Jesse Suntele (born 18 September 1992) is a South African actor, model, rapper and television personality. He became popular by winning the second season of the BET reality competition series Top Actor Africa in 2016.
Early life and education Jesse Suntele was born in Johannesburg, South Africa. He attended primary school at Fairsand Primary School before moving to Bloemfontein in grade 4. After matriculating from St. Joseph's Christian Brothers College, he moved back to Johannesburg to study Sound Engineering at the Academy of Sound Engineering.
Career Television In 2013, he auditioned for the SABC 1 reality competition U Can Do It and made it into the Top 10. In 2014, he got a starring role in the first-season finale of the SABC 1 documentary-drama Ngempela, which was his first credited television acting role.
In 2015, he got a guest starring role on SABC 1's Generations: The Legacy. In that same year, he got his first recurring role on the e.tv soapie Ashes to Ashes. The following year in 2016, he won the second season of Top Actor Africa on BET. In that same year, he debuted on the Mzansi Magic telenovela The Queen, making his first appearance in the first season as Tuelo ("Officer Bae"), a policeman by day and a serial killer by night.
In 2017, he was also one of the main hosts for entertainment and variety show BET A-List. He also joined the cast of the Vuzu Amp reality competition series The Hustle, where he was one of the Season 2 contestants, using the rapper stage name "J-Flo" and made it into the Top 6. In that same year, he was nominated in the Feather Awards, for Hunk of the Year.
In 2018, he joined the e.tv soapie Rhythm City in the role of Nqaba.
In 2022, Suntele was cast as Phila Bhengu in the South African Netflix drama series Savage Beauty.
Music He has released music as J-Flo, his singles include High by the Beaches and Outta Town. He has also been featured on Kelly Khumalo's single Jehova.
In May 2021, he released his debut EP, What Did You Expect.
Filmography Television Year Title Role Notes 2014 Ngempela Sandile starring role 2015–2016 Ashes to Ashes Kabelo recurring role 2015 Generations Himself guest star 2016 Mutual Friends Himself guest star BET A-List Himself Host The Queen Tuelo ("Officer Bae") recurring role 2017 The Hustle Himself (J-Flo) contestant 2018 Rhythm City Mzi recurring role 2022 Savage Beauty Phila Bhengu main role2023The EstateThatoguest role In Your Dreams Marcus main role 2025 Meet the Khumalos Sizwe Khumalo main role
Discography Singles + List of promotional singles with title, year, peak chart positions and album Title Year Peak chart positions Album SA. Charts Top 100 RISA Top 100Billboard (South Africa) "W.D.U.E (intro)" 2021 — 98— What Did You Expect "Tell Me" 79 —— "Palm Shade" — — — "Jehovah" (Kelly Khumalo ft J-Flo) 1 1 6 "Liquid Gold"—98—What Did You Expect"Premonition" (Yung Tyran ft J-Flo)446623"Champion Parade (Yung Tyran ft J-Flo)20232334—"Vanilla Sky"2025—81—TBA"Forever We"—94—"Made To Last"(ft Khosi Ngema)—98—Music From Meet The Khumalos: Original Score "—" denotes items which were not released in that country or failed to chart.
Awards and recognition Year Award Category Result2016BETTop Actor Africa 2017Feather Awards Hunk Of the Year 2018 Cosmo Sexiest Men Finalist 2018 Mzansi's Sexiest top 12
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