Khanyi Mbau will be joining the upcoming third season of Umlilo, the actress confirms.

The internet was set abuzz after a low quality snapshot of Mbau with some of the Umlilo leading ladies – including Nokuthula Ledwaba and Omuhle Gela – recently leaked online.

In the snap, Mbau is seen rocking a shorter hairdo and all the ladies don matching creamy whites.

Although Mbau opted to keep mum on most of the details surrounding her role in the new season of the popular etv primetime drama, she did confirm that she has joined the show.

Asked about when she found out that she will be part of the ensemble cast of the forthcoming season of Umlilo, she simply answered:

“It’s been a while now. It’s been a really long time.”

Subsequently, the next question became: Did you have to audition or the role was offered to you?

“Yes I auditioned. Like everything else,” Mbau swiftly replied.

Mbau received rave reviews for her role in the new local film Happiness is a Four-Letter Word that opened in local theatres over the weekend and shattered box office expectations.

She teases that for those who have seen the film they can expect her to deliver an equally great performance in the show.

“You are going to have to watch and find out for yourself. If you have seen my movie you can understand that you are in for a good time,” Mbau retorts.

Umlilo publicist Chamaign Mailula couldn’t confirm the news that Mbau has joined the show, but said she was aware of the buzz around it.

“It has not been confirmed as yet and we are also still waiting, but she was one of the people being cast. But nothing of yet has been confirmed,” Mailula points out.

“Yeah, we are aware of that [the leaked promotional shots]. But it is not been confirmed as yet, but we are also waiting for confirmation from outside.”