‘Rhythm City’: Inside Mncedisi Shabangu’s popular role as Khulekani

The late playwright, theatre director, and actor Mncedisi Shabangu gave an outstanding performance as a ruthless businessman Khulekani Ngobese in e.tv’s canned soapie Rhythm City.  

Shabangu joined the soapie as the new king on the block after Jamie Bartlett exited the villainous role of David Genaro.

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MNCEDISI SHABANGU DIES  

The actor, playwright, and theatre director Mncedisi Shabangu, who played Khulekani Ngobese in e.tv’s soapie Rhythm City passed away Sunday 24 July at 53 years after complaining of chest pains.  

The actor’s brother, Mthokozisi Shabangu told TshisaLIVE that he died in the early hours of Sunday.   

“He complained about chest pains. It was a short sickness. He was rushed to the clinic and on arrival, he was certified dead,” he said.   

Shabangu who received a SAFTA for his popular role as Khulekani Ngobese also appeared in several stage plays and acted on numerous TV shows such as The Lab, iNumber Number, and many more.  

KHULEKANI HAD A SECRET LIFE

Khulekani was popular with e.tv’s Rhythm City viewers as he was one of the most complicated villains on South African television. He lived a double life as a straight, married man with his wife Nandi (Nompilo Gwala) and their troubled daughter, Zinhle.

But what his wife didn’t know was that her husband Khulekani was bisexual and had affairs with various men on the show like Jamaica (Mzamo Gcabashe) and Pule Ndlovu (Zamani Mbatha)

He was also a ruthless businessman, who often killed his enemies to get his way so his businesses can grow.  

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‘RHYTHM CITY‘: THE NGOBESES WERE COMPLICATED  

The soapie’s notorious villain Khulekani also had a secret child (Zack) with his sister-in-law Ziyanda (Linda Zokhulu) who was also bisexual.

We first met Ziyanda as Suffocate’s (Mduduzi Mabaso) business partner and she turned him down when he made advances at her because she was into women.   

But it turned out she was only in love with one man, her sister’s husband, who she conceived a child with, (Zack, played by Bohlokwa Mpiti)   

Mpiti joined the show as Ziyanda’s son, who wanted a relationship with her and was in search of his father, who turned out to be his uncle, Khulekani.   

It didn’t end there, Zack later had a sexual relationship with his half-sister/cousin Zinhle because Ziyanda never revealed that they share a father.   

Zinhle (Kealeboga Masonga) was also bisexual as she dated her best friend Kea (Kamogelo Molatlhoe) before getting into a relationship with her half-brother. 

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