10 Interesting Facts About Harriet Manamela (Meikie Maputla) from Skeem Saam. Love her or loathe her, Meikie Maputla is a major draw for many viewers of Skeem Saam every weekday, brought to life by the talented Harriet Manamela.

Harriet Manamela was born on October 13, 1971, in Diepkloof. She graduated from St. Anthony’s Centre in Boksburg and joined the Squints Artists Community Theatre Group in Alexandra, performing in “The Virus” and “Let’s Talk About Aids” at The Market Theatre Laboratory Annual Festival.

At The Market Theatre Laboratory drama school, she acted in “Broken Dreams,” participated in Theatre Sports for SABC3, and toured Sweden with productions like “Gommorah,” “Koze Kuse Bash,” and “Ways of Dying” at The Market Theatre and The Grahamstown Arts Festival.

Manamela’s television career began in 1998, featuring in shows such as “Soul City,” “Isidingo,” “Yizo Yizo II,” “Justice For All II & III,” “Zero Tolerance,” “Soul Buddyz,” and “Behind The Badge.” She is best known for her role as Meikie Maputla on SABC 1’s soap opera “Skeem Saam.”

As a character, Meikie is a businesswoman running the Maputla supermarket, fiercely protective of her children, and has displayed ruthless behaviors, including lying, bullying her daughter-in-law, and even killing a man who threatened her family.

In 2012, Manamela won a SAFTA for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in “Life Above All” and received a nomination for the Vita awards for her role in a popular soap opera.

In 2013, she joined the e.tv soap opera “Rhythm City” as Nomzamo, Suffocate’s alcoholic mother, who has struggled with alcohol for years as a coping mechanism.

Her film credits include “Dr Lucille,” “Hijack Stories,” “Country of My Skull,” and “Yesterday,” and she starred in “My Other Mother.”

Manamela has been divorced for over 20 years after a six-year marriage and has three children with her ex-husband.