Matthews Manamela (born November 1st, 1978) is a South African actor, choreographer and arts administrator. He is best known for playing Sergeant Babeile on Skeem Saam.
In this article, we will look at the actor’s career and some personal information about him. So, read till the end for more information.
Biography of Matthews Manamela
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name: | Matthews Manamela |
| Date of birth: | 1 November 1978 (48 years as of 2026) |
| Place of birth: | Seshego, Limpopo, South Africa |
| Education: | Diploma |
| Height: | 1.67 m |
| Occupation: | Actor, Choreographer |
| Known for: | Babeile from Skeem Saam |
| Spouse/Partner: | Pauline Maisha Manamela |
| Children: | Not publicly confirmed |
| Family: | Private |
| Instagram: | @manamelamatthews |
| Net worth: | Estimated R1–2 million ZAR (approximate, based on local acting/choreography career) |
| Nationality: | South African |
Early Life of Matthews Manamela
Matthews Manamela was born on 1 November 1978 in Seshego, Limpopo, South Africa. Consequently, as of 2026, he is 48 years old. Moreover, he grew up in a close family with three siblings, which nurtured his sense of responsibility and creativity from a young age.
In 1991, he moved to Johannesburg to live with his uncle. Furthermore, he was still in his early teens when this transition occurred. As a result, he was exposed to new communities and opportunities that would later influence his artistic path.
During his youth, Matthews developed a passion for storytelling, performance, and movement. Consequently, he began exploring acting and choreography in local school and community productions. Moreover, these early experiences laid the foundation for his future career in South African television and theatre.
Education
Matthews Manamela completed his early schooling in Seshego and later in Johannesburg after moving to live with his uncle. Furthermore, he showed a keen interest in creative subjects, particularly performance and movement.
Consequently, he pursued higher education and earned a 3-year diploma, which helped lay the foundation for his acting and choreography career.
Moreover, his education allowed him to connect with mentors and peers in the arts. As a result, he gained both the skills and confidence needed to succeed in South African television and theatre.
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Personal life
First of all, Matthews is married to his beloved wife, Pauline Maisha Manamela. Who played the role of Connie on TV’s Scandal? She was Motshabi’s therapist. Furthermore, Manamela has two daughters and one son, one of whom is in her early teens.
Another unknown fact about Matthews Manamela is that he is actually a cousin to Harriet Manamela. Who plays Meiki Maputla on Skeem Saam.
Furthermore, the actor is very fond of his wife, who is also an actress and a businesswoman. She promotes and sells a self-made brand of dishwashing gel.
So, aside from acting, the family is very financially active. Matthews Manamela is Christian by religion and believes in God. Furthermore, the man is very fond of his work, both professional and philanthropic.
The TV career of Matthews Manamela
In terms of career, Manamela started at a community theatre level and upgraded to television over the years. However, his most famous role to date is his Sergeant Babeile role on Skeem Saam.
Furthermore, the storyline that shot him to fame was that of the serial killer, wherein Sergeant Rathebe was believed to be the killer.
For his role, the actor said he did his full research on how cops act and some of their codes of conduct. So, as you can see in Skeem Saam, he definitely carries himself differently from the average person.
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Height
Matthews Manamela is believed to be around 1.67 meters tall. While he may appear shorter on screen, he is actually about average height in real life. Furthermore, this height does not affect his commanding presence as an actor and choreographer.
Philanthropy and other activities
Manamela is not just an actor but a choreographer. So, most of his work has to do with uplifting the youth through movement.
Furthermore, he has hosted numerous events and choreographed a lot of young people. So, the work he does for the youth is not only limited to choreography but also upliftment.
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Matthews Manamela on Social Media
On social media, you can find Matthews Manamela on Instagram at @manamelamatthews, and he has over 1.4k followers. Furthermore, he is also on Facebook under the name Matthews Manamela.
