Where do we even begin with Deliwe Malinga? Perhaps we should start by saying “Haaibo!” and throwing a shoe at the TV — not out of anger, but because this woman’s acting will have you speaking in tongues, laughing hysterically, and questioning your moral compass all at once.
After 36 years in the entertainment industry, working alongside icons like Mbongeni Ngema, Deliwe is still shaking things up and leaving audiences emotionally disoriented in the best possible way. And just when we thought we’d seen it all, she showed up in Umkhokha: The Curse and absolutely redefined the term "villain."
Now, I have never — and I mean never — liked a villain before. I am usually the type to throw popcorn at the screen and pray for their downfall. But not with Deliwe. No, ma’am. With Deliwe, I found myself emotionally conflicted. One minute I was clutching my pearls in horror, and the next I was laughing so hard I nearly choked on my chakalaka.
Her performance as Mamzobe was disturbing, yes — but it was also deeply hilarious. She was evil, she was dangerous, and she was DELICIOUS to watch.
It takes real talent to play a character so diabolical that she could probably slap Satan into therapy — and yet make us love her for it. Deliwe had us all questioning our spiritual alignment. Is it normal to want the villain to win? Is it wrong to take notes during her monologues? Should I call my pastor? And yet, despite her character’s misdeeds, we could not stop watching.
She played her role with such finesse, such twisted elegance, that we didn’t know whether to pray for her or praise her.
What makes Deliwe even more iconic is that this isn't her first rodeo. This is a woman who has spent nearly four decades in theatre and television, delivering unforgettable performances that have shaped South African storytelling. She’s the kind of actress whose stage presence could resurrect Shakespeare and make him rewrite Macbeth in isiZulu.
Her background in theatre shines through in every line she delivers — even when she's plotting someone’s fictional doom, she does it with the kind of theatrical precision that makes you want to say, “Yhu, but why is she like this — and where can I learn to be this dramatic?”
There’s something about Deliwe’s face (Mamzobe) that says, “Don’t trust me,” and something in her laugh that screams, “I’ve already ruined your life, darling, you just don’t know it yet.” She has turned villainy into a high art form — the Gucci of evil, if you will. She doesn’t just act — she embodies. She doesn’t play a character — she becomes the chaos.
And let’s talk about the cultural impact. Social media was a mess during Umkhokha: The Curse. Memes were flying, aunties were praying, and grown men were texting their mothers for spiritual protection. She had the nation in a chokehold, and we all submitted willingly.
But behind that powerhouse performance is a woman who has fought hard for her place in this industry. 36 years is not child's play. It’s blood, sweat, wigs, and many questionable scripts along the way.
She has earned every bit of praise coming her way, and it’s about time we as a nation stood up, removed our hats (and our wigs if necessary), and said: “Thank you, Queen Deliwe. We are not worthy.”
So here’s to Deliwe Malinga— the actress who made us love a villain, who turned horror into humour, and who continues to command every stage and screen she graces.
May your talent never be dimmed, may your characters never be soft, and may your next role be even more chaotic than the last.
We are ready. We are terrified. And we are obsessed.
