Lunathi Mampofu is a South African actress, casting director, producer, and entrepreneur best known for her roles in The River, Inimba, Fatal Seduction, and Kings of Joburg. She gained prominence as Emma in The River and currently stars as Zoleka Mabandla in Mzansi Magic’s drama series Inimba. The award-winning actress is the sister of twin actors Oros and Prince Mampofu and is the founder of My Defense, a self-defense initiative empowering women across South Africa.
Lunathi Mampofu Biography
| Field | Details |
| Full name | Lunathi Mampofu |
| Gender | Female |
| Date of birth | 7 March 1987 |
| Age | 38 years old (as of January 2026) |
| Place of birth | Cape Town, South Africa |
| Current residence | Johannesburg, South Africa |
| Nationality | South African |
| Ethnicity | Xhosa |
| Zodiac sign | Pisces |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Sexual orientation | Straight |
| Height | 5 ft 4 in (163 cm) |
| Weight | 110 lbs (50 kg) |
| Hair colour | Black |
| Eye colour | Dark brown |
| Marital status | Single |
| Ex-partner | Dylan Lloyd |
| Children | 1 (Skye Mampofu) |
| Siblings | Oros Mampofu, Prince Mampofu, Tankie, Uhuru Mzamo |
| High School | Victoria Girls’ High School |
| Alma mater | AFDA (Cape Town), New York Film Academy |
| Profession | Actress, casting director, producer, entrepreneur |
| Net worth | $1.5 million – $2 million (estimated) |
Who is Lunathi Mampofu?
Lunathi Mampofu is a South African actress who has made a name for herself in the entertainment industry through powerful performances in television and film.
Born on 7 March 1987 in Cape Town, South Africa, her name means “with us” in isiXhosa, symbolizing her deep connection with her audience.
She is best known for her starring role as Zikhona in the SABC1 drama series Ingozi, which marked her first major television role.
Lunathi gained widespread recognition playing Emma in the hit telenovela The River and currently leads the cast of Inimba as Zoleka Mabandla, a tech mogul balancing career and family.
The actress comes from a family deeply rooted in the arts. She is the older sister of twin actors Oros Mampofu and Prince Mampofu, and together they co-own Khela Production, a company in the entertainment industry. Her father, Patrick Mampofu, is a pastor, and her mother is Nosabata Mampofu.
How old is Lunathi Mampofu? Age and birthday
Lunathi Mampofu is 38 years old as of January 2026. She was born on 7 March 1987 in Cape Town, South Africa. Her zodiac sign is Pisces.
Lunathi Mampofu’s height, weight, and body measurements
Lunathi Mampofu stands 5 feet 4 inches (163 centimetres) tall and weighs approximately 110 pounds (50 kilograms).
Her body measurements are 35-28-34 inches (88-71-86 centimetres). The actress has black hair and dark brown eyes.
Education background
Lunathi Mampofu attended Victoria Girls’ High School, where she began exploring her passion for theatre and music. She travelled to Europe with the school choir, which gave her early exposure to performing arts.
After high school, she enrolled at AFDA (The South African School of Motion Picture Medium and Live Performance) in Cape Town, graduating in 2010 with a degree in Live Performance. She got her first acting role during her first year at AFDA in a feature film called Mercy.
Seeking to expand her craft, Lunathi moved to the United States to study at the New York Film Academy, completing a diploma in acting for film in 2013. She spent five years abroad, including time in Los Angeles, where she worked as a casting director at Gersh Studios before returning to South Africa.
Career
Early career and breakthrough
Lunathi Mampofu began her acting career during film school at AFDA. After graduating in 2010, she landed her first major television role as Zikhona in the SABC1 drama series Ingozi. This role established her as a talented actress in South African television.
She worked as a casting director at Gersh Studios in Los Angeles and later at Scout’s Honour in Sea Point, Cape Town. This behind-the-scenes experience enriched her understanding of the entertainment industry.
The River and major success
Lunathi’s breakthrough came when she was cast as Emma in the Mzansi Magic telenovela The River (2018-2024). The role earned her widespread recognition and showcased her ability to portray complex characters.
She played Emma, a character that challenged traditional norms and kept audiences captivated throughout her run on the show.
Recent television work
The actress has built an impressive portfolio of television roles:
- Fatal Seduction (Netflix, 2023-2025) – Brenda Grootboom
- Inimba (Mzansi Magic, 2025-present) – Zoleka Mabandla (lead role)
- Kings of Joburg (Netflix) – supporting role
- Levels (Mzansi Magic, 2025) – Bongi (lead role)
- Shadow (2019) – supporting role
- In Your Dreams – featured role
- The Queen (Mzansi Magic) – guest role
- Unmarried (Mzansi Magic) – supporting role
Film career
Lunathi has appeared in several films, including:
- 1802: Love Defies Time (2023) – Athi
- Disaster Holiday (Netflix, 2024) – Nandi
- Tropic of Love 2024 – featured role
International career move
In July 2025, Lunathi signed with Rebelle Management South Africa, an American talent agency, marking a strategic move to expand her career internationally.
This deal positions her for potential Hollywood opportunities while maintaining her strong presence in South African entertainment.
What is Lunathi Mampofu’s net worth and salary?
As of 2026, Lunathi Mampofu’s net worth is estimated at between $1.5 million and $2 million. She earns income from multiple sources, including acting roles in television series, Netflix productions, film appearances, and endorsement deals.
The actress has been transparent about financial struggles despite her success. In May 2025, she revealed that while winning awards, she had sold her car and house during difficult financial times. She earns from her work with major production companies like Mzansi Magic, Netflix, and SABC.
Lunathi also generates income through her business ventures, including co-ownership of Khela Production with her brothers and her role as founder of My Defense.
Is Lunathi Mampofu married? Husband, partner, dating history and relationship status
Lunathi Mampofu is not married. She was previously in a relationship with Dylan Lloyd, an art director and production designer.
The couple dated for two years and have a daughter together named Skye Mampofu. Their relationship ended in April 2023, and sources reported she was later linked to Bohlale Makgolane.
Daughter Skye Mampofu
Lunathi has one daughter named Skye Mampofu, who is approximately 10 years old as of 2026. Skye was born in the United States during Lunathi’s time in Los Angeles. The actress frequently shares heartfelt moments with her daughter on social media.
In October 2025, Lunathi penned a moving love letter to Skye on Instagram, writing: “God has been so good! An answered prayer in human form.”
She balances motherhood with her demanding acting career and often includes Skye in her public appearances.
The mother-daughter duo made headlines in December 2025 when they visited a young girl named Kago Unathi battling a life-threatening disease in hospital, bringing gifts and spreading joy.
Family and siblings
Lunathi Mampofu comes from a close-knit family of entertainers. She is the older sister of twin brothers Oros Mampofu and Prince Mkhokheli Mampofu, both actors.
She also has two other siblings: an older sister named Tankie and a younger sister named Uhuru Mzamo.
The Mampofu siblings are prominent in South African entertainment. Together, Lunathi, Oros, and Prince co-own Khela Production, a production company they launched to create content in the entertainment industry.
The siblings appeared together on Afternoon Express in April 2019 to discuss their family bond and business ventures.
Her father, Patrick Mampofu, is a pastor, while her mother is Nosabata Mampofu.
My Defense initiative
Lunathi Mampofu is the founder of My Defense, a non-profit organization that teaches self-defense to women, youth, and children across South Africa. She launched the initiative with her younger sister Uhuru Mzamo in August 2025 during Women’s Month.
The inspiration for My Defense came from a traumatic personal experience when Lunathi had a gun pointed to her head.
This life-threatening moment motivated her to create a platform where women could learn to protect themselves and reclaim their power.
The program offers physical conditioning, situational awareness training, and practical self-defense techniques.
My Defense aims to empower women to feel confident and safe in their daily lives. Lunathi actively promotes the initiative on her social media platforms and has partnered with brands like Levi’s for their “I Shape My World” campaign in 2022.
Awards and recognition
Lunathi Mampofu is an award-winning actress who has received recognition for her performances. She has won two Royalty Soapie Awards for her work in South African television.
In October 2025, she was nominated at the National Film and TV Awards. She has also been honored for her contributions to the entertainment industry and her advocacy work through My Defense.
Social media presence
As of January 2026, Lunathi Mampofu has over 431,000 followers on Instagram (@lunathimampofu).
She actively uses the platform to share behind-the-scenes content from her acting projects, personal moments with her daughter Skye, promotional material for her television shows, and updates about My Defense.
Her Instagram bio describes her as an “award-winning actress” and lists her business ventures: @mydefenseza (My Defense initiative) and @rooted_tm.
She is represented by Viclectic acting agency, with bookings through lunathimampofu@rebellemgmt.com.
Lunathi also has a presence on TikTok, where fans engage with her content related to her acting career and personal life.
She uses social media to advocate for women’s empowerment and share her journey as a working mother in the entertainment industry.
Fast facts about Lunathi Mampofu
- Her name “Lunathi” means “with us” in isiXhosa, the traditional language of the Xhosa people of South Africa.
- She spent five years living in Los Angeles and worked as a casting director at Gersh Studios before returning to South Africa.
- Lunathi co-owns Khela Production with her twin brothers Oros and Prince Mampofu, making them one of South Africa’s prominent sibling entertainment duos.
- She founded My Defense after surviving a traumatic experience where someone held a gun to her head.
- Her daughter Skye was born in America during Lunathi’s time studying and working in Los Angeles.
- Lunathi appeared in the Netflix series Fatal Seduction and the Netflix film Disaster Holiday in 2024.
- She studied at two prestigious film schools: AFDA in Cape Town and the New York Film Academy in New York.
- In July 2025, she signed with American talent agency Rebelle Management, joining a roster that includes Thando Thabethe and Bohang Moeko.
- She attended Victoria Girls’ High School and travelled to Europe with the school choir, sparking her early interest in performing.
- Lunathi made headlines in May 2025 when she revealed she had sold her car and house despite winning acting awards, highlighting the financial realities actors face.
Read more: Nonku Williams Age, Net worth, Ex Husband, Children, Career
Wrapping up
Lunathi Mampofu is a multi-talented South African actress whose career spans television, film, casting, and entrepreneurship.
At 38 years old, she continues to captivate audiences with powerful performances in Inimba, her latest lead role.
As a single mother to daughter Skye, founder of the My Defense initiative, and newly signed talent with Rebelle Management, Lunathi is positioning herself for even greater success on both local and international stages in 2026.
References
- TVSA. “Lunathi Mampofu”.
- News24. “5 minutes with the talented Lunathi Mampofu”.
- Rebelle Management. “Actress Lunathi Mampofu Signs with Rebelle Management South Africa”.
- Briefly. “Lunathi Mampofu’s bio: age, child, partner, movies, TV shows, profiles, net worth”.
- Afternoon Express. “The Mampofu siblings”.
- The Citizen. “‘We Are Protecting Ourselves’ with Lunathi Mampofu”.
- IMDb. “Lunathi Mampofu”.
- Famous Birthdays. “Lunathi Mampofu – Age, Bio, Family”.
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