Hlomla Dandala is a South African actor, presenter and director best known for his television roles as Derek Nyathi in Isidingo, as the title role in Jacob’s Cross and for his roles as Kingsley Siseko Langa on Scandal! and Zweli on five seasons of The River.
Hlomla made his TV debut on Isidingo in 1998 where he played mine manager Derek Nyathi for three years, leaving in 2001. His character had a passionate relationship with Phillipa de Villiers (Bianca Amato) and together they received national interest when Derek and Phillipa shared South Africa’s first interracial TV kiss and went on to marry.
In 2002 Hlomla hosted the SABC1 reality show All You Need Is Love and in 2004 he played Majola Tindleni on the second season of the SABC1 drama series Zero Tolerance.
He directed three episodes of the South African drama series Hard Copy and seven episodes of Gaz’lam. He also directed episodes of the soapies Generations, Backstage, Scandal! and Isidingo.
In 2006 he directed the film The Bet for the Heartlines movie series on SABC2.
His film appearances include Fools, Red Dust, Lord Of War, Sniper: Reloaded, Winnie, Happiness Is a Four-letter Word and Indemnity.
He has also appeared in the made-for-TV movie Coup! (2006) and in the miniseries The Triangle (2005).
In 2007 Hlomla landed a starring role in the South African-Canadian medical drama series Jozi-H where he played consulting trauma surgeon Dr Zane Jara, who came from humble beginnings and wore expensive clothes.
In 2008 he played the lead role of Khanyiso Phalo, a returning South African expatriate who falls in love with a white woman, in the SABC2 mini-series Land of Thirst, from January to February.
He also plays the title role of Jacob Makhubu in the drama series Jacob’s Cross, which aired on M-Net Series, M-Net, SABC2 and Mzansi Wethu between 2007 and 2015.
In 2013 he starred as Jet Hlatswayo, Minister of the Environment who finds himself at the centre of a political conspiracy, in the SABC1 political thriller mystery drama series End Game.
In 2015 he played the character of Gomorrah on the third season of the Mzansi Magic drama series Rockville.
In 2016 he joined e.tv soapie Scandal! as human rights lawyer Kingsley Siseko Langa, who was described as suave, charismatic and graceful and who fought for the rights of the underdog.
The following year Hlomla starred alongside Laurence Fishburne and Terry Pheto in the American/South African co-production Madiba, which aired on BET and Discovery Channel. He portrayed politician and Umkhonto we Sizwe Secretary Govan Mbeki who was imprisoned with Nelson Mandela after the Rivonia Trial.
In 2018 he joined the 1Magic soapie The River as lead character Lindiwe’s (Sindi Dlathu) husband Zweli who he played for five seasons of the show, leaving in .
In 2022 he headlined the Netflix thriller miniseries Justice Served where he played Azania Maqoma, a freedom fighter and military veteran who had a secret agenda of settling scores with past enemies while conveying the impression that he was striving for justice.
In 2023 he played Victor Hlale, potential boyfriend to the lead character Thando Mokoena (Katlego Lebogang) on the Netflix romantic comedy Yoh! Christmas.
Hlomla has also had roles in the series Interrogation Room, Tsha Tsha and Gaz’lam and the US daytime series Scout’s Safari, which aired on Discovery Kids and NBC.
In April 2024 he joined e.tv soapie Smoke & Mirrors for Season 2 as Caesar, replacing Zolisa Xaluva who portrayed him in Season 1.
Dandala was married to TV presenter Candy Litchfield.
He has a daughter, Ziyanda.
He speaks four languages: Afrikaans, English, Xhosa and Zulu.
He is 5’9″ (1.80 m) tall.
An interview with Hlomla about his role as Khanyiso Phalo in Land of Thirst.