From Lenasia South to the small screen: Julius Malei creates a stage for the next generation

When Julius Retselisitsoe Malei walks onto a television set today, it is a reminder of just how far he has come.

The young actor from Lenasia South has appeared in popular productions including Outlaws, Youngins, Higher Grade and House of Zwide, but he insists that fame was never the ultimate goal. Instead, he wants to change the narrative of the community he proudly calls home.

“Away from the cameras, I’m just Julius. I’m a humble, family-oriented person who believes in working hard and staying grounded. Where you come from doesn’t define where you can go,” he said.
Growing up in Lenasia South, Malei often saw talented young people complete school only to find themselves with few opportunities. Rather than accept that reality, he decided to become part of the solution.

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“I always knew I wanted to bring change to my hood. We didn’t have acting classes, theatres or production companies here. I wanted to create opportunities and build a platform for young people from Lenasia South,” he shared.

His love for storytelling began long before television came calling. Inspired by his father, who worked as a cameraman filming weddings, graduations and community events, Malei spent his childhood directing friends in homemade videos, recording them on his cellphone and uploading them on YouTube.

Looking back at those early productions still reminds him how much he has grown.

His passion deepened in 2021 when he completed a short television and production course at school, where he worked as a Director of Photography on a learner-produced film. By 2024, he had begun attending auditions, only to discover that breaking into the industry was far from easy.

“Many talented people are competing for very few roles. Rejection became part of the journey,” he stated.

Instead of giving up, he embraced a philosophy that continues to guide him today. He added, “Every rejection is a stepping stone towards the role that will change your life.”

His persistence eventually paid off when Blanket Casting Agency signed him under talent agent Faith Ngubo, who believed in him despite his lack of experience. Shortly afterwards, production house Tshedza Pictures spotted his potential and began developing him from an extra to featured roles before eventually casting him.

Ironically, the production that transformed his career was one he had admired long before he ever set foot on its set.

Malei had watched the first season of Outlaws and quietly told himself that one day he would be part of the cast. When he auditioned for the role of Molefinyana in Season 2, he tried not to dwell on the outcome. A month later, the call came telling him he had landed the role.

His social media following grew from just over 2,000 followers to more than 35,000, while fans began recognising him in public and asking for photographs.

Despite his growing profile, Malei says one of his greatest challenges came while portraying the emotionally complex lead character in the short film Majaivane. Playing a troubled young addict pushed him beyond his comfort zone and left him questioning his own abilities.

“I even told my parents I wanted to quit acting,” he admits.

Determined not to let the experience define him, he worked relentlessly on developing his emotional range. That perseverance paid off when he secured another leading role this year in the upcoming short film, Izinyembezi Zomfula, where he says he finally proved to himself that no role is beyond his reach.

Today, his greatest source of pride is not celebrity but the fact that he has turned his childhood dream into a career. His focus has now expanded beyond his own success. Through his production company, Neutral Pictures, and his newly established Lenasia Theatre and Acting Academy, Malei is investing in aspiring performers from his community.

The academy equips children, teenagers and adults with practical industry skills, including acting techniques, script analysis, audition preparation, character development and professionalism. Watching shy students develop confidence reminds him why he began the initiative in the first place.

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Malei hopes his work will eventually change how people perceive Lenasia South. “When people hear Lenasia South, they often think about cable theft, drugs or crime. But we also have actors, filmmakers, musicians and entrepreneurs. I’d rather our community be known as a place where icons are created,” he continued.

While he dreams of one day taking his work onto the international stage, his immediate mission remains firmly rooted at home – creating opportunities for young people who need someone to believe in them.

His advice to aspiring actors is simple: Talent opens doors, but consistency keeps them open.