Bio
Tumi Maretele (also credited as Betty Maretele) is a South African actress, puppeteer and singer best known for her starring role as Neo in the SABC1 sitcom Thandeka's Diary.
She has acted in a number of other television series including Thabang Thabong, Muvhango, Justice for All, Rhythm City, Binnelanders, Ga re Dumele, Ngempela and Single Mothers.
She was also a puppeteer for the youth television series Tha Pazoolies, School TV and four seasons of Takalani Sesame (in which she manipulated and was the voice of Zuzu).
Tumi also has an extensive theatre resume with appearances in such stage productions as The Pain, Bound by Love, Black Age, Nonkhause, isiThukuthuku, Unfaithful Woman and Shattered Dreams.
She had her first starring role in television in the Lokshin Bioskop Series production Single Mothers, which aired on Mzansi Magic and Mzansi Wethu in 2013.
In 2015 she began starring in the SABC1 sitcom Thandeka's Diary as Neo, the mother of of the titular character who is the loving, protective and hard working parent who does it all for her family.
In 2016 she guest starred in an episode of the SABC1 docu-drama series Ngempela.
In 2017 she had a guest starring role on the Mzansi Magic soapie The Queen, making her first appearance in on Friday 3 November, 2017 (Season 2, Episode 70).
In 2018 she guest starred in the Mzansi Magic telenovela The Throne, appearing in Season 1, Episode 32 (which aired on 20 September).
Tumi is multilingual, speaking Tswana, Sesotho and English.