He was just starting out and suddenly, he is no more.
The family of young Gomora actor and dancer Siyabonga Zubane have confirmed that he died at his rental home in Soweto.
According to the mother of his first born child, known only as Kgothatso, she arrived in Soweto to find that Siyabonga had passed away.
"Yes it is true, Siya is no longer with us," she tells Drum.
"He passed away this morning. The people he lives with say they found him in bed. I can't give much details as yet but the father of my child is no more."
Siyabonga's aunt Nomvula says his housemates found him in bed and took him to the hospital after contacting his family.
"We don't really know if it was suicide, but there are no signs. We are still waiting for the postmortem. He was found him in bed nonresponsive," she says.
"They phoned us and took him to the hospital this morning and we are still waiting for a report."
Tributes have already started pouring in on social media.
Sad news about Siyabonga "Sdumo" Zubane's passing. Rest in peace brother. Condolences to the Zubane family.
— Nkanyezi (@NkanyeziKubheka) May 7, 2022
This is one of the best from Sdumo and Tshiamo from Gomora. How can you have not liked him? RIP ?? pic.twitter.com/21FYt8Ngid
— Sphe ? (@thirsty_sphe) May 7, 2022
Sdumo? Not when I enjoy he's acting on Gomora. Kanti uLife unjani na guys ?????? pic.twitter.com/4RAaGe32ZH
— Dr Zickie??????? (@Zickiie_S) May 7, 2022
Siyabonga
played the role of car hijacker and criminal Sdumo on Mzansi Magic
telenovela Gomora. On the show, he would do anything for a quick buck.
In a previous interview with Drum, Siyabonga said Sdumo had sold his soul to the car hijacking syndicates and is a known and feared gangster in Alexandra township.
Born in Alexandra Township where the telenovela is being shot daily, Siyabonga understood the lingo and culture of his own township.
The love for the arts runs in his family, he told us. Siyabonga’s younger brother Thabiso Zubane sang for Bana Bama Afrika Tap and Clap the Choir.
When he was seven years old his family left Alexandra and he moved to Tembisa township, where he lived there until he was in Grade 5 and they moved back to Alexandra again, he says.
Siyabonga’s first TV role was on Mzansi Magic telenovela, Isibaya, but it has since been discontinued.
"Isibaya featured me in 2017 where I played the role of Bhungezi. It was a one-day character, but I did it for experience,” he told Drum.
“I wanted to see and understand what I am getting myself into and experience the real world of acting and not just an audition room and that experience got me where I am today,” he adds.
“I don't even know how much it paid, the agency took it. That did not matter much to me because it was all about getting the experience.”
