South African Actor and Comedian Sabelo Gumede Diagnosed With Stage 3 Cancer, Appeals for Help

• South African actor and comedian Sabelo Gumede shared that he has been battling cancer
• Entertainment commentator Jabulani MacDonald broke the news on X, sharing a video of Gumede explaining his situation
• Concerned netizens responded with well-wishes, advice and suggested treatments

South Africans were left in their feels after it was revealed that comedian and actor Sabelo Gumede has stage 3 cancer.

Just recently, veteran actor Glen Gabela appealed for donations in a video. Now, Gumede, whose recent TV appearance was a cameo on the rebooted season of the long-running eTV soapie Scandal!, started a GoFundMe campaign to cover his cancer treatment.

The actor’s plight was brought to Mzansi’s attention by entertainment commentator Jabu MacDonald. On Thursday, 4 September 2025, MacDonald shared a post on his X account. The post was captioned:

“Comedian Sabelo Gumede has been diagnosed with stage 3 cancer and is in need of help. A GoFundMe has been opened to assist him, and here’s all the information for those who can contribute.”

Read also

LLB graduate works at retail store, South Africa shows her support: "Nothing is impossible"

In a subsequent post, MacDonald shared a video of Gumede explaining why he started a fundraising campaign. In the video, Gumede, who has also appeared in several TV commercials, shared that he was initially reluctant to start a GoFundMe campaign until his friend convinced him to do so.

“So, become aware of something, a friend of mine, who was a colleague who has now become a friend, who made me aware that he wants to help me, and a lot of people have been saying. ‘How can I help?’ and my answers have been, ‘Carry on being nice.’ But I realised, well, what he told me made me realise that people basically mean, ‘How can we give you money, buddy?’ Especially because you can't really help me much, these doctors are going to help me. So, he told me that some people prefer to do that anonymously and not tell. So, then the whole thing of let me give you my bank account details won't work. So now I've opened up a GoFundMe type of thing,” Gumede said.

Read also

“Rich person saying the truth”: SA inspired by billionaire’s story after being an absent father for 12 years

Watch the video below:

What netizens said after Sabelo Gumede appealed for donations

Netizens filled the comment section with well-wishes, while others proposed solutions to Gumede’s illness.

Here are some of the comments:

@Nelisiwe94 shared:

“Our academic hospitals (public) do provide treatment for cancer patients. I know sometimes there are long waits, but they do provide treatment.”

@MilleZulu suggested:

“I'm not a doctor. Someone on X posted something about her brother being cancer-free because he cut sugar completely from his diet. Can he also try the plant-based medication from a homoeopath? Soursop powder, dandelion root powder, and GI Vital softgel. He can also buy at pharmacies.”

@GSeapo said:

“I worked three years with children with cancer, and the same doctor who was in charge of a public ward was also in charge of a private ward. Once you have cancer, only God can help you. Chemotherapy requires numerous miracles for one to survive. I wish him well in the coming months of Chemo.”

Read also

Kaizer Chiefs forward Wandile Duba speaks out amid alleged death threats

@Ayola_M responded:

“This is heartbreaking.”

@TshepangPh50164 recounted:

“Eish, this guy always cracked jokes in Braam. I knew him from 2019, mxm yho.”

Skeem Saam star opens up after being diagnosed with cancer

Sabelo Gumede isn't the only Mzansi entertainer who has opened up about their battle with cancer.

Briefly News reported that actress and singer Joyce Ledwaba, known as Rakgadi Joyce on Skeem Saam, opened up after being diagnosed with stomach cancer.

The actress also shared that her son passed away, leaving Skeem Saam fans emotional and symphathising with her.

Source: Briefly News