simbiya
1. She Had a Difficult Childhood
Growing up for Nelisiwe was marked with several misfortunes; her dad was shot dead in front of her when she was only nine years old. With this, she moved in with other relatives together with her mom, Dudu, and sisters.
While living with her relatives, Nelisiwe became a victim of sexual assault alongside her sister. Their stay was beclouded by a lot of controversies so they had to look for a different shelter to stay in. The actress also suffered the tragic loss of her older sister, Thabisile Sibiya when she was only a teenager. She revealed that following the death of her sister, she never believed she would ever want to sing again.
2. Nelisiwe Sibiya Started Singing at the Age of Nine
Nelisiwe Sibiya had long polished her singing talent starting from the early age of 8 thanks to her sister and mother who were her mentors. At 16, she joined choral and classical training of her high school choir and soon started going to singing competitions with other schools.
She reportedly added that she went to several auditions to get started in the entertainment world however, she was rejected on several occasions but performed at other times.
3. She Lost her Mother at the Verge of her Breakthrough
Nelisiwe’s mother was a support system for her daughter. She was everywhere for her and took different types of jobs to put food on the table. When Nelisiwe took the new job at the Glen mall, her mother would accompany her to the bus stop and only leave when she had gotten a taxi.
Nelisiwe took to her Instagram page to give details on her experience with grief. She recounted the seasons of hardship and how cancer snatched her mother from her. The actress also said that her role in the drama series “Durban Gen” brought back the memories of her mother struggling for her life in the hospital bed.
4. Her Fame as a Musician came when she had Planned to Leave South-Africa
After years of struggling and singing without getting recognition, Nelisiwe started planning on leaving South Africa.
However, her plans of searching for greener pastures outside her country were interrupted when her long-recorded song gained interest on Instagram from Lockdown producer Mandla Ngcongwane in 2016. He invited Nelisiwe to write songs for the local prison drama series, “Lockdown”. Since then, she has recorded other songs including Mngomezu which was named after her late mother.
She also earned a lead role in the e.tv medical drama telenovela Durban Gen as Dr. Mbali Mthethwa which earned the Best Actress in Africa Award by Zikomo Awards in 2021.
Read Also: Nozipho Zulu – 10 Facts To Know About The South African Celebrity
5. Does She Have a Boyfriend?
Nelisiwe was romantically involved with gospel singer Ayanda Ntanzi but they broke up when she started acting in South African Telenovelas. She was also linked to King Nuba the comedian, and actor from KwaZulu-Natal at some point.
The actress lives a very private life and nothing is known about her present relationship. However, rumors have it that she is dating Mike Ndlangamandla; a fellow ‘Durban Gen’ actor. The pair were spotted sharing lovey-dovey moments by the pool in Cape Town. Though these claims are yet to be confirmed, the pair have reportedly fueled these rumors by exchanging romantic comments on each other’s posts.
6. The Durban Gen Star is a Brand Influencer
Asides from being a singer and actress, Nelisiwe is a skincare brand influencer for the “Portia M” skincare product. She previously influenced “Dawn” a different skincare product. The celebrity’s amassed followers on platforms like youtube and Instagram makes her a targeted influencer.
7. She is a Cultural Advocate
Nelisiwe Simbiya is a celebrity advocate for the Zulu culture of South Africa. This is boldly written on her Instagram bio. She promotes their attire, music, dance, and language. In an Instagram post, she said South Africans should cherish their culture and not trade it for foreign ones. She added that our cultures give us an identity and a place to call home.
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