After completing a BA in Dramatic Arts at the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa, Ntshavheni went on to study a master of Fine Arts in Screenwriting and Directing at Columbia University under the tutorship of Milos Forman.
Winning the Paramount Picture Writing Award in 1989 with Rambani, Ntshavheni then worked as assistant director to Spike Lee on features including MALCOLM X, and JUNGLE FEVER.
Ntshavheni wrote THE RAINBOW CALLABASH, a feature -length film for SABC in 1994 and was Head Writer for 26 episodes drama series SUCCESS/KGATELOEPE, for SABC in 1996.
He directed CHIKIN BIZNIS in 1999 for M-Net.
Ntshavheni also lectures in Screenwriting at the Film and Television School of Drama at Witswatersrand.
In 2004, his film THE WOODEN CAMERA won the Crystal Bear at the Berlinale for Best Youth film. In 2012, his feature ELELWANI was the Opening Film at Durban FilmFest (South Africa).