What you need to know about Sihle Ndaba

Ndaba says the entertainment industry has yet to see her shine.


Ndaba is a 27-year-old Ermelo-born actress with an immense passion for her craft. The Mpumalanga talent is best known for her intriguing role as Smangele Maphumulo, popularly referred to as “Sma” on SABC 1 drama series Uzalo. Sihle, who studied for a national diploma in musical theatre at the Tshwane University of Technology, shares some details about herself and indicates that the entertainment industry and her fans have not seen anything yet – and should brace themselves.

1. Love is the reason I keep going when it would be easier to give up.

2. My fondest memory growing up is my grandfather telling me how proud he was of me.

3. I love it when I’ve worked hard towards a goal and I finally achieve it.

4. I want to leave a legacy by proving that good girls can make history.

5. The most romantic date I have ever been on is when we went to the beach late at night and stayed up talking about everything and anything, then watched the sun rise.

6. I wouldn’t be at this point in my life without my grandmother’s prayers.

7. My best friend would say “l don’t see why you can’t achieve it, Baba”.

8. The hardest challenge I have faced thus far has been being so far away from my mother.

9. The industry has yet to see me shine.

10. I love love.

A glimpse of the road she has travelled:

  • She had a role on Mzansi Magic telenovela Inkaba as Pru.
  • She also played the role of Qiniso on SABC1 drama series Room 8.
  • In 2015, she got a role on SABC1 drama series Uzalo as Smangele.
  • She was a contestant in season eight of M-Net’s 2012 SA Idols, which was eventually won by Khaya Mthethwa.
  • She was in the cast of the Broadway musical Walt Disney’s The Lion King, which toured Singapore in 2011.
  • Sihle won a Sabela Award for Best Supporting Actress at the Durban International Film Festival last year.

Read more on these topics

Uzalo