“Her Departure Was Bittersweet” — Nefisa Mkhabela on Shalate Sekhabi Leaving House of Zwide

Actress Nefisa Mkhabela has been lighting up TV screens since she joined House of Zwide at just 19 years old. Now 23, she looks back on her journey with pride, grateful for how far she’s come and the people who’ve helped shape her along the way.

In an interview with Drum, Nefisa opened up about her experience working on the hit e.TV telenovela and how much she’s grown since the beginning. “The journey has been beyond anything I could ever describe. I started this production when I was 19, and now I’m 23. I’ve grown so much as a young woman in this production. I’ve learned so much from all the amazing people I’m blessed to share a set with, and I’m still eager to learn more each day,” she said.

Nefisa has worked with some of the most respected names in the industry, including Mduduzi Mabaso and Winnie Ntshaba. She sees every day on set as a chance to grow and improve her acting skills. But the road hasn’t been without its emotional moments.

One of the hardest parts of her journey was saying goodbye to her co-star and close friend Shalate Sekhabi, who recently left the show. Shalate played Shoki, the on-screen best friend of Nefisa’s character Onalerona. Off-screen, their friendship was just as real.

“Her departure was bittersweet. When I first heard she’d be leaving, I was so sad because this was someone I specifically remember starting my House of Zwide journey with. She was the first friend I ever made on set. We were inseparable in the beginning,” Nefisa shared.

She also talked about how hard it is to let go of the everyday moments they used to share. “Working on long-running shows, you get used to a routine, knowing you’ll always see each other even when life gets busy. What I’ll miss most is not being able to see each other as often as we used to, and the routines we had built together.”

Even though it was a tough goodbye, Nefisa is excited for what lies ahead for Shalate. “On the flip side, I knew this was the beginning of many beautiful opportunities for her. I knew God knew exactly what he was doing in her life. I’ll miss her go-getter attitude and the fact that she’ll stop at nothing to achieve her dreams.”

Nefisa also spoke about her other interests and what she might have done if acting hadn’t worked out. “If I weren’t an actress, I would probably be practising law by now. If not, I’d be working behind the scenes in the film industry.”

Though her parents were unsure about her career path at first, they now fully support her. “They are happy now, that’s for sure. More than anything, they’re proud that I’m thriving in my field. It doesn’t matter what it is, as long as I’m happy and can provide for myself,” she said.

At only 23, Nefisa is just getting started. She has big dreams but prefers to keep them close to her heart. “There’s honestly still so much I want to achieve. I can’t even begin to name them all. That’s between myself and the Lord. I guess you’ll just have to wait and see it all unfold,” she concluded.