TV gig came right on time

Sandile Mahlangu was one of the actors heavily impacted by SA’s lockdown. Just as he was losing hope, a plum role on Scandal! landed on his lap, writes Alyssia Birjalal

A FILM enthusiast, Sandile Mahlangu plays Simo, a young, handsome and charming accountant who knows his way to a woman’s heart and has broken a few along the way, in e.tv’s Scandal!

“He’s opportunistic, ambitious, a tad arrogant and lacks a moral compass. His drive to be his own boss may have led him down the wrong path, which he now brings to the Newtonian, and he targets a member in the Medupe household,” said Mahlangu.

He said being a part of Scandal! was amazing and the role came at a time when he was losing hope.

I was on ended, the nationwide lockdown began, the whole pandemic became a reality, and uncertainty flooded the industry. I was out of a job and that’s how I remained since the beginning of February,” the young actor shared.

“The role came right before all hope was lost, proving to me that God is never late when delivering blessings. I am blessed,” he added.

The storyline sees Violetta (Cindy Mahlangu) fall madly in love with Simo. In the soapie, Simo is Romeo’s half-brother and her husband, Sandile’s accountant.

And so the lovers plot and scheme their way around unsuspecting individuals.

They also stage a fictitious sibling bond that would upset the ancestors but it does get Simo into the Medupe household.

Of course, as the story arc plays out, questions are raised about his true intentions.

HLOMLA DANDALA

ACTOR/ PRESENTER/ DIRECTOR

You know, you’ve made a big impression when you win the Outstanding Couple award at the recently-held Royalty Soapie Awards 2020. Although Dandala and his The River co-star Sindi Dlathu, who plays Lindiwe, were unable to attend, they sent through a pre-recorded video thanking fans for all their love and support. When the actor bagged the role of Zweli on the award-winning Mzansi Magic telenovela, he said: “Zweli is the nicest guy you’ll ever find on TV. He is the father and husband you always wish you had. His flaw is that he always chooses to see the best in people, and that’s sometimes to his detriment. He was born and raised in the Eastern Cape by a single mother, who was assisted by a lot of his aunts. So he grew up around a lot of women, which somewhat made him empathetic to the issues of women. And then at work, he’s probably one of the province’s most respected police commanders because of the work he’s done and the change he’s brought in his community. He’s also a fun guy with lots of friends, always hosting parties.”