Sello Maake ka-Ncube, born March 12, 1960, in Orlando, Soweto, South Africa, is a distinguished South African actor, playwright, director, and producer whose impactful career has spanned over four decades in theatre, television, film, and cultural advocacy. He achieved widespread fame as Archie Moroka in the soap opera Generations and gained global recognition as Mufasa in The Lion King on London’s West End.
Profile Summary
| Full name | Sello Maake ka-Ncube |
| Date of birth | March 12, 1960 |
| Place of birth | Orlando, Soweto, South Africa |
| Nationality | South African |
| State of Origin | Gauteng (Soweto/Pretoria) |
| Partner | Divorced from Pearl Mbewe (as of 2026) |
| Children | 6 (Neo Tsagae, Lindo, Lerato, Onkgopotse, Akhona) |
| Occupations | Actor, playwright, director, producer |
| Net worth | ~USD 5 million |
Early Life and Education
Born in Soweto but raised primarily in Atteridgeville, Pretoria, he discovered acting at age 15 after seeing Gibson Kente’s How Long?. As a child, he recited poetry and found inspiration in films, fueling early theatre involvement. He later attended the University of Leeds for further studies.
Career
Maake ka-Ncube started professionally with Gibson Kente’s troupe in Soweto, worked as a clerk, and broke through with Woza Albert! in 1986. His television fame exploded with Generations (1993-2002) as Archie Moroka, followed by villainous Lucas “Daniel” Nyathi in Scandal!, flamboyant Kgosietsile in The Queen, and recent roles like Uncle Taledi in Kings of Jo’burg (2023), Nkamanzu in Blood Psalms (2022), and appearances in The River, Queen Sono, Madiba, and The Herd.
In theatre, he wrote and directed plays including Koze Kuse Bash (1997), Koma (1998), Komeng (2002), and directed Closer (1998) and Woza Albert! (2001-2002); he also performed with the Royal Shakespeare Company in productions like Othello, The Suit, Raisin in the Sun, and Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner.
Film credits feature A Dry White Season (1989), Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, Othello: A South African Tale (2005), Farewell Ella Bella, and The Whale Caller, alongside administrative roles on the National Arts Council’s performing arts panel. Today, he advocates for creative leadership, men’s empowerment, and African cultural economy through keynotes.
Personal Life
Maake ka-Ncube is father to six children: Neo Tsagae, Lindo, Lerato, Onkgopotse, and Akhona. As of early 2026, he is divorced from Pearl Mbewe, a public relations specialist and businesswoman.
The couple got engaged in 2021 and married soon after, but their four-year marriage ended amid high-profile controversies, including protection orders, allegations of physical abuse, infidelity claims, and legal battles; Pearl approached the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) over his finances and accused him of HIV exposure, which he strongly denies.
Net Worth
His wealth is estimated at around USD 5 million, derived from acting, directing, playwriting, production, and speaking engagements.
Filmography
- A Dry White Season (1989)
- The Rutanga Tapes (1990)
- Dark City (1990)
- Wheels and Deals (1991)
- The Good Fascist (1992)
- Bopha! (1993)
- Taxi to Soweto (1993)
- Djadje: Last Night I Fell Off a Horse (1993)
- Othello: A South African Tale (2005)
- The Whale Caller
- Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom
- Farewell Ella Bella
Awards and Recognitions
Key honors include the 2021 SOTIGUI award for African creative contributions, FNB Vita Best Performance in a Comedy (Male) for Call Us Crazy, Pan African Heritage Broadcast Achievement Award for Drama (2000/2001), Dalro Best Actor for The Suit, Naledi Best Actor for Mandela in The Rivonia Trial (2011), and Vita nominations for ensemble musical theatre, best new play script, and direction.
