South African actress Zenande Mfenyana has reached a major milestone in her acting career.
The star recently won her first award at the South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTA). The awards ceremony took place on Saturday, 14 March 2026. It was held at the Gallagher Convention Centre.
Mfenyane won the award for Best Supporting Actress in a Telenovela. She received the honour for her role as Thumeka Mabandla in the TV series Inimba, season 1.
The win marked a special moment for the actress. It came after 19 years of working in the South African acting industry.
ZENANDE’S FIRST NOMINATION AFTER NEARLY TWO DECADES
Mfenyana was first nominated for a SAFTA on Tuesday, 17 February 2026. The nomination alone was already a huge achievement in her long career.
Speaking during her acceptance speech, Mfenyana became emotional on stage. The actress was seen wiping away tears while the audience cheered loudly for her.
“Thank you, God. To God be all the glory, praise and honour,” she said during her speech. “Thank you to my family at home for supporting me.”
ZENANDE THANKS HER FAMILY
Mfenyana also took a moment to thank her parents for always believing in her. She gave a special shoutout to her child, who was watching from home.
“My child, thank you, baby. I know you’re watching from home,” she said. “Mommy did it! Everything I do, I do for you.”
Zenande also thanked the production team and fellow cast members from Inimba. She thanked them for their support and teamwork throughout the show.
ZENANDE IS ON THE RIGHT TRACK
In a video shared on TikTok by entertainment commentator Goodwill Thomo, Mfenyana spoke about what the nomination meant to her. She described it as a proud moment, having dedicated years to the cause.
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@thomogoodwill Zenande Mfenyana at The SAFTAs19.
“I’m pretty, pretty chuffed at myself, and it’s a huge nod from the industry,” Zenanade said in the clip.
“Nineteen years in the industry and this is my first nomination. It just says that I’m on the right track and doing the things that need to be done.”
For Mfenyana, the night became even more special. It marked both her first nomination and her first SAFTA win.