Lunathi Mampofu Covers Bona Magazine Nov/Dec 2025

Lunathi Mampofu on Legacy, Motherhood, and Owning Her Voice

South Africa’s leading lady, Lunathi Mampofu, isn’t interested in playing it safe - not on screen, and definitely not in real life. In her new BONA Magazine cover story, she offers one of her most grounded, self-aware interviews to date, opening up about the roots that shaped her, the motherhood lessons that anchor her, and why every character she plays is a step toward the woman she’s becoming.

Born in Mthatha and raised between there and East London, Lunathi’s childhood was loud, full, and deeply community-driven. “It was always a wholesome place to be. It was jovial and we sang… Going through a tough time, you’re welcome; needing a meal or a place to lie down for the night, everyone was welcome to seek refuge there,” she shares about her family home.

It’s this foundation of giving that she now reframes with sharper boundaries. “My upbringing was all about giving… being able to put myself first is something that took a while for me to see as normal,” she says. “My free time is dedicated to us spending time together, and I’m selfish about that.”

Her love for the arts was sparked early - in church halls, choir rehearsals, and eventually a pivotal school trip to Germany. “Seeing people reacting to what we were doing… that’s when it hit me that I can perform,” she remembers. “I was a young girl from South Africa, moving people emotionally abroad.”

Acting didn’t just become a profession; it became a mirror. Her current role as Zoleka on Inimba feels hauntingly familiar. “Inimba feels like someone had a mirror view of my life and picked me for the role - it’s too close to home,” she admits. For her, storytelling has been both a trigger and a form of healing: “It has been therapy for a lot of us on the show. It triggers us, and we find a way to heal through the stories we bring to life at the same time.”

Even with a resume that spans drama, crime, romance, comedy, and everything in between, Lunathi remains sharp about purpose. Her hardest role? Without hesitation - The River. “I was pushed to limits I had never imagined,” she says, reflecting on the wrenching storyline that echoed the real-life trauma many women face.

Off-screen, her mission is equally powerful. Together with her sister, she’s building My Defense, an initiative equipping women and girls with both physical and emotional tools for protection. “We aren’t only talking about the physical, but encouraging people to have a voice,” she explains. Her vision is bigger than classes; she wants self-defense woven into school curriculums.

If this cover story makes anything clear, it’s this: Lunathi is rewriting what legacy looks like. Not as a performer alone, but as a mother, mentor, and woman determined to leave the world sharper and safer than she found it.