Daniel Hadebe was born in Shoshanguve, Pretoria. He is a South African actor and model best known for his role as paparazzi photographer and ladies’ man Jomo “Jay-Jay” Zwane in the e.tv soapie Scandal! Hadebe grew up wanting to be an actor. He decided his best way into the profession with no acting tuition was through modelling, which lead him to approach an agency for representation. He was a finalist in the 2006 Men’s Health Look competition.
Although he was initially told he was too short to be a model, Hadebe persisted and eventually got accepted by an agency. Steady modelling work followed, as far abroad as Congo and Tanzania.
Daniel lists his modelling highlight as being featured in six pages of advertisements in FHM magazine, and also took part in several ramp modelling shows. He also appeared in the Cosmopolitan SA Sexiest Men calendar in 2007.
Always with an eye on acting, Hadebe landed extra roles in the soapies Isidingo and Generations, before landing a chance audition in 2006 for a martial arts short film called Shogun Khumalo Is Dying, the first episode in a heptalogy of movies entitled Rhabe’s Seven Soldiers Of Light.
Although reluctant to audition Hadebe’s friends persuaded him to do so, and he landed the lead role of Shogun Khumalo. Shortly after landing the role in Shogun, Hadebe got the part of Jay-Jay in Scandal! in April 2006, which he continues to play today. In 2010 he starred as Fabio in the SABC2 drama series The Mating Game, from March to June.
He had a guest starring role in the fourth episode of the SABC1 science fiction television series Room 9, in 2012.
