The story of Sydney Ramakuwela, who plays Mulalo in Muvhango, is a typical Rags to Riches story laced with a lot of hard work and not giving up. Sydney Ramakuwela had very humble beginnings and where he is today is a far cry from his childhood. Unlike most children, Sydney’s mother and guardian could not afford the bare minimum for her child despite working hard.
Mulalo’s passion for acting started showing when he was in Primary school. The young child was involved in several plays while he was part of a community theatre group from Tshitereke Village. In his High school, he was part of a drama that aired at Phalaphala FM and even though he did not know it at the time, that would be his breakthrough.
Being one of the four children of a single mother who was a street hawker, Sydney’s childhood was not the fancy kind. However, he did not let that stop him. he worked hard in High School and Matriculated, but his mother sadly could not afford to send him to college.
Coincidentally in 2007, Duma Ndlovu came to cross Sydney’s work with the Community Theatre group and offered him a job under the condition that he would go back to school. The following year Sydney Sydney started appearing on the SABC 2 soapie playing Mulalo.In the same year, he enrolled on a logistics management course at Inisa. After his graduation, he pursued a B.Tech for the same course in logistics.
Muvhango actor Sydney Ramakuwela’s rags to riches story
Sydney has also perfected his acting skills by attending Word of Mouth workshops. Now that he is a famous face in the acting industry, he gives back to his community by teaching young actors in the skills he has acquired throughout the years. He directs the community theatre plays for kids from the neighbourhood he grew up in.
Apart from acting and the philanthropic work he does, Sydney also owns and runs a security company which he called Thizram. The actor also has a daughter who he tries to protect and be the perfect father figure he never had growing up.
Read more: In Pictures: List of successful South African actresses who dropped out of college.