Don Mlangeni Eric Nawa (7 June 1959 – 16 April 2025) was a South African actor. He was best known for his roles in the popular serials 'Sgudi 'Snaysi, Isidingo and The Throne.
Background Nawa was born in Boksburg, Union of South Africa on 7 June 1959.
Nawa was married to Regina Nawa and had five children. He died on 16 April 2025, at the age of 65.
Career Nawa started his acting career in the theatre. His first television credit was in the lead role of David in the Zulu television mini series Ubambo Lwami in 1989. In 1992 he had his breakthrough role as Zakhe in the drama serie Hlala Kwabafileyo. In 1993, he made his first appearance in the popular comedy series 'Sgudi 'Snaysi in which he played a loan shark, often playing across co-star Joe Mafela. He starred in the series for five seasons. In 1995 Nawa had a one-episode appearance in the Cycle Simenon series, a French crime series.
Nawa became a household name in what is arguably his best known-role of as Bra Zeb Matabane in the iconic and long-running soap opera Isidingo. In 2006 he received a South African Film and Television Award (SAFTA) Golden Horn Award for Best Actor in a TV Soap for his role. Part of the original cast that launched the series in 1998, he left the show in 2014 because of a dispute with the producers.
In 2018, he took on the lead role of Moseki, a royal family member and younger brother of the queen, in the popular Mzansi Magic telenovela The Throne. That same year, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2018 Royalty Soapie Awards for his contribution to the television industry.
In 2019, Nawa made his film debut in the film Losing Lerato in the role of a SWAT Commander. In 2020, he joined the cast of the television series Legacy for two seasons. From 2021 to 2023 he starred in The Estate playing Shadrack Mokobane, an activist defending the interest of his impoverished community in Thembalethu. Also in 2023, he appeared in one episode of the hit series Shaka iLembe as King Langa.
Nawa's last appearance was in the Netflix South Africa drama series Soon Comes Night in 2024.
Filmography
Year Film Role Genre Ref. 1986–1992 'Sgudi 'Snaysi Laqhasha TV series 1989 Ubambo Lwami David TV miniseries 1992 Hlala Kwabafileyo Zakhe TV series 1995 Cycle Simenon Barman Hôtel TV series 1998–2014 Isidingo Zebedee Matabane TV series 2005–2006 Stokvel Laquashe TV series 2013–2014 Zaziwa Himself Talk show 2015 Rockville Diliza TV series 2015–2017 Uzalo Dhlomo TV series 2018, 2023 The River Thato Mokoena TV series 2018–2021 Abomama Mfundisi TV series 2018–2019 The Throne Prince Moseki Kwena TV series 2019 The Republic Bhambatha TV series Losing Lerato SWAT Commander Film 2020–2021 Legacy John TV series 2021–2023 The Estate Shadrack Mokobane TV series 2022 Good Men Judge Ngubane TV series Makoti Zandisile TV series uMbali Cyril Qongqo TV series 2023 Shaka iLembe King Langa TV series2024Soon Comes NightMandla ShabaneNetflix Series
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