You probably know the name. Honestly, these days, most people associate Dumisani Dlamini with the viral headlines about his estranged daughter, Doja Cat. It’s a bit of a shame. When you look at the actual catalog of dumisani dlamini movies and tv shows, you’re looking at a foundational pillar of South African performance art.
He didn't just appear out of nowhere. Dlamini is a veteran. From the dusty stages of Umlazi to the bright lights of Broadway, his trajectory is wild. He was there during the sunset of Apartheid, using art as a weapon. He was there during the "Golden Age" of South African TV in the early 2000s. If you grew up in a township in the 90s, he wasn't a celebrity's father; he was Crocodile. He was Chester. He was the guy who made you feel the tension through the screen.
The Big Break: Sarafina! and the Birth of "Crocodile"
Let’s go back to 1987. Mbongeni Ngema is putting together a musical that will eventually change the world. Dlamini, a young dancer with more energy than he knew what to do with, gets cast. This wasn't just a gig; it was a movement. The stage play Sarafina! eventually moved to Broadway, and Dlamini went with it.
When the film version dropped in 1992, starring Whoopi Goldberg and Leleti Khumalo, Dlamini’s role as Crocodile became iconic. He played a student activist, and the scene where he is shot is still one of the most visceral moments in South African cinema. He brought a certain "tsotsi" swagger mixed with genuine revolutionary fire. That duality—the charm and the danger—is what defined his early career.
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Why Yizo Yizo Changed Everything
If Sarafina! made him a star, Yizo Yizo made him a legend. You have to understand how big this show was. It was controversial. It was raw. It depicted the South African school system in a way that made parents uncomfortable and teenagers feel seen.
Dlamini played Chester in the second season. He wasn't the protagonist. He was a villain, or at least, a deeply complicated antagonist. His performance was so convincing that people used to yell at him in the street. He didn't play a caricature of a criminal; he played a human being who chose a dark path. That is a recurring theme in the list of dumisani dlamini movies and tv shows—he finds the humanity in the "bad guy."
A Quick Look at the Major Credits
- Sarafina! (1992) - The big movie debut as Crocodile.
- Yizo Yizo (Season 2) - Playing the notorious Chester.
- Drum (2004) - A heavy-hitting film about the Sophiatown era.
- Isibaya - Playing Mbodla, a role that showed he could still dominate the "telenovela" format.
- eHostela - His performance as Celemba earned him a SAFTA nomination.
- The Wife - A more recent turn as Dlakadla on Showmax.
- Reyka - A gritty crime thriller that went international.
The Mid-Career Shift and Recent Hits
After spending years in the US during the Broadway run, Dlamini returned to South Africa and basically hit the ground running. He didn't just act; he produced. He worked on music. He was the pianist and producer for Linda Kekana’s I am an African album back in 2002.
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But television is where he stayed relevant. Look at Isibaya. He played Mbodla, a character that was basically the right-hand man to the show's biggest villains. He did it with a quiet, menacing presence. He doesn't need to scream to be scary.
Then came eHostela. This show is intense. It deals with the world of hitmen in hostels, and Dlamini’s portrayal of Celemba was so good he got a Golden Horn nomination for Best Actor. He’s 60-plus now, and he’s still out-acting people half his age.
What Most People Get Wrong About His Career
There is this weird narrative that he’s just a "has-been" riding on his daughter's coattails. That is factually incorrect. Dlamini has been working consistently for 30 years. Even in 2024 and 2025, he’s been active in projects like Mkhonto and various local dramas.
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He’s a Zulu man who takes immense pride in the cultural accuracy of his roles. When he’s on screen, you’re not just seeing an actor; you’re seeing a specific South African history. He understands the "Kwaito" era because he lived it. He understands the struggle because he danced through it.
How to Actually Watch His Best Work
If you really want to understand why this guy is a big deal, don't just look at his IMDb page. You need to see the range.
- Watch Sarafina! (1992): It’s the starting point. It shows his physical prowess as a dancer and his raw acting talent.
- Find eHostela on Showmax: This is his "prestige TV" era. It’s dark, it’s modern, and he is terrifyingly good.
- Check out Reyka: If you want something more "international" in flavor, this crime series shows his ability to fit into a more polished, cinematic production.
Dumisani Dlamini is a survivor in an industry that usually chews people up and spits them out. Whether he ever reconciles with Doja Cat is a matter for the tabloids. For anyone who actually cares about film and television, the work he’s put in over three decades is what really matters. He is a master of the craft who turned a background dancing role into a lifelong career.
To truly appreciate the evolution of South African storytelling, you should track down Yizo Yizo or Isibaya on local streaming platforms like Showmax or the SABC archives. Seeing Dlamini's transition from the youthful fire of Crocodile to the calculated gravitas of Dlakadla in The Wife provides a masterclass in how an actor matures with their audience.