5 things you didn’t know about late Gomora actor Siyabonga Zubane (Sdumo)

Actor Siyabonga Zubane reportedly took his own life at the age of 23 on Saturday (7 May). Siyabonga was popular for his role as Sdumo – a crook and carjacker on Gomora. The Gomora star was only 23 years old.

A family member tells the publication that the actor’s death is a “great loss”.

“He was nothing close to Sdumo. He was a nice shy guy who loved and respected people,” said a family member.

A source from the industry told the publication that the industry comes with lots of hardships and disappointments.

“Our industry is not as glamorous as people think it is it comes with too many hardships and disappointments that can have a negative effect on any young and upcoming actor,” said the source.

This marks the third suicide in the entertainment industry this year after Patrick Shai and Riky Rick.

1. HE PLAYED ‘SDUMO’ ON ‘GOMORA’

Siyabonga was most popular for his role as Sdumo on Mzansi Magic’s Gomora. Sdumo was a criminal and carjacker on the telenovela.

1. SIYABONGA WAS MULTI-TALENTED

According to his Instagram biography, Siyabonga was an actor, theatre practitioner, musician, influencer and choreographer.

1. HIS FIRST TV ROLE WAS ON ‘ISIBAYA’

Siyabonga got his big acting break on Mzansi Magic’s IsiBaya.

“Isibaya featured me in 2017 where I played the role of Bhungezi. It was a one-day character, but I did it for experience,” he said to Drum.

“I wanted to see and understand what I am getting myself into and experience the real world of acting and not just an audition room and that experience got me where I am today. I don’t even know how much it paid, the agency took it. That did not matter much to me because it was all about getting the experience,” he continued.

1. SIYABONGA WAS BORN IN ALEXANDRA

The actor was born in the township of Alexandra where Gomora is shot but he moved to Tembisa at the age of 7. However, he later moved back to Alexandra.

1. HE WANTED TO STUDY LAW

Siyabonga studied Performing Arts and majored in Dance at the Tshwane University of Technology, but he wishes he studied law.