Nelisiwe Sibiya Biography: Age, Husband, Net Worth, Height, Songs, Parents, Career, Sister

Nelisiwe Faith Sibiya is a South African actress, singer, and radio presenter.

She first gained prominence through her song “Mama ka Bafana,” which became the theme for the television series Lockdown, and later cemented her acting reputation as Dr Mbali Mthethwa in the medical drama Durban Gen.

Profile

• Full name: Nelisiwe Faith Sibiya
• Date of birth: September 13, 1992
• Age: 33 years old
• Gender: Female
• Place of birth: Johannesburg, South Africa
• State of origin: Gauteng province
• Nationality: South African
• Profession: Actress, singer, radio presenter
• Height: 1.58 m
• Eye color: Dark Brown
• Hair color: Black
• Parents: Mother: Mngomezu Dudu (deceased) / Father: (deceased)
• Siblings: Older sister Thabisile (deceased)
• Spouse: N/A
• Children: N/A
• Relationship status: Previously engaged to Ayanda Ntanzi (ended)
• Ethnicity: Zulu / African
• Net worth: USD 1 million to USD 5 million

Early Life and Education

Nelisiwe Faith Sibiya is now 33 years old, having been born on September 13, 1992. She grew up in Johannesburg, in Gauteng province.

Her early life was marked by trauma and hardship: when she was about eight or nine years old, her father was shot dead in front of the family. After that, she and her sister lived with relatives, but they experienced abuse, which forced them to leave the home they had been staying in.

Her mother, Dudu, raised her and her sister for many years, but passed away before Nelisiwe completed her tertiary education. Her older sister Thabisile also died; Thabisile had taught Nelisiwe how to sing in their youth.

Academically, Nelisiwe faced constraints because of financial difficulties. She repeated Grade 3 after missing school for two years due to her family’s circumstances. In 2015 she enrolled at Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) to study Musical Studies. She received a bursary to cover part of her studies after initial funding struggles. She graduated around 2018.

Personal Life

Nelisiwe Sibiya has kept much of her personal life private. At one time she was engaged to gospel musician Ayanda Ntanzi, but that relationship ended, in part because of differences in belief systems and conflicts over role expectations. More recently, speculation has arisen about a relationship with actor Mike Ndlangamandla.

Career

Nelisiwe’s journey began with music. Her older sister, Thabisile, first taught her how to sing. After her sister passed, Nelisiwe continued choral and classical training in high school.

Her breakthrough in music came with recording “Mama ka Bafana,” a song which was adopted as the theme for Lockdown, a South African TV series. That exposure opened doors into acting. She was cast in Lockdown in a supporting role.

Her role as Dr Mbali Mthethwa on Durban Gen became a standout in her acting career, making her more visible to broader audiences.

She has also appeared in Umkhokha: The Curse (2023) as Nompendulo, and in 2024 she joined Scandal! on eTV as the character Sanda, a single mother of a teenage boy named Khumo. In 2025 she leads in the telenovela Ithonga, portraying Zamahlabo Ntanzi. In addition, she works as a radio presenter at Gagasi FM.

Awards

• Best Actress in Africa, Zikomo Awards (2021) — awarded for her performance in Durban Gen

Net Worth

Nelisiwe Sibiya’s net worth is estimated to lie between USD 1 million and USD 5 million. This wealth comes from her income streams as an actress, singer, and brand promoter.

Social Media

• Instagram: @nelisiwe_faith_sibiya
• Twitter / X: @Nanatshie85

Filmography

• Lockdown (2016)
• Durban Gen (2020)
• Umkhokha: The Curse (2023)
• Scandal! (2024)
• Ithonga (2025)

Discography

• Mama Ka Bafana (2017)
• Nomathemba (2018)
• Emaweni (2023)
• We’Ntsizwa (2019)
• Mzali Wami (2019)
• Lanto (2019)
• Baningi (feat. Sho Madjozi, Dee Koala & Nelisiwe Sibiya) (2020)
• Qaphela (feat. Sjava, Nelisiwe Sibiya, Rouge & Kid X) (2018)
• NKAYIMANE (feat. Nelisiwe Sibiya, Nhlanhla Mahlangu & Thulani Zwane) (2021)
• Mamaka Bafana (Remix) (2021)