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Sbonakaliso Mazibuko to give aspiring actors a shot at stardom

Sbonakaliso Mazibuko to give aspiring actors a shot at stardom

TimesLIVE19-06-2025
e.tv's Smoke & Mirrors actor Sbonakaliso Mazibuko has started an acting school.
Sbonakaliso, known for his roles on Amalanga Awafani, Uzalo and Durban Gen, has opened the Shogazi Academy in Durban to mentor aspiring actors.
Speaking to TshisaLIVE, the 40-year-old said he is offering a free acting course with a level five certificate upon successful completion, focusing on Durban-based aspiring actors.
'The programme started with online auditions in June and aims to mentor 15 young talents over 11 months. The programme, named Durban Ten Actors in a previous initiative, intends to give young actors an opportunity to act in a stage play at the Stable Theatre in Durban, potentially exposing them to casting agencies and production houses,' he said.
'After some time, the aspiring actors will receive their monthly stipend. I'm in the final stage to conclude with the funders on how we'll operate in this academy. I'm excited about this initiative, as someone elsewhere played a huge role in the person I am today.'
The Shogazi Academy mentorship includes online auditions. Sbonakaliso sees this as a way to give back to the community and believes acting talents need to be discovered and nurtured.
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