Thami Mngqolo (born September 9, 1982) is a 41-year-old South African actor famous for being a cast member of Mzansi’s popular TV series, Generations, for over a decade and also for being the ex-husband of Jo-Anne Reyneke.
Though he has been in the industry for many years and is an outstanding actor with good looks, there have been rumors that he was finding it difficult to get new gigs at some point in his career. However, the veteran actor has been featured in other TV series such as Muvhango, Greed and Desire, and a host of others.
Although he is widely referred to as the ex-husband of Jo-Anne, there is no report regarding how or when exactly their marriage happened, but Wikipedia puts them to have been married in 2008 and divorced in 2018. That would mean that they were together for about a decade. With no other proof of an actual marriage, it is safe to say they were live-in lovers or engaged partners, at best.
Quick Profile Summary Of Thami Mngqolo
- Full name: Zeke Elakhe Lungelo Mngqolo
- Nickname: Thami Mngqolo
- Gender: Female
- Date of birth: September 9, 1982
- Place of Birth: Johannesburg
- Thami Mngqolo’s Age: 41 Years Old
- Ethnicity: African
- Nationality: South African
- Zodiac Sign: Virgo
- Sexual Orientation: Straight
- Marital Status: Divorced
- Thami Mngqolo’s Ex-Wife: Jo-Anne Reyneke (m. 2008–2018)
- Thami Mngqolo’s Children: 2
- Occupation: Actor
- Famous for: His role as Senzo Dlomo (Generations)
- Thami Mngqolo’s Instagram: thamimngqolo
Thami Mngqolo Is A Renowned Actor
Thami Mngqolo is in no way a new face or name in the South African entertainment industry, seeing that he has been active in the industry for over two decades. Considering that he joined the cast of popular soapie, Generations, in 2003 and remained with the production for more than a decade, his longevity in the industry is unquestionable. He currently stars in the telenovela Isono where he plays the role ‘Maradona.’
But even then, his longevity, good looks, and fantastic talent did not always seem to land him good acting gigs, especially with some of the most renowned soap operas, Netflix series, and blockbuster movies. In fact, getting a role on any set seemed to be an arduous task for Thami at some point in his career.
Irrespective of all the challenges he may have faced in his career, what matters is that he had remained relevant in the industry and has had better days, like when he was still a cast on Generations. At that time, it was even rumored that he was dating fellow actress and Rhythm City star Nokuthula Ledwaba, a rumor which has proven to be false.
His Is The Second Child Of His Family
There is currently very little information regarding what Thami Mngqolo’s childhood was really like neither can we say for sure the level of education he has attained in his life. But what we know is that he was born on the 9th of September 1982.
We also know that Thami Mngqolo is not the only child of his parents; instead, he was the second child and had an elder sister named Uvolethwu Mngqolo, but unfortunately, his family lost her to the cold hands of death in 2016. We don’t have information about what exactly he was up to before going into acting and the exact time his acting career began.
Thami Mngqolo Joined Generations In 2003
According to Wikipedia, Thami’s acting career and active years in the industry can be dated as far back as 1998. However, the productions he worked on at that time remain unknown. As such, it may be safe to say that he got a shot at the limelight in 2003 when he joined the cast of Generations.
In Generations, he played Senzo Dlomo, a gay man whose character helped educate many South Africans about homosexuality and LGBTQ. While Thami played this role, he was a much sought-after star, and many people thought he was in a relationship with Nokuthula, who was also one of the top actresses at that time – Nokuthula Ledwaba was also a member of the cast of Rhythm City.
The suspicion that they were dating was because his name in the series ‘Senzo’ was the same as that of Nokuthula’s actual boyfriend – Senzo Ngcobo.
The Actor Was Fired From Generations In 2016
In 2016, all the main casts of Generations (now Generation: The Legacy) were fired from the series for requesting a salary increase from their producers, and Thami Mngqolo was one of them. That saw him lose the role that played an active part in bringing him to the limelight.
After getting fired from the show, Mngqolo tried to pick up other acting gigs. There are reports that the salary he received from the new roles and from working for Mzansi Magic in a movie produced by Loxion Bioscope was not as much as what he received while he was a cast of Generations. He just had to take the job to be able to provide for his family.
Still, in 2016, he played Kenny Msomi in the television series, Greed and Desire. He had also been featured briefly in Muhvango as a secretary. And in 2020, he played the role of Thulani in the South African movie titled State Enemy No. 1.
Quick Summary Of Thami Mngqolo’s Best Works
- Generations
- Greed and Desire
- State Enemy No.1
- Muvhango
- Saints and Sinners
- Angel’s Song
- Igazi
- Home Affairs
- Isono
He Was In A Long Term Relationship With Jo-Anne Reyneke
Thami Mngqolo and the beautiful Rhythm City actress Jo-Anne Reyneke were in a long-term relationship that even saw them living in the same house. Their relationship lasted for a decade – from 2008 to 2018 – and the couple had two beautiful children.
Their first daughter, born around 2013, was named Ovolethwu and is two years older than their first son, Lungelo Mngqolo, born in 2015. When they had their children, the two lovebirds were madly in love with each other.
However, things turned sour between Thami and Jo-Anne in 2018 when she found a compromising file on his phone after returning from a family gathering in Kimberley, Northern Cape. The actress confronted him, and then she sent him parking from their house. He was picked up by a cab organized by his friend and fellow actor, Matli Mohapeloa.
According to a close family friend who refused for his identity to be revealed, the family had been having issues for a long time and were no longer sleeping in the same house. Jo-Anne Reyneke had been complaining that he was now finding it difficult to contribute to the family’s need leaving her to be the only one taking care of the children and both of them.
