Sindi Dlathu Humbled by Netflix “The Spine” Billboard After Historic Top 10 Achievement
- Netflix South Africa surprised Sindi Dlathu with a massive billboard celebrating her as "The Spine" of South African television
- This comes after Dlathu became the first South African actress to have three shows simultaneously in the Netflix Top 10
- She took to social media to celebrate the massive honour and thank Netflix, as well as the originator of her now-famous nickname
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Source: Instagram
Sindi Dlathu is having her flowers - and Netflix made sure the whole of Mzansi could see them. The veteran actress took to Instagram on 20 August 2026 to express her gratitude after Netflix South Africa unveiled a towering billboard bearing her name and a title that has taken social media by storm: "Sindi 'The Spine' Dlathu."
The gesture was more than just a marketing move. It marked a remarkable milestone - Dlathu became the first actress in South African television history to have three different shows running simultaneously in the Netflix Top 10 after she joined Umthetho, a feat that had fans talking.
In a heartfelt post shared on 20 August 2026, Dlathu thanked the streaming giant and Songo personally.
"What a lovely surprise! Portraying Mzansi's stories will always be my greatest privilege that I do not take for granted. So humbled by this incredible gesture from @netflixsa. From the bottom of my heart, thank you."
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Sindi Dlathu shows love to "The Spine" creator
She reserved special words for the creator behind the trend, Atlegang Songo, who goes by @papi.nicetingz on social media.
"And to @papi.nicetingz, the genuine passion, humour, and joy you bring to celebrating South African talent and culture is so special. You have such a beautiful connection to the people, and seeing everyone embrace your creativity through 'The Spine' makes me so proud. This is truly your moment to shine. Thank you."
The popular content creator became known for his hilarious skits hyping up Dlathu's acting. In his videos, he affectionately shouts, "Sindouza! The Spine ngwana!" - essentially crowning her the backbone of the entire South African acting industry. Netflix picked up on the trend and ran with it, turning a fan moment into a full-scale public celebration.
Source: Instagram
The nickname also carries weight beyond the meme. Dlathu's career has been built on portraying some of the most formidable women ever seen on South African screens, from the iconic Thandaza on Muvhango, to the ruthless Lindiwe Dikana on The River, and recently, Agnes Khoza, the commanding prison head in Netflix's crime thriller Umthetho. Characters with backbone, quite literally.
She also quietly updated her Instagram bio to read "The Spine," officially embracing the title. The billboard, the bio update, and the tribute paint a full picture of what this moment means: a veteran performer being recognised not just by the industry, but by the culture itself.
See Sindi Dlathu's post below.
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Source: Briefly News
