Owen Sejake is a veteran South African actor boasting over five decades in film, television, and theatre. Celebrated for standout performances in series like Yizo Yizo and films such as Tsotsi alongside Beat the Drum, he fuses roots in revolutionary theatre with global recognition.
Profile Summary
| Full name | Owen Lebakeng Sejake |
| Date of birth | 1950 |
| Place of birth | Daveyton, Gauteng, South Africa |
| Nationality | South African |
| State of Origin | Gauteng |
| Partner | Joy Morotolo-Sejake |
| Children | Yes |
| Occupations | Actor, singer, businessman |
| Net worth | $1-2 million (est.) |
Early Life and Education
Raised in Daveyton, Ekurhuleni, Gauteng, during apartheid’s formalization, Sejake’s family suffered forced displacement from Etwatwa to Daveyton. Compassionate educators enabled his secondary education despite systemic barriers. Local guitarists early on fueled his passion for performance.
Career
Owen Sejake began his professional acting career in 1976 with revolutionary theatre productions like Heavens Weep for Thina Sonke, designed to raise public awareness during apartheid.
He established a strong television presence through roles such as a principled teacher in Yizo Yizo, President Nkosi in 90 Plein Street season two, and appearances in Zone 14, Soul City, Ke Nake, and Fallen.
In film, he gained international acclaim as Nobe in Beat the Drum (2003) and Gumboot Dlamini, a miner killed on a train, in the Oscar-winning Tsotsi (2005, directed by Gavin Hood), alongside parts in Country of My Skull, Shake Hands with the Devil (2007), Ocean Harvest, Mandela and De Klerk, and others like Shot Down and Hijack Stories.
His theatre work includes Athol Fugard’s Captain’s Tiger, Wole Soyinka’s Death and the King’s Horseman, Marabi, Once on This Island, and co-directed pieces like The Last Dawn; fluency in isiZulu, Sesotho, English, and Afrikaans supports his diverse roles across stages.
Personal Life
Married to Joy Morotolo-Sejake since the early 1980s, the couple operates Kamohelo, a center nurturing children’s development. They share children, whom Sejake often celebrates in public reflections on family bonds.
Net Worth
Estimates place Owen Sejake’s net worth at around $1-2 million as of 2026, derived from decades in acting, theatre, select business ventures, and endorsements.
Filmography
Films
- Tsotsi (2005, Gumboot Dlamini)
- Beat the Drum (2003, Nobe)
- Country of My Skull
- Shake Hands with the Devil (2007)
- Ocean Harvest
- Mandela and De Klerk
- Africaine Adventures
- Shot Down
- Hijack Stories
- Crime in Gabon
- Pure Blood
- Score
TV Shows
- Yizo Yizo
- Zone 14
- Soul City
- Ke Nake
- Fallen
- 90 Plein Street
- eKasi: Our Stories (Tony Dlamini, corrupt cop)
Theatre
- Captain’s Tiger
- Death and the King’s Horseman
- Marabi
- Once on This Island
- Prophets in the Sky
- Daughter of Nebo
- Night of the Long Wake
- The Last Dawn
Awards and Recognitions
Sejake earned Best Supporting Actor at the Monaco International Film Festival for Beat the Drum (2003, as Nobe). Vita Award nominations: Best Actor in a Musical for Once on This Island (1993); Best Supporting Actor for Marabi (1993 and 1996).
