Vusi Kunene's biography: From family to film career, awards, and online following

Many people recognise and love the villain character of Jack Mabaso in Generations and Generations: The Legacy. The actor's real name is Vusi Kunene, who discovered his love for acting in the 1990s. According to Vusi Kunene's biography, he has graced many shows and films and is among the most sought-after South African actors of this generation.

Key takeaways

• Vusi Kunene is one of the top actors in South Africa.
• He has two children; one is a daughter with actress Grace Mahlaba.
• Vusi Kunene stars as Jack Mabaso in Generations: The Legacy.

Profile summary

Vusi Kunene's biography

Vusumuzi Micheal Kunene is a talented actor. He started acting in his early years and is passionate about growing the South African film industry.

How old is Vusi Kunene?

Vusi Kunene's age is 59 years as of 2025. His documented date of birth is 12th April 1966, and his Zodiac sign is Aries.

The South African actor was born on Friday, 13th April 1966. However, one of the nurses felt the day signified bad luck, so she changed it to 12th April on his official documents.

Where did Vusi Kunene grow up?

The actor hails from Meadowlands, Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa. He was born and raised in Soweto. Due to his private nature, there is very little information about Vusi Kunene and his family. He closely guards the details of his upbringing.

He is based in Johannesburg. His ethnicity is Black (Sotho), and his nationality is South African. Keep reading below for more on Vusi Kunene's biography.

Educational background

The actor attended Shell Road to Fame School of the Arts, where he discovered his love for the theatre arts. In 1991, he enrolled at the Wits School of Drama for an undergraduate degree in Dramatic Art.

Career

The actor started his career at the Wits School of Drama. During his time on campus, he starred in multiple university stage productions, including The Hill. He was spotted by agent Moonyeenn Lee while doing stage plays.

He was cast in three television films while studying through the agent's assistance. He has starred in many TV and film productions in his career. Some are listed below.

Vusi Kunene is known for his hard work, talent and success. In an interview with IOL in 2024, he was asked what his definition of success was. The actor said,

Living within your means. Don’t feel bad for wanting more. And go for it. But know when you're biting off more than you can chew. When you spit. Leave what you can chew. And chew it.

Is Vusi Kunene a pastor in real life?

No, he is not an ordained pastor. Kunene is a believer and a preacher of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Many people call him a pastor because some ministries in the country have reached out to him as a speaker.

Vusi Kunene's net worth

There is no official information about his net worth, but he is believed to be among the wealthiest actors in South Africa.

While starring in the House of Zwide, Vusi Kunene's salary ranged between R150 000 and R200 000 per month. He is known for keeping his personal life away from the cameras.

Is Vusi Kunene married?

The actor's marital status remains unconfirmed because he is rather private about his relationship. Some people assumed that actress Brenda Mhlongo was Vusi Kunene's real wife because of their on-air relationship.

Mhlongo played Jack Mabaso’s wife in Generations. The two are not married in real life. Pictures of Vusi Kunene's wedding that circulated online years ago were arguably captured during an acting scene.

How many children does Vusi Kunene have?

The actor has two children, a son and a daughter, from different relationships. Vusi Kunene's daughter's mother is actress and scriptwriter Grace Mahlaba, while his son's mother remains unknown.

Mahlaba portrayed the character of Ipeleng Theledi on Backstage and even though the two have a child together, she is not Vusi Kunene's wife. It is not clear who the other child is.

How tall is Vusi Kunene?

The actor is 5’ 9” or 176 centimetres tall. He has brown eyes and black hair.

Vusi Kunene’s social media presence

Vusi Kunene maintains a relatively low profile on social media, preferring to keep his personal life private. However, he is active on Instagram with over 92k followers.

The talented actor shares updates about his career and occasional glimpses into his life. His posts often include behind-the-scenes content from his acting projects.

Is Vusi Kunene Venda?

No, Vusi Kunene is not Venda. He is of Sotho ethnicity and was born in Meadowlands, Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa. However, he is multilingual and has showcased his ability to speak various South African languages, including Venda, Tsonga, and Zulu, in his acting roles.

Which language does Vusi Kunene speak?

Vusi Kunene is fluent in isiZulu, Xitsonga (Tsonga), and Tshivenda (Venda). He has used these languages in many acting roles. In Shaka iLembe, he played a Tsonga king and spoke the language fluently.

Is Zazi Kunene a biological daughter of Vusi Kunene?

No, the two are not related. Zazi Kunene and Vusi Kunene's relationship is that of a mentor and mentee. Zazi recently joined Vusi on SABC1's Generations: The Legacy as Alice. She made it clear he is not her biological father. She sees him as an industry dad and a mentor.

Are Nhlanhla Kunene and Vusi Kunene related?

No, Nhlanhla Kunene and Vusi Kunene are not related. They just share the same surname. There is no family connection between them. Zazi Kunene also cleared this up. She said Nhlanhla is just an industry friend, not a relative.

What is Vusi Kunene doing now?

Vusi currently stars as Jack Mabaso in Generations: The Legacy after leaving House of Zwide. The A-list actor returned to the show in August 2024, thrilling fans. He also appeared in the 2025 projects such as Sniper: The Last Stand and Go!

Trivia

• He is not on social media.
• He bagged the Golden Horn for Best Actor in a Lead Role (TV Soap) at the 2016 SAFTAs.
• He prefers shooting on-site instead of shooting in the studio.

Vusi Kunene's biography tells the story of a remarkable South African actor. He values his privacy and keeps his personal life away from the media. He has starred in many popular TV shows and films. Today, he is one of the most sought-after actors of his generation.

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Source: Briefly News