Latest news with #JerryMofokeng
Eyewitness News
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Eyewitness News
'Actor who was able to find the truth of the moment': Veteran Jerry Mofokeng pays tribute to Presley Chweneyagae
Paula Luckhoff 27 May 2025 | 14:44 John Perlman 702 Drive with John Perlman Presley Chweneyagae Presley Chweneyagae, Instagram 702's John Perlman is joined by veteran South African actor Jerry Mofokeng. South Africa and the performing arts world is mourning the death of award-winning actor Presley Chweneyagae at the age of 40. Chweneyagae rose to international fame with his starring role in the 2005 film Tsotsi , which won South Africa's first ever Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. He made a lasting impression with his portrayal of young gangster who regains his humanity when he bonds with a stolen baby. Chweneyagae's decades-long career spanned theatre, television, and film, with agency MLA highlighting his standout performances in Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom (2013) and The River (2018). John Perlman talks to veteran actor Jerry Mofokeng, himself a star himself of Tsots i. Mofokeng remembers how the late casting agent Moonyeenn Lee went off the books to find young talent for the film. "She even went to youth groups and so on because she wanted a particular quality and texture of actor, and that's how she came up with Terry Pheto and Presley Chweneyagae." Jerry Mofokeng, Veteran Actor "Getting on to that set I found a certain freshness, but a grounded freshness, because Aubrey Sekhabi (State Theatre district director) had done a very good job in training these young actors in Mafikeng in the theatre." Jerry Mofokeng, Veteran Actor Mofokeng acknowledges his prejudice towards the 'young tigers' who get onto the screen without cutting their teeth in theatre 'where you're naked and no\body says cut'. "But the simplicity of Chweneyagae's acting is what got him the fame, the accolades... because often we say as directors 'don't act, let's find the truth of the moment' and THAT is what he was able to do." Jerry Mofokeng, Veteran Actor "And as much as he was guite into film and television, he kept coming back into the theatre to refresh the craft. For me, that's what made him to be the quality of actor that he was." Jerry Mofokeng, Veteran Actor Tributes on social media have described Presley Chweneyagae as a cinematic icson and as a giant in the world of entertainment. We bid farewell to Presley Chweneyagae, a giant in the world of entertainment. 🎬 His legacy will live on in our hearts. 🕊️ 🎭📺 #RIPPresleyChweneyagae — DStv (@DStv) May 27, 2025 View this post on Instagram A post shared by Terry Pheto (@terrypheto) The African National Congress joins the nation and the creative arts community in mourning the untimely passing of Presley Chweneyagae, a distinguished actor whose work transcended the stage and screen to touch the hearts and minds of millions. May his soul rest in peace, and… — ANC - African National Congress (@MYANC) May 27, 2025 SA mourns the death of Tsotsi actor, Presley Chweneyagae — @The Guardian (@ObakengMaje) May 27, 2025
News24
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News24
Lesotho style, Paris dreams: Designer Thabo Makhetha ready to take Basotho heritage global
Thabo Makhetha is a fashion designer who integrates Sotho heritage into her designs, notably using Basotho blankets. From launching her collection in 2011 to showcasing at SA Fashion Week, her milestones include collaborating with Jerry Mofokeng and international recognition with her designs featured at global events. Makhetha focuses on celebrating Basotho culture through bold, impactful designs while aspiring to showcase her work on international platforms in cities like Paris. Once again, celebrated Sotho designer Thabo Makhetha has taken the fashion industry by storm with her latest collection showcased at SA Fashion Week in April, and she has set her sights on international runways. Known for her remarkable use of the Basotho blankets, the designer celebrated heritage once again in her latest collection, featuring the iconic print in pastel colours and various shades of brown. For Makhetha, fashion has always been a huge part of her life and the only plan in terms of a career. 'Fashion is just something that's always been with me,' she told News24. In her early life, Makhetha often heard that her gift for sewing came from her grandmother, Dikeledi, whose name inspired the print in her newest collection, showcased at SA Fashion Week. 'The collection that you also saw now, the print on this 100% cotton is called Dikeledi. That's my grandmother's name. 'People say that I got the gift for sewing from her. It's just always been with me. I've never actually thought about doing anything else. I don't know what else I can do but fashion,' she said. The Dikeledi collection featured the Sotho print on 100% cotton, showcasing a lighter and more versatile evolution of the blanket design. 'It's a translation of a lighter fabric and possibly the future of textiles for Basotho culture in terms of using those beautiful bold prints and colours,' she said. The boldness of Sotho blankets For Makhetha, the designers are meant to make a powerful statement while also putting Sotho in the spotlight both locally and globally. 'It's my story, it's my heritage. It's amazing; it stands out,' she said, adding that the boldness of the blankets is not just about aesthetic appeal but also about making a cultural statement. According to the designer, her journey in the fashion industry started in 2009 after she completed her tertiary studies. Instead of seeking employment and working under someone else, she dived headfirst into building her own brand. Two years later, in 2011, she introduced the celebrated 'Kobo ea Teng' collection, marking her signature use of Sotho blankets. When asked if she thought her work would become successful enough to land on SA Fashion Week's runway, Makhetha said bigger milestones are yet to come. 'We haven't yet gotten to the part where we're having these interviews, and you and I are talking in Paris and all these other foreign locations. So that's the answer to that one,' she grinned. Career milestones and creative collaborations Makhetha's career has seen various significant milestones, with one of her proudest moments being her collaboration with legendary South African actor and director Jerry Mofokeng. The two worked together on 'Hope on a Horse' in Cape Town, an artistic performance blending fashion and storytelling. Mofokeng, who directed the event, praised Makhetha's vision, describing her work as a way of wearing 'the best of yourself on your skin.' Mofokeng, who donned one of Makhetha's pieces for a poetry programme in Cape Town, told News24 about how the garment impacted him. 'Nobody must touch my body except Thabo. And she got me right... really brought the best out of me,' he said. He also applauded Makhetha's ability to redefine traditional Sotho elements, particularly referencing her latest show as a redefinition of 'Tethana,' a Sotho skirt symbolising youthful grace among Basotho maidens. 'There is something in Masoto for the little young maidens called Tethana. She redefined Tethana today. 'That last dress is something for the awards ceremony. It cannot be worn at anything less than that. It requires an event that has lights and cameras,' the veteran actor said in an interview with News24 after the fashion show. Another memorable milestone was when former Elle magazine editor Jackie Burger showcased a Thabo Makhetha cape seated at the front row of a Louis Vuitton fashion show. 'And I think for her, it was that seal of approval to say, 'Girl, you're doing the right thing. Keep going in this way'. And really encouraged me to get to where I'm at now as well,' she said. A celebration of culture and craft Makhetha's SA Fashion Week collection demonstrated her creativity and dedication to preserving and celebrating the Basotho culture. The final dress during her show made a huge impact and was described by Mofokeng as perfect for award ceremonies. This is because it symbolised the grandeur and bold elegance Makhetha is known for. 'That last dress is something for the awards ceremony. It cannot be worn at anything less than that,' he said. 'It requires an event that has lights and cameras.'
News24
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News24
Black pride and African history take centre stage in Mantsopa at The Market Theatre
The play Mantsopa, which is currently being staged at The Market Theatre in Johannesburg, highlights the ridiculousness of tribalism, as the similarities between the Basotho people's traditional dance mokhibo and the amaXhosa's ukuxhensa were impossible to ignore. In fact, a friend who travelled to Ethiopia last year said the traditional dance in that country was also similar to the above mentioned, arguing that the links between African people predated colonialism. Written and directed by veteran actor and theatre guru, Jerry Mofokeng wa Makhetha, Mantsopa chronicles the life of the matriarch who dismantled patriarchy before this was popular. She did this with her strong connection to a higher power that would propel her to become a trusted adviser to King Moshoeshoe of Lesotho. So powerful was Mantsopa that, had she lived in this era, instead of the 1800s, the playwright says, through one of the actors, that buildings, national roads and monuments would be named after her and authors telling her story would be penning bestsellers. Alas, the play alone is a step in the right direction towards rewriting formidable black women into history. An equally powerful matriarch in Mantsopa is veteran actress Florence Masebe, who plays a family elder. Thespians are hailed daily for their authentic portrayal of their characters but one has to salute Masebe for her firm grasp on indigenous South African languages in their purest form. Mofokeng wa Makhetha described Mantsopa as a pioneer in women's fight for equality, saying her power defied gender, politics and even culture. So fearless was she that she would not even bow to the feared mercenaries. He referenced an era when women were prohibited from getting an education, adding that once they gained access into those spaces, they outperformed their aspirations. Mofokeng wa Makhetha said: He explained the conflicting reports around Mantsopa's banishment, with some historians saying advisers of the king were starting to question: 'Ke mang Morena mo? [Who is the actual king here].' Others claimed that the ban was self-inflicted as her marital family felt unsafe following her husband's death. Through drama, music and poetry, the cast awakens the audience to the interconnectedness of African customs. For example, they unpack the practice of 'ho kenella motho', 'seya ntlo' or 'ukungenelwa', which is when a relative of a deceased husband takes over the widow as his new wife. While this may have incited laughter from the audience, the scene where physical violence and dominance are used to coerce a woman into marriage touches on the gender-based violence and rape culture women continue to grapple with in a different millennium. In fact, to me, the insults that the character is met with for rejecting these advances read as parallel to femicide in contemporary society. Today, a lot of women lose their lives at the hands of men who are not man enough to handle rejection. I found it unfortunate that the play was mostly performed in English, especially as there is ongoing discourse about the preservation of African history and the indigenous languages. The director said: While the play brings audiences closer to Mantsopa's bloodline and the intimidating responsibility of carrying on her legacy, at its core it is an educational piece of theatre that reunites African people with their identity. Mofokeng wa Makhetha reminds audiences that native Africans' relationship with God and their knowledge of this higher power predated colonisation. Take a sho't left to The Market Theatre for this and other lessons about African tribal relations and how these are woven into contemporary society. The season, which was originally meant to run until 11 May, has been extended to 18 May, due to public demand.
