Bonko Khoza Speaks Out: “Most of Our Legends Die Broke”

South African actor Bonko Khoza has shared the harsh truth about life as an actor in Mzansi — and it’s not as glamorous as it looks on screen.

The 33-year-old star, best known for his role as Mqhele Zulu on the hit series The Wife, recently appeared on the Engineer Your Life with Lungelo KM podcast. In the interview, he spoke honestly about the struggles actors face behind the scenes, especially when it comes to money.

“Most of our legends die broke,” Bonko said. “It’s not that glamorous. The money is not that great. We don’t get royalties, and that’s where the problem starts.”

He gave the late Menzi Ngubane as an example — someone he admired growing up, but whose financial struggles later shocked the public. “You grow up watching someone like Menzi your whole life, and when you hear what happens in the end, it’s tragic. It’s messed up,” he said.

Bonko said people wrongly assume that being on TV means you’re rich. “You see someone on TV and just assume they’re making a lot of money. I don’t know why people think that just because you’re in the public eye, you’re rich,” he added.

He even mentioned Bonga Sithole — a homeless man who went viral for speaking fluent English — as an example of how being seen often gives people the wrong impression. “People take pictures of him and think he’s living well. That’s the perception.”

Bonko went on to explain how tough it is to survive as an actor. “You’re just making enough for that job. There’s no security,” he said. He referenced veteran actress Mam’ Nandi, who once said, “Save what?” — a statement that sums up the difficulty of saving money when you’re just trying to get by.

He said most actors who appear to be successful usually have help. “The ones who seem successful have either managed their money wisely, have a partner outside the industry, or some form of stability. But if you’re living on acting money alone, it gets tough. You’re never guaranteed your next gig,” he said.

Bonko isn’t the only star speaking out. Actress Linda Mtoba also opened up last month about the financial side of acting. A clip shared by @mbalis_bakery showed Linda saying she earns more from brand deals than from acting.

Linda, known for her roles in The River and Queendom, said acting is hard work with little reward. “It takes you away from your family, even from your time. And when you are off, you’re too tired,” she said.

Speaking in isiZulu, she explained, “Uhamba kumnyama, ubuye kumnyama,” which means, “You leave when it’s dark and come back when it’s dark.” She said her days often start at 5 am and end at 7 pm.

What shocked fans most was when Linda said, “The money that I make month-end is equivalent to a one-day content shoot,” showing just how little actors earn compared to influencers and brand work.