Harriet Manamela

Harriet Manamela (born 13 October 1971), sometimes credited as Harriet Lenabe, is a South African actress best known for portraying Meikie Maputla in the SABC 1 soap opera Skeem Saam.

Early life and education

Manamela was born in Diepkloof, Soweto. She later relocated to Johannesburg with her family during the early 1990s. She completed her schooling at St. Anthony's Centre in Boksburg.

Career

Manamela began her acting career in community theatre after joining the Squints Artists Community Theatre Group in Alexandra. During this period, she appeared in stage productions including The Virus and Let's Talk About AIDS at The Market Theatre Laboratory. She also toured Sweden with productions such as Gomorrah!, Ways of Dying, and Koze Kuse Bash.

She made her television debut in 1998 with appearances in productions such as Soul City, Isidingo, Isibaya Yizo Yizo II, and Justice for All. She later became known for playing Nomzamo, the mother of Suffocate, in the e.tv soap opera Rhythm City.

In 2011, she joined the cast of the SABC 1 soap opera Skeem Saam as Meikie Maputla, a role that brought her national recognition.

In 2026, she joined the fourth season of e.tv's telenovela Isitha: The Enemy, portraying Dorcas.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes 2000 Hijack Stories Baragwanath Nurse Feature film 2001 Dr Lucille: The Lucille Teasdale Story Television film 2004 Country of My Skull Albertina Sobandla Feature film 2004 Yesterday Teacher Feature film 2008 Gugu and Andile Busu Dlamini Feature film 2010 Life, Above All Mrs Tafa Feature film 2011 Otelo Burning Mother Christmas Feature film 2015 Avengers: Age of Ultron Johannesburg Onlooker Feature film 2016 Vaya Grace Feature film

Television Dorcas Telenovela

Awards and nominations

South African Film and Television Awards

Year Work Award Result Ref. 2012 Life, Above All Best Supporting Actress – Feature Film

Royalty Soapie Awards

Year Work Award Result Ref. 2024 Herself as Meikie Maputla Outstanding Supporting Actress