Meet Thabiso Ramotshela: His rise to fame and success
Thabiso Ramotshela is a South African actor and model. His incredible acting skills have won him many hearts. Starting his acting career as Morena on The River, Ramotshela has become a familiar figure in South Africa's film industry. You can learn more about the phenomenal actor here.
Source: Instagram
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- Thabiso Ramotshela is a talented South African model and actor.
- He is 22 years old as of 2025.
- Ramotshela's most popular role was playing Morena in The River.
- His recent roles in Blood Legacy and Youngins have cemented him as a prodigy.
Thabiso Ramotshela's profile summary
| Full name | Thabiso Ramotshela |
| Age | 22 years old (as of 2025) |
| Date of birth | 26 September 2003 |
| Zodiac sign | Libra |
| Place of birth | South Africa |
| Gender | Male |
| Nationality | South African |
| Languages | English, Afrikaans, Sepedi, Setswana |
| Height in cm | 178 cm |
| Height in feet | 5'8" |
| Eye colour | Black |
| Hair colour | Black |
| Religion | Christian |
| Occupation | Professional actor and model |
| TV shows | The River, Pearls of Wisdom, Blood Legacy |
| Commercials | Uber Eats, MTN, SARS |
| Additional talents | Dancing, rapping, playing soccer and rugby |
| Marital status | Single |
| Social media |
Thabiso Ramotshela's biography
Ramotshela's acting talent shone through even when he was a teenager. On The River, he has voiced storylines that reflect the lives of teenagers. Among them are stories about building relationships with absentee parents and peer pressure from friends.
What is Morena's real name from The River?
Morena's real name is Thabiso Ramotshela. He is an actor and model. Before venturing into acting, he was a commercial model and has featured in several commercial ads. He was introduced to the industry during the early years of his teens.
How old is Thabiso Ramotshela?
Thabiso Ramotshela's age is 22 as of 2025. The talented actor was born in South Africa on the 26th of September 2003.
Source: Original
Career
Thabiso is not new to the screens. You might have spotted his face on billboards. He began his career as a professional model, and his first cooperative project was in 2017 when he was featured in an Uber Eats commercial as a support character.
In 2018 he was featured in an MTN billboard and, later that year, in a SARS commercial as a supporting character.
These commercial gigs set the pace for Thabiso Ramotshela's career on TV. In 2020, he joined The River as Morena Mokwepa Mokoena, a role that propelled his fame. According to a close source, Thabiso perfected his acting prowess by participating in school plays.
He is also undeniably good at it, and ever since he was a young kid, he would catch people's attention because of his acting skills. He reportedly moved the casting crew of The River to tears during the audition and was awarded the role immediately.
Thabiso Ramotshela's IMDb page is growing well for such a young actor. Here are some of his iconic roles.
Morena Mokwepa Mokoena in The River (2018-2024)
Source: UGC
In The River, Ramotshela plays Morena Mokwepa Mokoena. Morena's father is Cobra Mokoena, played by Presley Chweneyagae.
Their strained relationship is the bane of Morena's existence. Cobra and Tumi Masemola, Cobra's baby mama, get very close to Morena, although they show him the ropes.
Morena is introduced to the show when his mother, Tumi, drops him in Refilwe at his father's house. His mother paints him as a troublesome teenager who does not listen to anyone. She sounds fed up with his mischief.
During the drop-off, Tumi mentions that Morena stole from Mam’Flora, a family friend of the Mokoenas. She also states that he bunked classes and joined a group of boys who engaged in drug abuse.
Source: UGC
The root cause of his unruly behaviour is traced to his upbringing; he grew up without a father figure to guide him, a story that most people relate to.
As the story progresses, Morena turns the script to gold. He transforms from a rebellious teenager with daddy issues to a confident, award-winning young man.
He gradually earns a soft spot in his father's heart, and viewers experience a softer side of Cobra they had never encountered. He becomes a caring father interested in making up for the time he did not spend with his son.
Scelo in Pearls of Wisdom (2021)
In 2021, Thabiso spread his wings and joined the Pearls of Wisdom cast members. He joined the show after landing a supporting lead role, Scelo.
Mahlatsi in Youngins (2024)
In Showmax's, Youngins, Thabiso plays a boy who wears his heart on his sleeve. His character Mahlatsi shows what true friendship is and how it can conquer adversity.
Thabiso, Ayakha Ntunja and Kealeboga Masango are part of the Olifants Five, a group of friends from Olifantsfontein High School.
The group bonds by being open and vulnerable with each other. They help each other through their struggles and stay strong and true to one another.
Source: UGC
When asked what was the most rewarding thing about playing Youngings, Thabiso said,
The opportunity to embrace youth and learn from mistakes, whether they’re mine or those of my peers. It also feels great to be part of something historic – I see this show as the Yizo Yizo of my generation.
He added,
I’m so grateful for the opportunity Phathu [Makwarela] and Gwydion [Beynon] gave me to be part of this show. They saw potential in me and helped shape me into the actor I am today.
Nido Ndlovu in Blood Legacy (2024)
In 2024, Ramotshela landed a role in Netflix's Soap Opera series Blood Legacy. He starred alongside fellow talented Nandipa Khubone. The Supanovela explores the themes of corruption, power, and loyalty within the Ndlovu family.
Nido, a troubled teenager, begins his journey as a rebellious and conflicted character. As the show goes on, he receives a great transformation arc.
Thabiso's portrayal of Nido is emotionally deep and nuanced. The scene where his father pleads with him to return home particularly moved the audience.
Thabiso’s controlled breathing and vocal choices during this moment highlight Nido's inner turmoil and sense of betrayal. Thabiso constantly shifts his vocals conveying Nido's emotional state where he moves from defensiveness to vulnerability.
Thabiso Ramotshela's net worth
Source: UGC
Thabiso has captured Mzansi's attention because of his impeccable acting prowess. At the rate he is going and the recognition he is getting, it will not be a surprise if he joins the list of the highest- paid actors in South Africa.
His career is off to an exciting start. Even though details about Thabiso Ramotshela's net worth have not been made public, he seems to have earned a dime from his career so far.
Thabiso Ramotshela's girlfriend
Fans have been curious to know who Thabiso Ramotshela's girlfriend is. Many presume that he is in a relationship. However, he has not revealed any news about this. Neither has he claimed to be married.
Where is the house in The River Dikana?
The mansion is in the prestigious Ruimsig neighbourhood in Roodepoort, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Thabiso Ramotshela is a force to reckon with. He has made waves in South Africa's film industry at a young age and has the whole world ahead of him. From fellow castmates to audiences, everyone seems captivated by his great acting.
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Priscillah Mueni (Lifestyle writer) Priscillah Mueni is a lifestyle and entertainment content creator with more than 4 years of experience. She graduated from Meru University of Science and Technology with a Bachelor of Technology in Civil Engineering in 2019. In 2023, Priscillah finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. She has been writing articles on Briefly.co.za since 2019. Email: pshmueni@gmail.com
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