The acting industry is one among those industries which you should never try to make a career of because it sometimes gets dry. Most actors are now struggling and begs for jobs or money because they are unemployed. So we are going to look at 12 Mzansi Actors who are struggling to get acting roles.
Number 1: Roderick Jaftha
Former Generations actor Roderick Jaftha was asking for donations last year after failing to pay rent and support his family. He would have asked for a job which he desperately need, but unfortunately he now believes he is unemployable because of his language barriers. Roderick believes that he is unlucky to get jobs because he can only speak Afrikaans and English, and now most dramas prefer someone who can speak most vernacular languages like isiZulu and Setswana. So, Roderick is looking for a job but he is always unlucky to get something permanent because of these barriers and he is begging for someone to employ him so that he can support his two young kids.
Number 2: Pebetsi Matlaila
Skeem Saam actress and radionpersonality Pebetsi Nolo Matlaila has opened up about how she is currently without a home and living with her children in a women’s shelter. She used to live with her partner but when they parted ways, she was left to sustain herself with one salary which wasn’t enough. So, she decided to go and stay at a police woman shelter until she is back on her feet. Pebetsi is looking for a stable job and she would appreciate if she receives a call that she has got an acting gig. She explained that she has been trying to survive with her job on radio and has found it difficult to find other jobs.
Number 3: Gcina Mkhize
Former Isibaya actress, Gcina Mkhize, has revealed that she is not coping with lack of job opportunities in the SA TV and film industry. In a video message, circulated on social media, the former Gaz’ Lam actress revealed that she has not worked in months, adding that her landlord is taking advantage of her and her children. In what looks like a home that has had its front door broken down, the actress laments the property which belongs to her has a new owner who has newer papers than her.
As an actress, Mkhize says she has found herself unable to work for reasons she too does not know. “As an artist, I have become an actress who is not being hired. Those who own the industry know why they are not hiring me. I have no income and my situation is difficult, which is why I am pleading with anyone who can help to help me”
she says.
Number 4: Bukiwe Keva
Another well known actress who is struggling to get a job recently is Bukiwe Keva. She is well known for playing the role of a high school bully named Asanda in Gomora and left the show in its third season in 2022. After that Bukiwe was reported to be drowning in depression as she has been unemployed for three years since she left Mzansi Magic’s Gomora. Adding to her woes, Keva revealed in October last year that she had tragically lost the triplets she was expecting.
But most of her worries are not in the past but in the future because she has been struggling to get jobs. She
revealed that since Gomora, she had auditioned for dozens of characters but only had one callback, which never materialised. Desperate for a chance to work, Keva pleaded with producers to give her an opportunity.
Number 5: Vusi Thanda
Veteran actor Vusumzi Thanda did a video in 2023 asking for donations because he was on a verge of being evicted. This is because Vusi was broke and without money in his account after losing his only job. He would’ve ran around looking for another job but couldn’t do so because of diabetes. But obviously if someone offers him a job he wouldn’t reject it, I doubt diabetes can disturb someone from acting.
Number 6: Mandla Gaduka
Actor Mandla Gaduka has not been on our screens now for a long time because he was struggling to get acting gigs. Even though there are no gigs for him yet, he believes he is going to get one therefore he will not consider changing his career. His last big television gig was on etv drama series Broken Vows where he played the role of Damian. He also appeared on Ashes to Ashes, Generations and lately on Isithembiso. Even though Mandla was unemployed formerly in his craft, in the meanwhile he occupied himself by empowering prisoners with some acting skills.
Number 7: Nandi Nyembe
In April 2025 I.O.L reported that Nandi Nyembe had opened up about her financial difficulties and is actively looking for work. In a candid video circulating online, Nyembe shares her frustrations and determination to continue working despite her health challenges.
According to the report, the actress is not looking for sympathy and donations but a job. In the video the actress expressed herself saying, “I may be wheelchair-bound, but my brain is not dead, Give me a script, and I’ll show you that this brain is so alive,”
Number 8: Carlo Radebe
I think by now everyone knows that Carlo Radebe has been down financially because he is struggling to get jobs. Yes, let’s reiterate that because that’s the purpose of this video, Carlo Radebe is really struggling to get acting roles. He was known for playing Duke Ngcobo on e.tv’s former soapie “Backstage” but he hit rock bottom after being retrenched on the drama.
According to Carlo on Radio 702, his struggles for jobs was his fault because he never networked with others. He thought he would get jobs without marketing himself and days turned into months, months into years without getting a call for acting jobs. Now Carlo is looking for anyone who can help him financially or with an acting role.
Number 9: Innocent Masuku
Another top actor who is struggling to get jobs is Innocent Masuku. He made a name for himself in the 2000s appearing in Yizo Yizo as Bob, Isithembiso, Rhythm City and Tshisa. Unfortunately the actor fell trap to drug abuse and ruined his career permanently. After going for rehab and recover, he tried to audition for several acting roles without securing even one job.
Innocent believes that he is unlucky to get acting roles because producers believe he is still using drugs. However, he remains hopeful and has found a new opportunity as a presenter on Moja Love’s Buyele Khaya.
Number 10: Brenda Ngxoli
Actress Brenda Ngxoli suffered financially after going for years without proper acting roles. Fans had to come to her rescue after a video of her arguing with another lady, presumably her mother, went viral. This video made fans to notice she was under emotional abuse because of lack of finances. So, one fan Mandisi Tshingana, a popular Eastern Cape content creator, launched a crowdfunding initiative for the star. People donated money and the total reached 70 thousand rands. Brenda wouldn’t need anyone to donate money for her if she was properly employed. Unfortunately, it’s difficult to make a living from acting alone since acting roles can be scarce.
Number 11: Vatiswa Ndara
We have made several videos in which we listed Vatiswa Ndara as someone who was ostracized from the acting industry. This happened after she tried to speak out against the Ferguson Films founded by Connie Ferguson and her late husband Shona Ferguson. In her open letter to sport minister of that time Nathi Mthethwa, Vatiswa claimed the acting industry is paying them peanuts and gave an example of her salary in iGazi, a film by Ferguson Films. This led the whole South African acting industry to shut doors for her because they saw her as an ungrateful person, and a threat to the industry. As a result, it has been difficult for to get acting jobs.
Number 12: Marlon Roelfze
The last one on today’s list is Marlon Roelfze. He is an actor known for 7de Laan and other soapie dramas, but he has not been acting since Covid-19. After the pandemic, Marlon tried to market himself as an actor with no luck, so he decided to try salesman job in Gezina, Pretoria and he got one. I am sure he still wishes to come back to acting but I doubt he will be full time considering the difficulty associated with the industry.
