Using acting to help others feel seen is something actress Kealeboga Masango admits she desperately needed herself while growing up — especially during her high school years when she faced immense bullying.
“I just longed for someone to affirm that I was seen,” she reflects softly.
The Roodepoort-born actress first entered our screens as the young Zinhle Ngobese in Rhythm City — a role that officially welcomed her into the entertainment industry. But long before that, acting had already found its way into her heart. She recalls being just 15 when she nervously auditioned for a school play.
At the time, she wasn’t sure she would succeed. Her self-doubt was louder than her growing love for the arts. Yet, she began to realise that through performance, she could give others what she had once yearned for: the simple but powerful feeling of being seen.
So, when the chance to audition for Rhythm City came, belief in herself was still shaky — but her passion carried her forward.
“From the beginning, I was so nervous. I even questioned if they really meant me when they cast for the role,” Kealeboga recalls with a laugh. Her breakout character, Zinhle, quickly became a household name, and she had the privilege of acting alongside the late veteran Mncedisi Shabangu.
That chapter in her life was no small feat. She was in her matric year, balancing schoolwork with the demands of the role, while also bringing Zinhle to life on screen. Looking back, the now 21-year-old is proud of how she managed to juggle both, refusing to let go of her dream.
One thing about Kealeboga is that she is effortlessly humorous. Her warmth makes it easy to sit and talk with her, as she opens up about the journey that has shaped her so far.
“The industry has a way of putting pressure on you, even when it’s all in your head and not from anyone else,” she explained. “I had this deep belief that I had to be a certain way, that I had to carry myself in a certain way.”
For her, acting became more than just work. It became a safe, healing space.
“Acting gave me an outlet. It helped me process things I’ve never spoken about, even things I thought I had already healed from. Through telling someone else’s story, I got to revisit those emotions and release them.”
Her current role on Youngins has become another layer of that healing journey. Kealeboga plays Buhle, a bully, and through that role, she has been able to revisit her own painful high school years.
“I experienced a lot of Buhles back then,” she admitted gently. “I was bullied so much and always seemed to get the short end of the stick, which really sucked. But playing the bully has been eye-opening. It allowed me to understand the mindset of people who put others through pain. I realised they are often broken themselves. It wasn’t me who was the problem — it was them. That truth helped me heal,” she reflected bravely.
Youngins became a deeply poignant chapter in her journey — not only because it allowed her to heal parts of herself, but also because Kealeboga holds what the show stands for with great respect.
“As a young person myself, I know how important this production is. It’s not just acting; we get to be the voice of the youth, reflect realities out there, and help others heal in whichever way necessary.”
Her journey on Youngins also gave her a platform to speak up against bullying, something she knows can lead to devastating consequences like self-doubt, fear, and even suicidal thoughts. Kealeboga shares that she is still a work in progress.
“My self-esteem hit rock bottom because of the bullying. That is why I question every opportunity that comes my way. I didn’t have a backbone, I couldn’t really speak up for myself, and I didn’t see great things in me,” she says, crediting her parents as the push she needed to become the confident young woman she is today.
“During that time, I wanted to hide a lot. It made me feel like I wasn’t deserving to be here — to put it lightly. The journey to finding myself again was never easy. I am still a work in progress,” she says, adding that she has had to anchor herself deeply in prayer.
That, she emphasises, is the reason she stands firmly against bullying. She works hard to perfect her roles so that audiences see both the ugly side of bullying and the silent battles bullies themselves might be facing.
Beyond Youngins, Kealeboga is also currently starring on Mzansi Magic’s telenovela Genesis as Nobuhle, sharing the screen with the likes of Baby Cele, Nay Maps, Buyile Mdladla, and KB Motsilanyane, among others.
“I just hope that every role I portray makes society better in some way. I hope I don’t become complacent in the arts but instead continue to always raise the bar — for myself.”
A fiery voice, ready to bring change.
