Bio
Sifiso Simamane is a South African actor, playwright and director best known for his starring role as Jason "Bra Jay" Nkabinde, a crime kingpin nicknamed "The Reserve Bank Governor of Soweto" (he literally signs the money), in the e.tv action series The Alliance. It was his first starring role in television.
He previously guest starred as Captain Mthimkhulu in the second season of the SABC1 soap opera Uzalo, in 2016.
Having appeared in Durban theatre productions like Ashwin Singh's plays To House (Playhouse Drama Theatre, 2006) and Spice 'n Stuff (Catalina Theatre, 2007), Sifiso turned his hand to writing and directing.
In 2009 he produced his first play Inkosi uMpande Kasenzangakhona (King Mpande, son of Senzangakhona), a historical drama about one of the great leaders of the Zulu nation, King Mpande kaSenzangakhona (1798-1872), who was half-brother to the two Zulu kings who preceded him - Shaka and Dingaan.
He later played the leading role of Chief Albert Luthuli in Durban theatre writer/director Edmund Mhlongo's musical One Among Many: A Musical Tribute to Chief Albert Luthuli. Originally staged in 2007 to coincide with the 40th anniversary of Luthuli's death, it later toured to the Grahamstown National Arts Festival in 2014.
In 2015 he appeared in 'Mashu: The Musical, a harrowing tale of the trials and tribulations of two brothers who are caught up in the madness that shattered the lives of the people of KwaMashu in the mid-90s. The show had a run at the Playhouse Theatre in Durban.
Sifiso has also voiced characters in a number of radio dramas including Tuck Shop, Muti and Lollipop Lane. He has also had roles in the films I Wish I Was in Jail, Singham and When She Comes.
In 2016 he landed his first starring role in television in The Alliance, playing the leading character Bra Jay. Streetwise, strong, stubborn and always the suspect, Bra Jay arouses aversion and excites affection amongst his family, business partners and community.