Zola Nombona (born 10 March 1992) is a South African actress and brand influencer. She is popular for playing Shado in season two of the SABC1 drama series. She has appeared in television productions such as Lockdown and Zbondiwe 3 – The Chase.
The actress played a lead role in My Brother’s Keeper, a Mzansi Magic telenovela, in 2023. She bagged an acting gig on the soap opera Generations: The Legacy on SABC 1. She officially resigned from the soap opera after spending more than a year. She is a six-time SAFTA nominee.Zola Nombona was born on 10 March 1992 in Mthatha in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. She has a younger sister, Unatho Nombona.
Her father was reluctant to let her study drama at the tertiary institution. After high school, she moved from the Eastern Cape to Gauteng to further her studies.
Education
Zola attended Victoria Girls High School in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape. She studied dramatic arts and graduated with Honors from the University of the Witwatersrand.
Career
The actress bagged her first major role in the drama series Intersexions on SABC 1 in 2013. She played her first starring role on set in the e.tv drama Zbondiwe in 2015. She landed another starring role as Monde on the television drama series Lockdown. She was a nominee for the 2019 SAFTA Golden Horn for the Best Actress in a TV Drama (Lockdown).
Zola was a nominee for the 2018 SAFTA Golden Horn for Best Actress in a TV Drama (Zbondiwe 3 – The Chase). She won Best Actress in a Made for TV Movie (Ingoma) at the 2016 SAFTA Golden Horn.
Nombona played Zee in the movie-turned-drama series Inumber Number. She portrayed Sindi in season two of Mzansi Love – Kasi Style. She branched out into business and brand collaboration. She was also nominated for Best Actress in a TV Comedy (Forced Love) at the 2017 SAFTA Golden Horn.
Zola was a nominee for Best Supporting Actress in a TV Drama (Lockdown) at the 2021 Nominee SAFTA Golden Horn. She was also a nominee for Best Actress in a TV Drama (Lockdown) at the 2020 Nominee SAFTA Golden Horn. She has tried music and released the songs I Like It.
Nombona is also into business and founded LXVE, an online shop for luxurious shapewear for women.
Zola promoted the Huawei MateBook D 16 on 29 January 2024. She was a nominee for The Next Gen award for Glamour Women Of The Year 2022. She is a brand ambassador for the clothing store Foschini South Africa.
Personal LifeZola Nombona is married to Thomas Gumede, the father of her child, Cebelihle. The duo has been together for a couple of years. She has a sister, Unathi Nombona, who helps her to raise her son.
Nombona speaks English and isiXhosa and lives in Johannesburg, Gauteng. She enjoys holidays at her grandma’s place in Matatiele, Eastern Cape.
Recognition
Awards
2017 Golden Horn Award for Best Achievement by a Lead Actress in a Made for TV Movie for her role in the film Love & Other 4 Letter Words.
Nominations
2014 Golden Horn Award for Best Supporting Actress in a TV Drama Series for her role in the series Isibaya.
2015 Golden Horn Award for Best Actress in a Lead Role in a TV Drama for her role in the series Isibaya.
2016 Golden Horn Award for Best Actress in a TV Comedy for her role in the series Situated People.
2017 Golden Horn Award for Best Achievement by a Lead Actress in a Made for TV Movie for her role in the film Love & Other 4 Letter Words.