Abdul Khoza Returns to Acting With Gritty New ‘Uzalo’ Role After Hiatus

Award-winning South African actor Abdul Khoza is making an unexpected return to television, a year after announcing that he was stepping away from acting.

The former Shaka iLembe star has joined SABC1’s long-running telenovela Uzalo, where he will portray the dangerous and charismatic Ma-Ten-Ten, leader of the feared Amantaliyane biker gang.

A Surprise Return to the Screen

Khoza’s comeback comes after he emotionally revealed in 2025 that he had decided to leave the acting industry.

At the time, the actor shared one of his final audition tapes on social media to give aspiring performers an honest glimpse into the realities of the profession.

“So I decided to share one of my last auditions that I did this year before I decided to simply quit acting,” he wrote.

He said the video was intended to show future actors that everyone, regardless of success, still goes through the audition process.

The actor also thanked fans for supporting his journey and credited them for helping him discover and nurture his talent.

Speaking Openly About Mental Health

Before stepping away from acting, Khoza penned a heartfelt open letter about his career, reflecting on both its successes and challenges.

Despite achieving recognition in the entertainment industry, he admitted that the profession had taken a toll on his mental health.

The actor revealed that he had struggled with feelings of exhaustion, isolation and emotional pain, even while inspiring audiences through his work.

His honesty earned praise from fans who appreciated his openness about the pressures of the entertainment industry.

Meet Ma-Ten-Ten

Now back on television, Khoza takes on the role of Ma-Ten-Ten, a stylish but ruthless criminal who arrives in KwaMashu with ambitious plans.

According to the show’s producers, the character enters the storyline following Nkunzi’s arrest and intends to seize control of the Mhlongo empire.

Although he presents himself as charming and sophisticated, Ma-Ten-Ten is driven by a difficult childhood spent in an orphanage, where he learned that survival comes before everything else.

New Faces Shake Up ‘Uzalo’

Joining Khoza is actress Londeka Sishi, who will play Lungsta, Ma-Ten-Ten’s foster sister and the strategic mastermind behind the biker gang.

The new storyline also introduces actor Mbuso Zulu as Cash Money, one of the gang’s most loyal and intimidating members.

Meanwhile, Lungani Mabaso returns as Phefeni, a character who was last seen fighting for his life after being shot during a heist that led to Nkunzi’s imprisonment.

His return and unexpected connection to the biker gang are expected to fuel new conflicts and dramatic twists.

A New Era for ‘Uzalo’

The arrival of the Amantaliyane gang marks a major turning point for the popular series, with viewers set to witness shifting alliances, revenge plots and intense power struggles.

Speaking about the latest additions to the cast, Stained Glass Productions co-founder Gugu Zuma-Ncube said the new characters were designed to completely disrupt the world audiences have grown familiar with.

“Every great story needs characters who completely disrupt the world we’ve come to know. Ma-Ten-Ten and Lungsta are layered, compelling and unpredictable,” she said.

For fans of both Khoza and Uzalo, the actor’s return signals an exciting new chapter and the beginning of what promises to be one of the show’s most dramatic storylines yet.