Thembsie Matu

Nomathemba 'Thembisile' Matu (born 1966), also known as Thembsie Matu, is a South African actress and television presenter. She is best known for the roles in the television serials such as Tshisa, Rockville and The Queen.

Personal life Matu was born in 1966 in Katlehong, Gauteng, South Africa. She grew up with her mother after her father abandoned them.

She was married to Peter Sebotsa, an Anglican minister, who died after drowning in the family's pool in June 2019. She has one daughter and one son. In 2021, she contracted COVID-19 and spent five weeks in the hospital.

Career In 1987, she made her professional stage debut in the play Sekunjalo. After that, she performed in the plays What A Shame (1989) and Give A Child (1989). In 1994, she entered television with the serial Mama’s Love and then in the serial Lahliwe (1999).

In 2006, she appeared in the SABC1 drama series Tshisa in the role of Nomathamsanqa. She continued to play the role for six years. Meanwhile in 2006, she acted in the SABC3 drama television serial The Lab. In the serial, she played the recurring role of Zinhle until 2008. She also joined the SABC1 mini-serial uGugu no Andile and played the guest role of "Teacher". In 2008, she appeared on the e.tv soap opera Rhythm City in the guest role Sis Bee.

In 2011, she played the role Novezake in the first season of SABC1 serial Intsika. Then in the same year, she joined the serial Soul Buddyz to play the supportive role of Mrs Vilakazi. After that, she appeared in the serial The Wild as Gertrude. In the preceding years, she continued to act in many television serials such as Abo Mzala, Thandeka's Diary, MTV Shuga and Thuli noThulani. However her most popular television role came through the Mzansi Magic telenovela The Queen when she played the role "Petronella". With that popularity, she continued to play the role from season 2 to season 6 in 2021.

Apart from television acting, she appeared in the popular commercial for the insecticide Doom. In 2019, she co-hosted the show "Fragrance Your Life" with Nomsa Buthelezi aired on e.tv. Meanwhile, she also won the awards for the Favourite Actress and Ultimate Viewers' Choice awards at the 2018 DStv Mzansi Viewers' Choice Awards.

Filmography

Year Film Role Genre Ref. 2006 Tshisa Nomathamsanqa TV series Zone 14 Aunt Napho TV series Gaz'lam Woman 3 TV series Home Affairs Nolitha TV series Zero Tolerance Stella Hadebe TV series The Lab Zinhle TV series 2007 Jacob's Cross Rebecca TV series Nomzamo Gladys TV series 2008 Rhythm City Sis Bee TV series uGugu no Andile Teacher TV series Izingane zoBaba Rose TV series 2009 Gangster's Paradise: Jerusalema The Loan Shark Film Finding Lenny Big Momma Film 2011 Intsika Novezake TV series Soul Buddyz Mrs Vilakazi TV series The Wild Gertrude TV series 2012 Moferefere Lenyalong Boreng TV series 2013 Rockville Sis Ribs TV series Zaziwa Herself TV series 2014 Skeem Saam Ousie Tlaki TV series 2015 Abo Mzala Zodwa TV series Thandeka's Diary Ntombi TV series 2017 MTV Shuga Mama Chillaz TV series The Queen Petronella TV series Thuli noThulani Mrs Zondi TV series 2024Lobola ManAunt MiriamFilm