This is the biography of Lawrence Maleka, a South African TV presenter and actor widely recognized for his role as Zolani in One Magic’s Telenovela, “The River.”
He gained prominence through his dynamic career in television presenting, hosting shows like “Clash of the Choirs,” “Big Brother Titans” etc.
Lawrence Maleka Early Life
Lawrence Maleka was born on 11th April 1990 in Soweto, South Africa. He grew up in the same area alongside two older siblings in a close-knit family. Later in life, Lawrence relocated to Johannesburg, where he currently resides. During his high school years, he showcased his talents as a rugby player and even captained the school’s squad. While specific details about his education remain undisclosed, it’s worth noting that Lawrence exhibited a passion for learning and self-improvement. Interestingly, he did not attend any formal arts or acting school. Instead, he honed his skills by emulating famous presenters and writing scripts on his own.
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Career
Lawrence Maleka’s breakthrough in the entertainment industry came in 2009 when he secured the role of presenter for the “Gadget Show” on Soweto TV, a move inspired by encouragement from Lerato Kganyago. Subsequently, he went on to host other shows on the same network, including “Street Radio” and “Ziyamporomo.”
In 2011, Lawrence hosted a below-the-line promo show for Coca-Cola on e.tv titled “Coca-Cola Happiness.” From 2012 to 2014, he co-hosted “Star Gist,” a celebrity gossip show on AfricaMagic Entertainment, alongside former Big Brother contestant Vimbai Mutinhiri.
Lawrence Maleka Biography (Image Credit: Instagram @sirlawrencemaleka)
In 2014, he participated as a celebrity contestant on the e.tv game show “I Love South Africa,” appearing in Season 1, Episode 5. Two of his fellow contestants from that episode later joined him as Choirmasters on “Clash of the Choirs.”
In May 2015, he took over as the presenter of the lottery game show “Lotto Powerball” on e.tv, which aired on Tuesdays and Fridays. The same year, he had a recurring role as Don Webster in the third season of the Mzansi Magic soapie “isiBaya.”
Towards the end of 2015, Lawrence was announced as the replacement for Bonang Matheba as the host of the high-profile Mzansi Magic reality competition series “Clash of the Choirs South Africa.”
On 9th September 2016, he made his debut as the new co-host of the e.tv youth and lifestyle music show “Club 808” alongside Boity Thulo.
In 2017, he assumed the role of host for the SABC3 reality competition series “The Final Cut,” where contestants faced weekly dramatic challenges to secure a part in an SABC drama series.
However, his most significant acting role to date came when he was cast in “The River,” where he portrayed the character Zolani from season 1 to season 3.
Big Brother Mzansi/ Big Brother Titans
In 2021, Lawrence Maleka bagged a hosting gig on Big Brother Mzansi’s new season which premiered on January 23rd 2022.
Additionally, in 2023, Lawrence also bagged another major hosting gig on Big Brother Titans. Big Brother Titans is a fusion of Big Brother Mzansi and Big Brother Naija. On Big Brother Titans, he shared co-hosting duties with none other than the renowned BBNaija host, Ebuka Obi-Uchendu
Lawrence Maleka biography (Image Credit: Instagram@sirlawrencemaleka)
Lawrence Maleka Awards
- 2016 – Nigerian Broadcasters Merit Award for African Broadcaster of the Year
- 2019 – Golden Horn Award for Best Supporting Actor for the Telenovela “The River”
- 2023 – South African Film and Television Awards (Saftas17) Best actor in a Telenovela for The River
Personal Life
Lawrence Maleka is known for maintaining a low profile when it comes to his personal life. Despite his public career, he values his privacy. However, he was rumoured to be married to Zenokuhle Maseko.
However, in an interview with The King’s Cast, hosted by DJ Naves and Sphectacula, Lawrence Maleka denied being a married man. The award-winning TV host revealed that the rumour started when people assumed that he was dating his fellow cast member, Zenokuhle Maseko, who played Mbali Dikana on The River.
We got really close… we spent a lot of time together off-screen. She’s a social media person, and she would post every time we hung out. people assumed we were a couple,” he said.
