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Andrea Nomasebe Dondolo (born 22 July 1978) is a South African actress, award-winning performer, life coach, author, storyteller, poet, and traditional healer (sangoma). She is best known for her comedic role as Ayanda Twala (a township tourism operator and Lerata’s best friend) in the long-running SABC2 series Stokvel (2003–2012), and for playing Nandi in Home Affairs (2005–2007). He is 47 years old in 2026. (1)

Biography Profile

Full Name: Andrea Nomasebe Dondolo

Birth Place: Eastern Cape

Date of Birth: 22 July 1978 (Age - 47)

Occupation: Actor, Life Coach, Poet, Traditional Healer

Website: https://www.andrea-dondolo.co.za/

Nationality: South African

Early Life and Background

She hails from the Eastern Cape, with roots in Whittlesea (also associated with Sada). Dondolo has spoken about sensing her spiritual gifts from a young age, including a visitation dream at age nine that her grandmother recognized as a calling. She faced spiritual challenges as a child but pursued acting for many years before fully embracing her ancestral path.(2)

Acting Career of Andrea Dondolo

Dondolo has appeared in numerous South African television shows and films since the late 1990s/early 2000s. Key credits include:

• Stokvel — Ayanda Twala (her breakout comedic role, spanning multiple seasons)
• Home Affairs — Nandi
• The Queen — Aunt Bongi (or Aunt Queen)
• Inimba (2025–) — MaGaba / Magaba Bikitsha (a matriarch role in this isiXhosa drama, marking her return after a hiatus)
• Other roles in productions like Tshisa, Intsika, Isikizi, When We Were Black, Silent Witness, Strike Back, and films such as The Piano Player and Mama Jack.

She won the SAFTA 2007 Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy for Stokvel and received additional nominations for Best Actress in a Comedy in later years. She has also served as a SAFTA judge. (3)

After a roughly five-year break from acting (around 2020–2025), during which she focused on spiritual work and personal healing, she returned in Inimba, describing herself as more grounded and purposeful in the stories she tells. The series explores themes like generational trauma and isiXhosa culture, aligning with her own journey.(4)

Spiritual Journey and Sangoma Path

In her mid-40s (around 2021–2022), Dondolo publicly embraced her calling as a sangoma (traditional healer/mentor). She underwent two years of rigorous training that was mentally, physically, spiritually, and financially demanding. She has described facing rejection from some quarters but finding deep fulfillment in healing, teaching, and mentoring. The process involved surrendering her ego, and she has linked it to protecting her family (including her son) from the consequences of denial. She was based in her Eastern Cape hometown during this period and has spoken openly about depression and spiritual awakening that prompted major life shifts. (5)

Other Work and Achievements

Dondolo is a multifaceted creative and community figure:

• Life Coach — Certified NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) life coach specializing in transformation, career, relationships, and wellness through Andrea Dondolo Wellness.(6)
• Author and Storyteller — Writer of short stories, plays, and poetry; she has published work including the collection I Declare an Offering of Love for Words. She works with Calabash Storytellers and is an imbongi (praise poet).
• Community Roles — Reading Ambassador for the National Library of South Africa (NLSA), ambassador for various initiatives (e.g., One Billion Rising, Khayelitsha Development), chairperson of the Khayelitsha Arts Culture Heritage Council, and involved in community development and arts funding.
• She has also worked as a motivational speaker, MC, wedding planner, bead craft artist, and voice-over artist.

She became a mother in her late 30s/early 40s and has reflected on embracing motherhood later in life.

Personal Life of Andrea Dondolo

Dondolo is active on social media (Instagram: @queen_andrea_dondolo, Facebook) and maintains a personal website. She balances her acting, coaching, writing, and spiritual practice, often emphasizing purpose, healing, and cultural storytelling.

Her career reflects a blend of mainstream entertainment, cultural activism, and personal/spiritual growth, with a strong connection to her Xhosa roots and Eastern Cape heritage. In recent years, she has described returning to acting with renewed clarity after her spiritual and personal challenges.

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