Aspiring Auckland Park actress beats depression

Meet Bongisipho Sibane

I am Bongisipho Sibane. I was born at Cecilia Makhiwane in Mdantsane, the second-biggest township in South Africa. I am currently living in Auckland Park, north of Johannesburg.

I have always loved the media and entertainment industries and was especially fascinated by television as we didn’t have the opportunity to be on television – compared to places like Johannesburg, which is the ultimate media hub. After I matriculated, I did my first year at the University of Johannesburg, where I studied for a BA in Strategic Communication in Marketing Communication. Initially, I wanted to go into media studies, but my parents suggested I go to an actual university and obtain a degree as a backup, hence the degree I was doing.

I got to Johannesburg and started researching how I could be on television. I found out that I had to attend auditions to be considered for a television role. So, I tried signing up for agents, but never really got lucky – until one day, when I had a communications assignment for school. I met with a lady who was a casting director. I only found this out after my assignment interview, which I had with her and her team.

After the interview, she asked out of curiosity what I do outside of school; I told her I wanted to be an actress and that they were going to have auditions for a SABC 1 drama series titled Loxion Lyric. We exchanged numbers, and her team sent me the audition script, time, and day of the audition. I went to the audition, received a callback, and was cast as Bobo in the series.

I was also part of the University of Johannesburg’s Serenade, better known as Serrie, which is a musical drama put together by the university’s resident students (students who live at residence). It is through being part of this project that I discovered I can sing as well, so yes, I am also a singer.

During my first year, I focused a lot on making my dreams a reality and neglected my studies, which resulted in me not performing well academically and having to drop out of university.

I then moved back home, but my passion was still burning inside of me. I approached Tru FM to job shadow there. I had a good relationship with the brand, and in 2014, I approached them to let me gain more experience, while I was at home. They agreed to teach me how to operate the desk, produce, and be an on-air radio presenter.

At the end of 2014, SABC’s Tru FM offered me a contract to do the teenager’s show on Saturdays, but I had to turn down the offer.

I moved back to Johannesburg; a good friend of mine, Zimkhitha Nyoka, approached me to audition for eTV’s telenovela Gold Diggers Season 1, where I got the role of Sira.

I enrolled to complete my degree. While I was doing my second year, I was approached by another good friend of mine, Siyabonga Gwala, to audition for a Mzansi Magic film Uk’phandela uThando. Shortly before I received the call to confirm I got the role, I fell pregnant with my first child. During this time my elder sister became ill and passed away after a short illness.

I continued with my studies and completed them. I moved back to the Eastern Cape and suffered from depression; I was admitted to a mental institution for three months, and was diagnosed with bipolar. I was told that I would never be able to live without medication, but by the grace of God, I now live without the medication.

I am almost finished with my studies and look forward to what the future holds.

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