Actor by day, Uber hero by night— Ronnie’s hustle story goes viral

by Nomonde Simelane

Former Generations: The Legacy actor Ronnie Nyakale has candidly shared how he turned to Uber driving to supplement his income amid financial pressures — and his reflections have sparked widespread conversation.

He spoke about his decision during an appearance on the On the Money podcast with John Bazjon Manyike, explaining that he needed the extra earnings to cover debts and daily expenses.

“I needed to get money that would help me to pay off my debts so that I would also be able to maintain myself,” Nyakale said, acknowledging that his acting salary alone was no longer sufficient.

He appealed to anyone paralysed by the fear of judgment, saying: “You will starve, my brother, because you are concerned about what people will say. Your child will go to school on an empty stomach because you are concerned about what people will say”

Nyakale described the Uber venture as a pragmatic move rather than a fallback. He emphasized that, despite the stigma, having a side hustle allowed him to manage responsibilities more effectively. “I have put myself into debt, so I have to hustle,” he admitted

As reported by Briefly News, Nyakale admitted on the podcast that the entertainment industry had not kept pace with his financial needs. “I needed extra cash to help me repay my debts. I’m an embarrassment now… but I have to hustle,” he said.

While many celebrated celebrities now resort to requesting donations, Nyakale’s approach was grounded in self-reliance—a point further underscored by his rejection of “abantu bazothini syndrome”

The actor, once famed for his role as gangster Papa Action on Yizo Yizo, was praised for taking control of his financial destiny rather than relying on handouts.

First published on African Insider

Words compiled by: Lisabeal Nqamqhele

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