Patience Bambalele

Patience Bambalele

Controversial actress Tina Jaxa is back on the small screen with a bang.

This time she stars in Khululeka-Siyavota, a comedy drama series focused on voter education.

Jaxa, who at one stage dominated the tabloids with her controversial private life, acts as Mama Rose in the 13-week show on SABC2.

"I am now back in television full-time," Jaxa says. "It was not my idea, though. The producers of the show had to beg me. I did it for my fans."

Asked why she had kept a low profile for so long she said: "There was too much happening in my life. The media was writing negative things about me.

"On the other hand my marriage [to music promoter Prosper Mkwaiwa] was crumbling and I decided return home [to Cape Town] to start afresh. It worked for me."

At present Jaxa is a producer and director of radio commercials in African languages on the SABC's radio stations.

After she quit the limelight many TV viewers thought Jaxa was down and out. The actress was quick to dismiss such claims as rubbish.

"I don't know where people got that," she says. "I am really doing well - even if I say so myself."

Jaxa, who made her name in Isidingo and Generations, last appeared on TV in 2005 in the comedy series Madam and Eve.

Khululeka educates people on voters' rights. It features a wide range of topics, including democracy, human rights issues and the need to inform communities about the importance of local government.

It airs on Sundays at 7pm.