Nandi Nyembe (born 19 August 1950)^[1] is a South African actress known for her roles in the sports drama Zone 14, and Soul City.

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Nyembe was born in Kliptown, Johannesburg, in August 1950. She also stayed in various places, like Botswana and East London, South Africa when she was young.^[2][3] Nyembe has shared how she used to always be cast as a maid in auditions because of the apartheid regime. In an interview with Bona Magazine she said:

White women’s faces used to get painted black if the show needed a black lead. The inequality and oppression angered me, and I started taking part in protest theatre. The police used to interrupt our protest theatre shows with tear gas to intimidate us. Most of the shows were at night and on my way home, the police used to ask for my pass. I was often on the run because the government hated what we were doing."^[4]

Nyembe is known for playing Nandi Sibiya from 1 until 2012 on Zone 14. She also portrayed the character of Lily on SABC 1's hit teen-drama Yizo Yizo (2001-2004),^[5] and the leading character in the SABC 1 sitcom Izoso Connexion, from (2006-2007). She has acted in feature films, including Reasonable Man (1999), Saturday Night at the Palace (1987) and Yesterday (2004).^[6][7]

In 2007, she appeared in the drama series Jacob's Cross, playing the role of Thembe Makhubu. In addition, Nyembe has appeared as a guest in episodes of dozens of primetime series including Soul Buddyz, Hillside, Erfsondes, 4Play: Sex Tips for Girls and a guest starring role in The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency.^[8]

Nyembe has a daughter. Nyembe practices sangoma (Medium/psychic), she had her sangoma initiation when she was only 17,^[15] Before knowing she was a sangoma she suffered a serious illness, as a result of being able to connect with the spirits of people who died on the road. In addition she told Time Lives Magazine about the illness.

I was sick and my mother had to take me to Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital. At some point, doctors had to test my urine and surprisingly it came out with soil but there was nothing wrong with me,^[16]

Nyembe's daughter also practiced sangoma, though she has stopped.^[17]