1. Leroy Gopal
2. Nadia Nakai
3. Jerome Galiao
4. Sha Sha
5. Chiedza Mhende
6. Luthuli Dlamini
7. Tendai Mtawarera
8. Kim Jayde
9. Peter Ndoro
10. Bujy Bikwa
11. Tongayi Arnold tshirisa
12. Oskido
13. Mr Brown
14. Jolidee Matongo
15. Shamein tshidobhe
16. Ernest Ndlovu
17. Byron McNeil
South Africa is a nation full of diversity, that is made up of people of different races, religion, nationalities and so forth. This is clear even amongst the well-known people like the rich and famous. we are going to look at South African celebrities who are Zimbabweans.
Number 1, Sha Sha
Sha Sha is South African based Zimbabwean Amapiano star. She was born as Charmaine Shamiso Mapambiro in Mutare Zimbabwe. She began doing music in high school and gain some popularity in Zimbabwe after her music was played on radio. With the help of Brian Soko, she got connected with South African musicians such Rouge and Priddy Ugly who featured her on their releases. Later, she crossed paths with DJ Maphorisa and her fame spread all over South Africa. She was even awarded Best New International Act at the 2020 BET Awards. [1]
Number 2, Jerome Galiao
Jerome was a model and after that he appeared on Zimbabwean local drama series, Estate Blues and was a presenter on Zim tv show Youth.com. In 2008 he moved to South Africa and appeared in several drama series on South African televisions. He appeared on Broken Vows as Ezra, played a police officer on Isithembiso and played as a Doctor on The River. In 2014 and 2015 he had cameo roles, firstly on Zabalaza and then Umlilo respectively. He became famous after appearing on Scandal as Doctor Mugari playing alongside Nunu Khumalo and Kagiso Rathebe.
Number 3, Leroy Gopal
Leroy was born in Zimbabwe, Harare and he grew up and attended his basic education schools in Zimbabwe. He started playing football when he was three years old and his first television appearance was in a Zimbabwean TV show called Paraffin when he was seven. We do not know when did he come to South Africa, but we know he has starred in several South African dramas and movies. He had a starring role in the SABC1 sitcom Ses’Top La as Oleshe. He won the 2013 Best Actor in Comedy Award in the South Africa Film and Television Awards (SAFTAs) for this role.
Number 4, Nadia Nakai
Nakai was born in South Africa. Her father is South African, and her mother is Zimbabwean. When she was 16 years old, her surname was changed from her father’s to her mother’s. Nakai attended Fourways High School in Johannesburg for a year then finished her schooling in Kenya. She later studied a degree in marketing, communication, and media studies at Monash University, Johannesburg. Nakai made her first television appearance on the e.tv hip hop show Shiz Niz where she won the Mixtape 101 competition, making her the first female to win the competition. She then rose to prominence in September 2013, when she released her debut single “Like Me”. She was dating the late South African rapper, AKA, before his death in 2023.
Number 5, Tendai Mtawarira
Tendai who was nick named The Beast for his massive body, was born in Harare, Zimbabwe. He grew up in Zim where he obtained both his basic education and sports training. At the age of 15, while at Churchill, he was spotted by Zimbabwean coach Joey Muwadzuri who invited him to join the Under 19 side at the National Schools Festival. After a strong 2008 Super 14 season with the Sharks, it was apparent that he had great potential and his speed would be beneficial with the new rules (ELV’s). He was then selected in the Springbok squad and made his debut against Wales on 14 June 2008. Mtawarira controversially obtained a South African Citizenship. The South African government had a established a law which forbids non-South African citizens to play for Springbok at international Level. So, to have Tendai as their Teammate in Rugby national team, they granted him citizenship even though he probably wasn’t qualifying. [2]
Number 6, Luthuli Dlamini
Dlamini was born in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. He grew up in England spending his time between that country and his native Zimbabwe. Luthuli never felt at home during his stay in Europe, so, he decided to move back to Southern Africa and settled in South African which became his home until today. He became a well-known actor on South African soapies and movies. He played Stan Nyathi on the e.tv soap opera, Scandal and had other roles in Generations, Jacob’s Cross, InterSEXions, Rockville, Room, Tempy Pushas, and Uzalo.
Number 7, Kim Jayde
Kim was born in Harare, Zimbabwe as Kimberley Robinson but grew up in Bulawayo. She attended the Dominican Convent Junior School and then enrolled at the Girls College Boarding School to do her secondary school studies. In 2009 after high school, she moved to South Africa to begin her career in modeling and continue with her studies. She also graduated from the University of Stellenbosch with an Honours Degree in Social Work and Psychology. She is currently a presenter at MTV Base and has made it clear that her journey does not stop there.
Number 8, Oskido
Oscar Sibonginkosi Mdlongwa was born in Oukasie township, Brits, North West, South Africa to a Zimbabwean father and South African mother. He was relocated to Luveve Township, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, where he grew up and went on to finish his basic education after graduating from Gifford High School, Bulawayo. He returned to Brits at the age of 21 in 1988 to run a family business in Lethlabile, Brits shop before he left for Johannesburg to pursue a career in music. He later became a prominent DJ and Record Producer in South African. He is undoubtedly one of the pioneering artists that popularised the Kwaito genre of music outside of the townships of South Africa, and he’s been central to the rise of Afro-house and opened doors for the new genre known as amapiano. [3]
Number 9, Chiedza Mhende
Best known for playing a male character Wandile Radebe on the South African soap opera Generations is Chiedza Mhende who happens to be a Zimbabwean. She was born in Harare, Zimbabwe and moved to Cape Town, South Africa to study at The School for the Creative Economy. She started her career in theater acting before landing TV roles. In 2008 she won the award for the Best Actress at AFDA awards.
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Number 10, Byron McNeil
Byron is known for acting in Imbewu the seed as Shria’s boyfreind. He was born in Zimbabwe, but the city of his birth is not known. His family relocated to Mtubatuba in KwaZulu Natal Province, South Africa in 1999. Growing up in Mtubatuba, Byron fell in love with acting and he acquainted himself with acting skills from various sources. He was also involved in all his school’s theatre productions which helped him to sharpen his skills and love for arts. He became famous after appearing in Imbewu the Seed.
Number 11, Bujy Bikwa
Sthembinkosi Junior Bikwa, was born in Zimbabwe, he moved to South Africa in 1992 with his South African mother. He grew up in Orange Farm before moving to Johannesburg. He was a content producer and co-host of Drive Time on YFM before gaining fame on the SABC1 reality competition Dance Your Butt Off, declaring that he was “tired of being the fat gay guy on the dance floor”. In 2013 he was co-host (with Phumeza Dlwati) of the Mzansi Magic/Mzansi Wethu game show Cula Sibone. He continued hosting the show for Season 2, in 2014.
Number 12, Peter Ndoro
Peter Ndoro was born in Zimbabwe and went to live in England with his family, where he grew up. He returned to Zimbabwe with his family when he was 15, and he finished his schooling in Harare. Peter was an accountant but resigned for a job at ZBC radio one in Zim. He stayed at ZBC for six months and then moved to South Africa to further his career in broadcasting. He worked for several companies in the broadcasting industry, and he now owns his production company. Most people know him for appearing on the SABC News as a news reporter and broadcaster. [4]
Number 13, Tongayi Arnold Chirisa
He was born in Harare, Zimbabwe in the 80s. After that he pursued a career in acting back in Zimbabwe where he appeared in Zimbabwean television series Studio 263 as a detective. He appeared in other Zimbabwean dramas before moving to South Africa where he acted with Leon Schuster in a comedy movie, Mr Bones 2: Back from the past. He made a dramatic appearance in the mini-series Rough directed by British director, Andy Wilson, appeared in an international feature film Skin, directed by Anthony Fabian and co-starring Sam Neill, and played a lead in a local drama series Redemption for SABC 1.
Number 14, Mr Brown
Born Lynol Siwela on 5 February 1990 in Gweru, Zimbabwe. He moved to South Africa some time in his life and pursued music. He sarted doing music on his computer before he was famous. He has worked with other famous musicians like Master KG, Makhadzi, Nomcebo Zikode and others. He is known for his hit song Skeleton Move featuring Master KG.
Number 15, Jolidee Matongo
Matongo was born in Soweto, south of Johannesburg, his father was a Zimbabwean migrant. Matongo became involved in politics at the age of 13. He was a member of the Soweto Student Congress and the Congress of South African Students (COSAS) before he became the regional head of communications of the African National Congress for eight years. He died of in a car accident on 18 September 2021.
Number 16, Ernest Ndlovu
Phosa Ernest Ndlovu, was born in Tsholotsho, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe in 50s. There is no information of when and where he relocated to South Africa. But in South Africa, he became a prominent actor who appeared in Egoli, African Skies, Going Up, Tarzan: The Epic Adventures, Justice for All, Home Affairs, Sokhulu and Partners and Generations. He also appeared in the etv soap of House of Zwide.
Number 17, Shamein tshidobhe
Shamein tshidobhe is a Zimbabwean musician who featured in few songs. Nothing much is known about where and when he was born.
