Thapelo Sebogodi: His story, family, and rise in television
Thapelo Sebogodi is a South African actor known for his role as Kabelo/Khabzela/Makabaza on the hit telenovela The River. He is the son of veteran actor Seputla Sebogodi and has worked in both TV and theatre, appearing also in the spin-off Cobrizi and other shows like House of Zwide.

Source: UGC
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Key takeaways
- Profile summary
- Thapelo Sebogodi's biography
- FAQs
Key takeaways
- Thapelo Sebogodi comes from a family of entertainers.
- His father is a legendary actor known for starring in Rhythm City, Generations, Scandal, Flak My Son, and The Republic.
- Despite his father's fame, Thapelo has independently carved his path in the showbiz scene.
- Before becoming a successful actor, Thapelo was in the retail business.
Profile summary
Real name | Thapelo J. Sebogodi |
Gender | Male |
Year of birth | 1988 |
Age | 37 years (as of 2025) |
Place of birth | Atteridgeville, South Africa |
Current residence | Pretoria, South Africa |
Nationality | South African |
Ethnicity | Black |
Religion | Christianity |
Sexual orientation | Straight |
Height in inches | 5’11’’ |
Height in centimetres | 180 |
Hair colour | Black |
Eye colour | Dark brown |
Father | Seputla Sebogodi |
Siblings | 3 (Kgothatso, Sebogodi, and Thabang) |
Relationship status | Single |
Education | Tshwane University of Technology |
Profession | Actor |

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Thapelo Sebogodi's biography
Thapelo Sebogodi's hometown is Atteridgeville, South Africa. He is the son of the veteran actor Seputla Sebogodi. In the family, he is the firstborn. The names of his siblings are Kgothatso, Sebogodi, and Thabang. Thapelo and Kgothatso share a mother, while the rest are his step-siblings.
Thapelo Sebogodi’s father, Seputla Sebogodi, is a renowned South African actor and gospel singer. He has won two SAFTA Awards and has appeared in several notable productions, including Critical Assignment (2004), The Republic (2019), and popular soap operas such as Rhythm City and Scandal!.
As a gospel artist, Seputla has released two albums, with his second one, Re Tshwarele Melato, debuting in 2010. He has been married three times and is a proud father of four children.
It is unknown when Thapelo Sebogodi's parents separated. However, the legendary actor seems close to his children, especially Thapelo. They even shared the same stage on Flak My Son.
How old is Thapelo Sebogodi?
Thapelo Sebogodi's age is 37 years as of 2025. He was reportedly born in 1988. Unfortunately, his exact date and month of birth remain a mystery.

Source: Original
Educational background
According to his Facebook profile, the actor attended Greenwood College and Max Stibbe. Later in 2008, he graduated from Tshwane University of Technology.
What is Thapelo Sebogodi known for?
Seputla Sebogodi's son is a talented actor with a promising career in the entertainment scene. The lad has appeared in some of the most famous South African TV shows since his debut in 2012.
Initially, he was in the retail business. At some point, he tried his hand at politics, too. However, they did not work out. Interestingly, his passion was elsewhere, acting.
During an interview, he revealed that he once disliked accompanying his father to the theatre but eventually developed a passion for acting after seeing himself on TV for the first time. He explained:

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After school I'd have to wait for my dad at the theatre or go with him on set. All my school holidays were spent on the set of a movie or in theatre. I hated being there. They needed kids for one scene. It was a lot of fun! Seeing ourselves on TV was great. I was being groomed without my knowledge or my approval.
He has grown his passion to become among the best in the field. Below is a list of movies and TV shows where the actor has appeared.
Year | Film/TV series | Role |
2025 | Cobrizi | Khabzela |
2018-2024 | The River | Khabzela |
2022 | Beast | Camo |
2021 | Pusha Pressa Phanda | Rocco |
2018 | Our Girl | Boko Haram Leader |
2017 | Outlander | Temeraire |
2017 | Bram Fischer | Joseph Mashifane |
2013 | Donkerland | Bongani |
2012 | Strike Back | Raage |
2012-2013 | iNkaba | DJ |
Is Thapelo Sebogodi leaving The River?
The actor appeared on the series from 2018 until 2024, when it wrapped up. On 15 April 2022, he was nominated for DSTV Viewers' Choice Awards in the Favourite Actor category for his role in The River. He wrote:
I only have nothing but Thank You’s. To DSTV Viewers Choice Awards for the Nomination. Tshedza Pictures Family 🙌🏿 The River fans for letting Mfana Pitori into your living rooms, much appreciated!!!
What is Thapelo Sebogodi's net worth?
Khabzela from The River is allegedly worth publicly not known. Primarily, he earns his money from his entertainment endeavours.
Who is Thapelo Sebogodi's wife?
Unlike most celebrities, the South African actor has kept his love life under wraps. Thus, it could be assumed he is single at the moment.

Source: UGC
How tall is Khabzela from The River?
The actor is 5 feet 11 inches tall, around 180 centimetres.
Is Thapelo Sebogodi on social media?
The actor has a substantial online following on Instagram, X(Twitter), and Facebook. At the time of writing, Thapelo Sebogodi's Instagram account has over 41k followers. On the other hand, his X(Twitter account) boasts 13k followers.
Thapelo Sebogodi at Presleys' funeral
Thapelo Sebogodi, who plays Kabelo, also known as Khabazela or Makabaza on The River, was among the many actors who gathered to pay their last respects to the late Presley Chweneyagae on Saturday, 7 June 2025.
Sebogodi, who portrayed Chweneyagae's on-screen best friend for six seasons, appeared visibly emotional during the funeral service. He shared heartfelt moments with fellow co-star Thabiso Ramotshela, who played Chweneyagae's son in the drama.
Presley Chweneyagae, best known for his award-winning role in Tsotsi and his portrayal of Cobra on The River and its spin-off Cobrizi, passed away earlier that week after a brief illness.
FAQs
- Is Thapelo Sebogodi related to Seputla Sebogodi? Yes. Seputla is the actor's father.
- Who is Thapelo Sebogodi's mother? His mother's name is not known.
- What is Kopano's real name from House of Zwide? Kopano's real name from House of Zwide is Thato Dithebe. He is a South African actor, television presenter, and model.
- What is Makabaza from The River's real name? Thapelo Sebogodi portrays Makabaza from The Rive.
- Where is Thapelo Sebogodi from? He hails from Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa. He is the son of veteran actor Seputla Sebogodi.
Thapelo Sebogodi is a vibrant and talented actor with a promising future in the entertainment scene. He has followed in his father's footsteps, becoming among the best in the field. Interestingly, his role in The River has propelled him to fame. Recently, he was nominated for DSTV Viewers' Choice Awards in the Favourite Actor category for his role in the drama show.
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Source: Briefly News

Rodah Mogeni (Lifestyle writer) She is a content creator with more than 4 years of experience. She graduated from Chuka University with a BA degree in Journalism and Mass Communication (2023). She joined Briefly in 2019. Rodah has been working as a health/fitness writer at BetterMe (since 2020), London Brokers, The Hoth, and Ardor Content. In 2023, Rodah finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. Her email is rodahmugeni998@gmail.com

John Ouma (Lifestyle writer) John Ouma is a journalist with six years of experience. He has published sharply argued think pieces that live at the intersection of power, politics, and society. He was awarded the FirstGen scholarship by Biola University and a merit-based scholarship by AMDA College and Conservatory of the Performing Arts in January 2021. He has worked for The Standard and Nation Africa as an opinion columnist between 2018 and 2022. He is currently working on his first novel—a literary fiction that traces the life of a contemporary Kenyan artist. Email: gervasjohn97@gmail.com