Durban — 26-year-old Greyville-born actor and mental health activist Nomvelo “Mvelo” Makhanya bagged her very first SA Film and Television Award (Safta), for Best Supporting Actress in a Feature Film, for her role in the Netflix film “I Am All Girls”.
The 16th SA Film and Television Awards (Saftas) were held on Saturday, September 3.
The biggest weekend of the local awards season was streamed on YouTube and screened on Mzansi Magic, with the theme “Frame the Future”.
This year saw the MultiChoice offering leading the awards tally, scooping 54 awards across both evenings – up from the 47 they took home last year.
In a statement issued by Black Coffee’s Soulistic Agency on Sunday, the agency said that Makhanya’s stellar performance was given alongside those of the likes of Hlubi Mboya-Arnold and Erica Wessels, who were both nominated in the Best Actress in a Feature Film category, and JP Du Plessis, who was nominated in the Best Supporting Actor in a Feature Film category.
“The Greyville, KwaZulu-Natal-born and bred talent is only 26 years old and yet she has graced the South African TV screens for over 10 years. Mvelo is better known for and celebrated for her role as Lindiwe Ngema on e.tv’s Scandal!.
“The Safta win is not the only thing Mvelo is celebrating this year as she signed a management deal with Black Coffee’s Soulistic Agency, and confirmed that she will be moving on from e.tv’s Scandal! to new heights,” read the statement.
The talented Makhanya said that the award was an inspiration to all the young girls.
“This is absolutely wild, it's insane. This is for the little black girl sitting at home needing their dreams to be validated. This is it, this is our moment, this is our time! I’m eternally grateful. Little me is happy to have fulfilled my childhood dream.
“Thank you to the Saftas team for the recognition. This is huge! Thank you to my family, friends, my team at Soulistic, and my supporters for the constant support – it truly does not go unnoticed. Thank you,” said Makhanya.
Joining a list of other prominent veteran actresses, the legendary Connie Chiume’s 45 years of dedicated service to the South African television industry and broader global film industry earned her this year's Lifetime Achievement Award.
She follows in the footsteps of legends including Thoko Ntshiga, Thembi Mtshali, and Lydia Mokgokoloshi.
Daily News