Giants of the City S1 | Loving Local

About the Show

16 August 2021

Makopano Mtshali (daughter of actor Lucky Mtshali), Phinel “DJ Finzo” Sefatsa, Hloniphile “Hloni” Dlamini, and Anele Brightness Xaba take viewers inside their daily lives as they deal with the challenges of dwarfism while they work, play, date and get around the big city.

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Making South Africa’s Giants of The City

16 August 2021

Producer Julia Machete takes us inside lives of people living with dwarfism

Who’s who

Makopano Mtshali

31-year-old Soweto-born Makopano is the daughter of actor Lucky Mtshali (Nondumo in the 1980s Shaka Zulu series). Dwarfism runs in her family, and she experienced rejection and ridicule both from part of her family and her schoolmates growing up. Now she is raising a son who shares her condition. Makopano works as a call centre agent, and she is currently undergoing initiation school to become a traditional healer.

Phinel “DJ Finzo” Sefatsa

27-year-old DJ Finzo comes from Senekal. While no one else in his family has dwarfism, including his 11-year-old daughter, he describes them as supportive. But he struggled with self-acceptance growing up, which still impacts his mental health. He started his career at community radio station Naledi FM, and today he’s a music compiler at Lesedi FM and a famous DJ. Finzo is in the process of divorce.

Hloniphile “Hloni” Dlamini

39-year-old Hloni is from KwaDukuza in KZN. She’s the only person with dwarfism in her family and suffered abuse, isolation and mockery growing up until her mother gave her up to church pastor Gladys Msweli, who showered her with love and care. These days, Hloni is an acclaimed gospel singer in a loving relationship with boyfriend of 6 years, Sabelo Mngoma, whose family have welcomed her.

Anele Brightness Xaba

32-year-old Pietermaritzburg-born Anele is the only person with dwarfism in her family. She was teased about her condition growing up and wants to start a foundation to educate children about dwarfism. Anele has worked as a production manager on TV shows Live AMP and Khumbul’ekhaya and a director-producer on It’s For Life. Now she’s looking for a new job. She is dating Mozambican Augustino Lazier.