THE language barrier was a problem, but Dieketseng Mnisi (56) overcame the odds to play the role of MaNtuli on Skeem Saam.
Dieketseng portrays a Zulu woman from KZN who is married to a Pedi man and lives in Turfloop, Limpopo.
She said she couldn’t speak a word of Pedi when she was offered the role in 2012.
“But I vowed to learn the language no matter what,” she said.
“I used to ask translators and other cast members for help.
“I remember calling Harriet Manamela, who played the role of Meikie Maputla, every night and asking her to translate Pedi words for me.”
Dieketseng said she is proud of the fact that she is multilingual.
“My Pedi has improved a lot,” she said.
“No one can gossip about me in Pedi. I can now read and write the language.”
Dieketseng said when people marry into a different ethnic group, it is important to learn their spouse’s language and teach it to their kids.
“I’m married to a Nkosi and my kids speak Zulu. But I’m Tsonga by birth and not ashamed of my identity.”
Dieketseng, who is best known for her role as Masechaba Moletsane on the SABC2 sitcom Stokvel, said she started acting professionally in 1978.
She has starred in Taximan and the Schoolgirl, Ziyabhenda and Mfowethu, Sarafina and Township Fever.
She also travelled the world as a cast member of Welcome Msomi’s Umabatha.
“Playwright Gibson Kente is the one who shaped the way I act,” she said.
“He realised my talent and taught me how to be disciplined and dedicated.
“Now I can deliver dialogue with ease.
“I am who I am because of him and the skills he gave me.”
Dieketseng described acting as the process of using a character to mirror everyday life.
“It could be good or bad situations,” said the actress.
She said viewers can learn a lot from MaNtuli, a character filled with anger and jealousy.
“We have a lot of people like her in our society.
“MaNtuli is angry because her husband left her with the kids in Limpopo and went to live with a girlfriend in Alexandra.”
Unlike Ma Ntuli, Dieketseng is accommodating and loves peace.
