The Wife

‘The Wife’ stars Abdul Khoza and Bonko Khoza received their first-ever SAFTAs on Saturday 3 September. Image via Twitter @LebzaLeleM

‘Well deserved’: ‘The Wife’ actors bag their first-ever SAFTA wins

Abdul Khoza and Bonko Khoza bagged their first-ever SAFTAs for their roles in Showmax’s telenovela, ‘The Wife’.

The Wife

‘The Wife’ stars Abdul Khoza and Bonko Khoza received their first-ever SAFTAs on Saturday 3 September. Image via Twitter @LebzaLeleM

The 16th annual South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAs) took place on Friday 2 September and Saturday 3 September with soapies like House of Zwide and DiepCity bagging the biggest wins of the event. 

The Wife stars Abdul Khoza and Bonko Khoza received high praise from Mzansi after walking away with their first-ever SAFTAs. This comes after Bonko announced that he would be leaving his role as Mqhele Zulu to explore other avenues. Wiseman Ncube will take over as the new Mqhele.

ALSO READ: Meet five NEW stars, OLD faces in ‘The Wife’ season three

‘THE WIFE’ STARS BAG THEIR FIRST SAFTAS

Abdul Khoza (who plays Nqoba Zulu in The Wife) and Bonko Khoza (who plays Mqhele Zulu in The Wife) were nominated for the Best Supporting Actor in a Telenovela and Best Actor in a Telenovela for their roles in Showmax’s The Wife

Abdul, who was up against Seputla Sebogodi, Obed Baloyi, Jack Devnarain and Don Mlangeni Nawa, walked away with Best Supporting Actor in a Telenovela. Bonko Khoza, aka Mzansi’s “national husband”, beat out Vusi Kunene, Robert Hobbs, Aubrey Poo and Don Mlangeni Nawa for the Best Actor in a Telenovela Award. 

Showmax won a total of 17 awards and series like Tali’s Baby Diary and Dam dominated the field. 

MZANSI CONGRATULATES ABDUL AND BONKO KHOZA 

Taking to Twitter, The Wife fans congratulated Abdul and Bonko Khoza on their first-ever SAFTA wins.

“Shoutout to Bonko Khoza for winning his first SAFTA,” wrote one tweep. 

“Guys our Mqhele Zulu has won his first SAFTA. I’m so happy for him. Congratulations Bonko Khoza,” wrote another tweep. 

“Abdul Khoza deserves all the awards for his role as Nqobizitha Zulu. He gave us ENTERTAINMENT.”

“Abdul Khoza for Best Supporting Actor. Well deserved. Talk about wearing a character like a glove.”

ALSO READ: Who is Wiseman? 5 things to know about ‘The Wife’s’ new Mqhele

MORE SAFTA HIGHLIGHTS 

Veteran actress Connie Chiume was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Chiume has won the hearts of Mzansi with roles in Rhythm City, Gomora, Losing Lerato and Black Panther. Other stars who have received the award include Thoko Ntshiga, Thembi Mtshali and Lydia Mokgokoloshi.

The late Shaleen Surtie-Richards received the Best Supporting Actress in a Telenovela Award for her role in kykNet’s Arendsvlei