STAGE and television actor Bongani Gumede is a no-nonsense, outspoken man.

STAGE and television actor Bongani Gumede is a no-nonsense, outspoken man.

Gumede has done well in television and his character as Oupa Dube in Yizo Yizo made him a household name.

Now he is back as Ngozi Masemola in the e.tv soapieRhythm City. He takes the part of a playboy who makes Puleng, a schoolgirl, pregnant.

Gumede explains his character: "Masemola is a ladies' man. He is educated and is proud of that . He has a way with the ladies and takes advantage of young and vulnerable schoolgirls."

He says he is excited about having landed the role.

"The problem of teachers sleeping with pupils is getting worse. When we were growing up that was rare and it was regarded as a big shame. Now it's a fashion."

Gumede started acting at a early age as a hobby.

"I never thought I could make a living from acting. Initially I wanted to be a male nurse or a teacher. Things did not work out, so I settled for acting."

When he first came to Joburg Gumede landed a role in a play called Street Sisters .

He later studied acting at the Market Theatre Laboratory.

He acted in the playTruth in Translation, which toured abroad. He also played Ntuli in the first season of the SABC3 drama series The Lab andRichard in the e.tv miniseries eKasi: Our Stories.