The South African entertainment industry is in shock following the death of a talented actor, Mpho Sebeng, who passed away on Sunday.
“It is with a sad, deep, painful heart to announce the passing of a young brother, friend I took in to replace us when we exited Craze TV, a thespian that was Mpho Sebeng. This one hurts and I’m not OK. His star was only beginning to shine. What a loss, he was only 30 years young. I’ll send more info, as times go. Will be with the family this week. Please note I’m not taking any calls.”
Sebeng was 30 when he took his last breath following a car accident around Klerksdorp in the North West.
Fondly known for his television roles as Siso Ledwaba in Zero Tolerance (2001-2006) and as Slay in Soul Buddyz (2011), Sebeng was born in Soweto and raised in Witpoortie, Randburg, Johannesburg
He is the eldest in the family and attended West Ridge High, where he matriculated in 2011.
Spotted in a school production
When Sebeng was 12 years old, his mother’s friend spotted him in a school production and encouraged him to pursue acting.
His major roles were in Justice for All, Zero Tolerance, and Bay of Plenty.
Sebeng got into Soul Buddyz after auditioning for a part as Slay, the gang leader.
He also played the role of Tsietsi Mashini in the movie Winnie, which aired in 2011. His favourite acting memory was meeting Jennifer Hudson on the production set of Winnie.
Sebeng’s other interests, besides acting, were scriptwriting, photography and directing. He had a passion for the arts and wanted to play a big role in growing the country’s entertainment industry.
In 2015, the thespian had a starring role in the e.tv drama series, Z’bondiwe, where he portrayed the role of Lebo Ngcobo, a troubled young man and a brother to Axe and Jackson’s youngest son.
He played Neo, a bare-knuckle boxing champion who a well-known manager spotted on the streets of rural Limpopo, in the 2016 e.tv telenovela Ring of Lies.