CELEB FEATURE
Thabang Molaba Leroy Siyafa
Beyond
BLOOD & WATER
BY TEMO MPODI
BLOOD & WATER HELPED PUT THABANG MOLABA AND LEROY SIYAFA IN FRONT OF A GLOBAL AUDIENCE. NOW BOTH ARE BUILDING ON THAT BREAKTHROUGH, WITH BIGGER AMBITIONS.
Both actors made waves in the Netflix series, which found a global audience and helped spotlight South African talent on the world stage. For Thabang Molaba and Leroy Siyafa, the series became more than a break-out moment. It challenged them, opening doors they are still stepping through.
For Thabang, stepping into the shoes of KB was“ amazing”. He recalls realising early on the scale of the show’ s impact.“ We knew we were shooting something special,” he says,“ but the attention it garnered was beyond what we expected. Every actor wants to be part of a story that resonates – and Blood & Water did that in a big way.”
The process itself also left a lasting impression, including a house party scene filmed at KB’ s home during a Cape Town winter.“ It was so cold that night we could’ ve died,” he laughs.“ Those moments remind you how much work goes into bringing a character to life.”
Leroy, who played Sam, shares a similar view.“ Being part of Blood & Water was momentous,” he says.“ It wasn’ t just about the exposure; it was about stepping into a role that challenged me.”
74 INBOUND SA / MAY 2026