Harriet Manamela
Harriet Manamela | |
|---|---|
 South African Actress | |
| Born | Harriet Lenabe 13 October 1971 |
| Education | St. Anthony's Centre, Boksburg |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1998–present |
| Known for | Skeem Saam |
Harriet Manamela (born 13 October 1971), sometimes credited as Harriet Lenabe,[1] is a South African actress best known for portraying Meikie Maputla in the SABC 1 soap opera Skeem Saam.[2]
Early life and education
[edit]Manamela was born in Diepkloof, Soweto. She later relocated to Johannesburg with her family during the early 1990s. She completed her schooling at St. Anthony's Centre in Boksburg.[3]
Career
[edit]Manamela began her acting career in community theatre after joining the Squints Artists Community Theatre Group in Alexandra. During this period, she appeared in stage productions including The Virus and Let's Talk About AIDS at The Market Theatre Laboratory. She also toured Sweden with productions such as Gomorrah!,[4] Ways of Dying, and Koze Kuse Bash.
She made her television debut in 1998 with appearances in productions such as Soul City,[5] Isidingo, Isibaya Yizo Yizo II,[6] and Justice for All. She later became known for playing Nomzamo, the mother of Suffocate, in the e.tv soap opera Rhythm City.[7]
In 2011, she joined the cast of the SABC 1 soap opera Skeem Saam as Meikie Maputla, a role that brought her national recognition.[8]
In 2026, she joined the fourth season of e.tv's telenovela Isitha: The Enemy, portraying Dorcas.[9]
Filmography
[edit]Film
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Hijack Stories | Baragwanath Nurse | Feature film |
| 2001 | Dr Lucille: The Lucille Teasdale Story | Television film | |
| 2004 | Country of My Skull | Albertina Sobandla | Feature film |
| 2004 | Yesterday | Teacher | Feature film |
| 2008 | Gugu and Andile | Busu Dlamini | Feature film |
| 2010 | Life, Above All | Mrs Tafa | Feature film |
| 2011 | Otelo Burning | Mother Christmas | Feature film |
| 2015 | Avengers: Age of Ultron | Johannesburg Onlooker | Feature film |
| 2016 | Vaya | Grace | Feature film |
Television
[edit]| Year(s) | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Soul City | Television series | |
| 1998 | Isidingo | Soap opera | |
| 2001 | Yizo Yizo II | Nurse | Drama series |
| 2001 | Justice for All | Television series | |
| 2002 | Soul Buddyz | Defence Attorney | Television series |
| 2004 | Zero Tolerance | Lebo Mahlangu | Television series |
| 2006 | When We Were Black | Aunty | Drama series |
| 2007 | Rhythm City[7] | Nomzamo | Soap opera |
| 2011–present | Skeem Saam | Meikie Maputla | Main role |
| 2014 | Thola | Dieketseng Mofokeng | Drama series |
| 2026–present | Isitha: The Enemy[11] | Dorcas | Telenovela |
Awards and nominations
[edit]South African Film and Television Awards
[edit]| Year | Work | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Life, Above All | Best Supporting Actress – Feature Film | Won | [12] |
Royalty Soapie Awards
[edit]| Year | Work | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Herself as Meikie Maputla | Outstanding Supporting Actress | Won | [13] |
References
[edit]- ↑ "Personnes | Africultures : Manamela Harriet". Africultures (in French). Retrieved 23 September 2025.
- ↑ Tsewu, Siya. "Harriet Manamela on playing Meikie Maputla and lessons from her failed marriage". News24. Retrieved 12 May 2026.
- ↑ Mataz, Simba. "Harriet Manamela Biography, Pictures, Husband, Skeem Saam, Net Worth". savannanews.com. Archived from the original on 12 December 2025. Retrieved 27 May 2026.
- ↑ Reporter, Staff (11 April 1996). "Theatre lives". The Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 27 May 2026.
- ↑ "Soul City | Season 10 | TVSA". www.tvsa.co.za. Retrieved 27 May 2026.
- ↑ "Harriet Manamela | TVSA". www.tvsa.co.za. Retrieved 27 May 2026.
- 1 2 "Rhythm City | Full Cast | Season 1 | TVSA". www.tvsa.co.za. Retrieved 27 May 2026.
- ↑ Tlhoaele, Kgalalelo. "Skeem Saam star celebrates 30 years of success!". Daily Sun. Retrieved 27 May 2026.
- ↑ Zuma, Mbalenhle (23 April 2026). "'Skeem Saam' actress Harriet Manamela joins 'Isitha: The Enemy' season four". Sunday World. Retrieved 12 May 2026.
- 1 2 SR (6 November 2024). "10 Facts You Need to Know About Harriet Manamela: Meikie Maputla from Skeem Saam – 2025-2026 Wiki". Retrieved 27 May 2026.
- ↑ Ngenyane, Andiswa. "Is Mme Maputla leaving Skeem Saam?". Daily Sun. Retrieved 27 May 2026.
- ↑ "Saftas win doesn't affect the box office". Cape Argus via PressReader. 2 March 2011. Retrieved 27 May 2026.
- ↑ Makhura, Kamogelo (26 August 2024). "'Skeem Saam' wins big at the Royalty Soapie Awards". Independent Online. Retrieved 27 May 2026.
