Lunathi Mampofu (born 7 March 1987) is a South African actress and film director. She is best known for playing lead and starring roles in Mzansi Magic telenovelas The Queen (2018–2019) as Benni, The River (2020–2023) as Emma and Inimba (2025–present) as Zoleka Bikitsha-Ngcukana
Career
2009–2018: Early career Mampofu began her screen career in 2009 with a supporting role as Nontobeko in the drama film Umthandazo. She went on to appear in The Good Man (2012), playing the starring role of Katleho and later portrayed Monica in the 2014 film Mercy. Her early work in film helped establish her range in dramatic performance and introduced her to wider audiences.
Mampofu transitioned steadily into television, earning her first recurring role as a Spiritualist in the 2016 series Isikisi and a starring role as Zikhona Sebotsane in season 2 of Ingozi. In 2018 she appeared across several productions, including a recurring performance as Lerato in Ambitious, and the role of Claudia Dunn in seasons 2 and 3 of Unmarried. That same year, she joined The Queen as Benni in its third season.
2019–2024: Breakthrough role in The River In 2019, Mampofu featured as herself on Celeb Festival With Zola and portrayed the role of Marry in the Netflix action series Shadow. Her career gained further momentum in 2020 with roles in Lockdown Heights as Alutha and played the supporting role of Zaza "the mystery woman" across the first two seasons of Kings of Jo’Burg.
Mampofu received widespread recognition for her portrayal of Emma, a major character in The River, where she appeared from seasons 3 to 6. She won two Royalty Soapie Awards for her starring role for Emma from The River for Outstanding Supporting Actress and Best Actress categories by Viewers Choice. The year, she also included an appearance as herself on #Karektas hosted by Desmond Dube.
In 2023, Mampofu expanded her presence in both mainstream and streaming productions. She played a Sangoma in In Your Dreams, took on the starring role of Athi in the telenovela 1802: Love Defies Time and appeared as Brenda Grootboom in the thriller series Fatal Seduction.
Mampofu received a nominations for Best Supporting Actress in the South African Film and Television Awards. In 2024, she led the casts of Disaster Holiday as Nandi and Code 13 as Bongi Nkosi alongside Zolisa Xaluva, further solidifying her reputation as a prominent performer in South African film and television, and also international stages.
2025–present: Lead roles in Levels and Inimba In 2025, Mampofu began starring as Zoleka Ngcukana in the drama Inimba and joined the Mzansi Magic series Levels in the lead role of Bongi for its debut season with Bonko Khoza. She was nominated in the National Film and Television Awards for her starring role of Nandi in Disaster Holiday in the Best Actress category.
Filmography Film YearTitleRoleNotes2009UmthandazoNontobekoSupporting role 2012The Good ManKatlehoStarring role 2014MercyMonica Supporting role 2024Disaster HolidayNandiLead role
Television YearTitleRoleNotes2016IsikisiSpiritualist Recurring roleIngoziZikhona SebotsaneStarring role2018AmbitiousLeratoRecurring role2018–2019The QueenBenniSupporting role2019Celeb Festival With ZolaHerself Episode 4ShadowMarryRecurring role 2020UnmarriedClaudia DunnStarring roleLockdown HeightsAluthaSupporting role #KarektasHerself Episode 252020–2023Kings of Jo'BurgZazaSupporting role2020–2023The RiverEmmaMain role2023In Your DreamsSangoma Recurring role2023–20251802: Love Defies TimeAthiStarring role 2023–2025Fatal SeductionBrenda Grootboom Starring role2024Code 13Bongi NkosiLead role 2025LevelsBongiLead role2025–presentInimbaZoleka Bikitsha Mabandla Lead role
Awards and nominations Year Association Category Nominated works Result Ref.2023Royalty Soapie AwardsBest Actress As Emma on The RiverOutstanding Supporting Actress 2024Feather AwardsBest Styled IndividualHerself Hot Chick of the Year South African Film and Television AwardsBest Supporting actressAs Athi on 1802: Love Defies Time2025National Film and Television Awards Best ActressAs Nandi on Disaster Holiday 2026Africa Choice Awards Female TV Star of the YearHerself
References
External links