Harriet Manamela

{{Infobox person | name = Harriet Manamela | image = Harriet_Manamela.jpg | caption = South African Actress | birth_name = Harriet Lenabe | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1971|10|13|df=y}} | birth_place = Diepkloof, Soweto, South Africa | occupation = Actress | education = St. Anthony's Centre, Boksburg | years_active = 1998–present | known_for = Skeem Saam }}

'''Harriet Manamela''' (born 13 October 1971), sometimes credited as '''Harriet Lenabe''',<ref>{{Cite web |title=Personnes {{!}} Africultures : Manamela Harriet |url=https://africultures.com/personnes/?no=13088 |access-date=23 September 2025 |website=Africultures |language=fr}}</ref> is a South African actress best known for portraying Meikie Maputla in the SABC 1 soap opera ''Skeem Saam''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tsewu |first=Siya |title=Harriet Manamela on playing Meikie Maputla and lessons from her failed marriage |url=https://www.news24.com/drum/celebs/news/harriet-manamela-on-playing-meikie-maputla-and-lessons-from-her-failed-marriage-20220613 |access-date=12 May 2026 |website=News24 |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Early life and education ==

Manamela was born in Diepkloof, Soweto. She later relocated to Johannesburg with her family during the early 1990s. She completed her schooling at St. Anthony's Centre in Boksburg.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mataz |first=Simba |title=Harriet Manamela Biography, Pictures, Husband, Skeem Saam, Net Worth |url=https://savannanews.com/harriet-manamela-biography-pictures-husband-skeem-saam-net-worth/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251212195429/https://savannanews.com/harriet-manamela-biography-pictures-husband-skeem-saam-net-worth/ |archive-date=2025-12-12 |access-date=2026-05-27 |website=savannanews.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Career ==

Manamela began her acting career in community theatre after joining the Squints Artists Community Theatre Group in Alexandra. During this period, she appeared in stage productions including ''The Virus'' and ''Let's Talk About AIDS'' at The Market Theatre Laboratory. She also toured Sweden with productions such as ''Gomorrah!'',<ref>{{Cite web |last=Reporter |first=Staff |date=1996-04-11 |title=Theatre lives |url=https://mg.co.za/article/1996-04-11-theatre-lives/ |access-date=2026-05-27 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}}</ref> ''Ways of Dying'', and ''Koze Kuse Bash''.

She made her television debut in 1998 with appearances in productions such as ''Soul City'',<ref>{{Cite web |title=Soul City {{!}} Season 10 {{!}} TVSA |url=https://www.tvsa.co.za/shows/viewshowseasons.aspx?showId=1231&season=10 |access-date=2026-05-27 |website=www.tvsa.co.za}}</ref> ''Isidingo'', Isibaya ''Yizo Yizo II'',<ref>{{Cite web |title=Harriet Manamela {{!}} TVSA |url=https://www.tvsa.co.za/actors/viewactor.aspx?actorid=6628 |access-date=2026-05-27 |website=www.tvsa.co.za}}</ref> and ''Justice for All''. She later became known for playing Nomzamo, the mother of Suffocate, in the e.tv soap opera ''Rhythm City''.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Rhythm City {{!}} Full Cast {{!}} Season 1 {{!}} TVSA |url=https://www.tvsa.co.za/shows/viewshowcast.aspx?showid=241&season=1 |access-date=2026-05-27 |website=www.tvsa.co.za}}</ref>

In 2011, she joined the cast of the SABC 1 soap opera ''Skeem Saam'' as Meikie Maputla, a role that brought her national recognition.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tlhoaele |first=Kgalalelo |title=Skeem Saam star celebrates 30 years of success! |url=https://www.snl24.com/dailysun/celebs/skeem-saam-actress-harriet-manamela-celebrates-three-decades-on-screen-20240814 |access-date=2026-05-27 |website=Daily Sun |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2026, she joined the fourth season of e.tv's telenovela ''Isitha: The Enemy'', portraying Dorcas.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Zuma |first=Mbalenhle |date=23 April 2026 |title='Skeem Saam' actress Harriet Manamela joins 'Isitha: The Enemy' season four |url=https://sundayworld.co.za/celebrity-news/skeem-saam-actress-harriet-manamela-joins-isitha-the-enemy-season-four/ |access-date=12 May 2026 |website=Sunday World |language=en-ZA}}</ref>

== Filmography ==

=== Film === <ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=SR |date=2024-11-06 |title=10 Facts You Need to Know About Harriet Manamela: Meikie Maputla from Skeem Saam – 2025-2026 Wiki |url=https://studentroom.co.za/wiki/10-facts-you-need-to-know-about-harriet-manamela-meikie-maputla-from-skeem-saam/ |access-date=2026-05-27 |language=en-US}}</ref> {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes |- | 2000 | ''Hijack Stories'' | Baragwanath Nurse | Feature film |- | 2001 | ''Dr Lucille: The Lucille Teasdale Story'' | | Television film |- | 2004 | ''Country of My Skull'' | Albertina Sobandla | Feature film |- | 2004 | ''Yesterday'' | Teacher | Feature film |- | 2008 | ''Gugu and Andile'' | Busu Dlamini | Feature film |- | 2010 | ''Life, Above All'' | Mrs Tafa | Feature film |- | 2011 | ''Otelo Burning'' | Mother Christmas | Feature film |- | 2015 | ''Avengers: Age of Ultron'' | Johannesburg Onlooker | Feature film |- | 2016 | ''Vaya'' | Grace | Feature film |}

=== Television === <ref name=":1" />

{| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year(s) ! Title ! Role ! Notes |- | 1998 | ''Soul City'' | | Television series |- | 1998 | ''Isidingo'' | | Soap opera |- | 2001 | ''Yizo Yizo II'' | Nurse | Drama series |- | 2001 | ''Justice for All'' | | Television series |- | 2002 | ''Soul Buddyz'' | Defence Attorney | Television series |- | 2004 | ''Zero Tolerance'' | Lebo Mahlangu | Television series |- | 2006 | ''When We Were Black'' | Aunty | Drama series |- | 2007 | ''Rhythm City''<ref name=":0" /> | Nomzamo | Soap opera |- | 2011–present | ''Skeem Saam'' | Meikie Maputla | Main role |- | 2014 | ''Thola'' | Dieketseng Mofokeng | Drama series |- | 2026–present | ''Isitha: The Enemy''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ngenyane |first=Andiswa |title=Is Mme Maputla leaving Skeem Saam? |url=https://www.snl24.com/dailysun/celebs/skeem-saam-actress-harriet-manamela-joins-isitha-the-enemy-20260424 |access-date=2026-05-27 |website=Daily Sun |language=en-US}}</ref> | Dorcas | Telenovela |}

== Awards and nominations ==

=== South African Film and Television Awards ===

{| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Work ! Award ! Result ! Ref. |- | 2012 | ''Life, Above All'' | Best Supporting Actress – Feature Film | {{won}} | <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pressreader.com/south-africa/cape-argus/20110302/283012576238209 |title=Saftas win doesn't affect the box office |work=Cape Argus via PressReader |date=2 March 2011 |access-date=27 May 2026}}</ref> |}

=== Royalty Soapie Awards ===

{| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Work ! Award ! Result ! Ref. |- | 2024 | Herself as Meikie Maputla | Outstanding Supporting Actress | {{won}} | <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.iol.co.za/entertainment/tv/local/skeem-saam-wins-big-at-the-royalty-soapie-awards-6a1c52ef-c7e8-4e9c-89de-b92d14dbe6b4 |title='Skeem Saam' wins big at the Royalty Soapie Awards |work=Independent Online |first=Kamogelo |last=Makhura |date=26 August 2024 |access-date=27 May 2026}}</ref> |}

== References ==

== External links ==

* {{IMDb name|nm4981613|Harriet Manamela}}

Category:1971 births Category:Living people Category:South African television actresses Category:South African soap opera actresses Category:Actors from Soweto Category:20th-century South African actresses Category:21st-century South African actresses