From highly-acclaimed movies to the most ground-breaking TV shows, the 3-time SAFTA winner Bongile Mantsai has proven to be Mzansi’s leading man.
With a resume that includes working with multi-award-winning director Jahmil Qubeka on Sew The Winter To My Skin, Knuckle City and Showmax’s first epic fantasy Blood Psalms, the Western Cape-born actor ranks as one of the highly sought-after actors in Mzansi. He starred in the multi-award-winning film Inxeba (The Wound) and has been on numerous TV shows like Grootboom and Sons, Nkululeko and the drama series The Republic S2.
Below is the long list of titles you can sink your teeth in to experience the actor that has become a household name in South Africa.
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The movie follows Chili and Shoes, the cop duo taking the audience on adrenaline-fueled escapades. From glamorous casinos and private jets to Alex’s gangster clubs, the film spins from one iconic urban space to another. The pair risks it all to settle a score with a new enemy, the Hyena Man, played by Bongile Mantsai.
He was nominated for Best Supporting Actor in a Feature Film at the 2024 SAFTAs, while the film was nominated for Best Feature Film. The movie also stars S’dumo Mtshali, Brenda Ngxoli, and Deon Lotz, who also received nominations.
Gqeberha: The Empire S1-2
The series follows a polygamist with a thriving business empire based in Gqeberha who decides to take a fourth wife. Soon his wives and children turn against one another, leading to an epic battle for the throne.
Bongile Mantsai joined Gqeberha: The Empire in November 2023 as Luzuko Mxenge’s younger brother, Hlumelo Mxenge, who’s described as ‘a wolf in sheep’s clothing with a horrifying God complex and more to prove than to lose’. The cast also includes Mbulelo Grootboom, Zandile Msutwana, Zikhona Sodlaka, and Anele Matoti, to name a few.
Mzansi Magic has recently announced they will not be renewing the series after two riveting seasons.
Sew The Winter To My Skin
Inspired by true events, the film is set in the 50s when racial hatred was peaking, and written from a journalist’s viewpoint, recalling a hero hidden in the shadows who robs the rich white farmers to help his oppressed community.
The movie is directed by Jahmil X.T. Qubeka, who has mastered the craft of storytelling in cinema over decades in the business. The film became South Africa’s official entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 2019 Academy Awards. Having debuted at Toronto International Film Festival, the movie has 83% critics ratings on Rotten Tomatoes. The cast also includes Ezra Mabengeza, Peter Kurth, and Zolisa Xaluva who also stars in Blood Psalms.
Knuckle City
An ageing, womanising professional boxer and his career-criminal brother take one last shot at success and get more than they’ve bargained for in this acclaimed sports drama.
Directed by multiple SAFTA-winning rising auteur Jahmil X.T Qubeka, Knuckle City has a 100% critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It was the most awarded film at the 14th SAFTAs, taking home six awards including Bongile Mantsai’s Best Actor Award in 2020. It was also South Africa’s official selection for the Best Foreign Language Film at the Oscars 2020. The film also stars comedian Siv Ngesi, Faniswa Yisa, Thembekile Komani, Owen Sejake, Patrick Ndlovu, and Zolisa Xaluva.
Inxeba (The Wound)
While travelling to the mountains with a group of young initiates, Xolani’s life is turned upside down when his forbidden love is discovered. Beautifully shot and acted, this compelling drama is a South African cinema gem.
Following its world premiere at Sundance Film Festival, the film opened the Panorama section of the 2017 Berlin International Film Festival. It was South Africa’s submission for the foreign-language Oscar race in 2017 and has a 91% critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The movie also stars Nakhane Touré and Niza Jay Ncoyini. Bongile Mantsai won Best Supporting Actor in a Feature Film at the 12th Annual South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAs) in 2018.
Nkululeko
A coming-of-age story set in the windswept streets of one of South Africa’s most infamous townships, Khayelitsha.
Nkululeko delves into the dynamics of society to explore the complexities of the journey to adulthood in modern-day South Africa. At the heart of this story are great lessons about life, consequences and fate. An M-Net Original Production produced by Bomb Productions and Dumile Films. The series also stars Aphiwe Mkefe, Zimkhitha Nyoka, Tina Jaxa and Tiesetso Thoka.
Grootboom and Sons
The drama follows a family at war over their legacy. An estranged kin in the funeral business, with one sister on her deathbed and the other with her own plans for the family business.
The impressive cast also includes Zandile Msutwana, Sibulele Gcilitshana, Luzuko Nkqeto and Mbasa Msongelo.
The Republic S2
Season 2 of the award-winning political thriller The Republic follows the aftermath of season 1 – the kidnapping of President Mulaudzi and a coup attempt amidst genuine citizen unrest. Mulaudzi might have cleaned up her cabinet (or has she?) but the country is still in a state of chaos, with protests, riots and power outages being the norm.
Produced by Tshedza Pictures, the creators of the Emmy-nominated series The River. The Republic S2 also stars Bonnie Mbuli, Flo Masebe, Masasa Mbangeni, Charmaine Mtinta, Noxolo Dlamini, and Lemogang Tsipa.
Red Ink
Based on a novel written by Angela Makholwa, when publicist and ex-journalist Lucy Khambule receives an unexpected call from a convicted serial killer, her life takes a dramatic turn.
SAFTA-nominee Nqobile Nunu Khumalo plays Lucy, with SAFTA-winner Bonko Khoza as Napoleon Dingiswayo, nicknamed The Butcher of Soweto by the media. Other cast includes Kwenzo Ngcobo, Abdul Khoza, Nirvana Nokwe-Mseleku, SAFTA winners Lorcia Cooper, Bongile Mantsai, and Jo-Anne Reyneke, and the likes of Tsholofelo Maseko.
