Fana Mokoena (born 13 May 1971) is a South African Film, television and theater actor, and a political activist who served as a Member of Parliament, first as a delegate to the
National Council of Provinces
The National Council of Provinces (NCOP) is the upper house of the Parliament of South Africa under the (post-apartheid) constitution which came into full effect in 1997. It replaced the former Senate, but is very similar to that body, and to ma ...
representing his home province
Free State from May 2014 until August 2016; then later as a full member of the
National Assembly of South Africa
The National Assembly is the directly elected house of the Parliament of South Africa, located in Cape Town, Western Cape. It consists of four hundred members who are elected every five years using a party-list proportional representation syste ...
between August 2016 and October 2020. Mokoena is a member of the
Economic Freedom Fighters
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) is a South African left-wing to far-left pan-Africanist and Marxist–Leninist political party. It was founded by expelled former African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) President Julius Malema, and hi ...
party and serves on the party's central command team.
Early life and acting career
Fana Mokoena was born on 13 May 1971 in
Kroonstad
Kroonstad (Afrikaans directly translated "Crown City") is the third largest city in the Free State (after Bloemfontein and Welkom) and lies two hours' drive on the N1 from Gauteng. Maokeng is an area within Kroonstad, and is occasionally used ...
, Free State, South Africa. He was raised in Kroonstad and later schooled in
Johannesburg
Johannesburg ( , , ; Zulu and xh, eGoli ), colloquially known as Jozi, Joburg, or "The City of Gold", is the largest city in South Africa, classified as a megacity, and is one of the 100 largest urban areas in the world. According to Demo ...
by his mother and stepfather, along with his three siblings. His last three years of high school were spent at Woodmead School, which was the first fully multi-racial school in the country, where his love of the arts began. He studied Theatre and Performance at the
University of Cape Town
The University of Cape Town (UCT) ( af, Universiteit van Kaapstad, xh, Yunibesithi ya yaseKapa) is a public research university in Cape Town, South Africa. Established in 1829 as the South African College, it was granted full university statu ...
and later qualified in Media Studies.
He started his acting career as a full member of the Playhouse Theatre company in 1993, and in 1994 he made his television debut in the South African TV film ''
The Line
Line most often refers to:
* Line (geometry), object with zero thickness and curvature that stretches to infinity
* Telephone line, a single-user circuit on a telephone communication system
Line, lines, The Line, or LINE may also refer to:
Arts ...
''.
Mokoena played a small role in the thriller ''
Dangerous Ground'' in 1997. In 2004, he portrayed the Rwandan general
Augustin Bizimungu
Augustin Bizimungu (born 28 August 1952) is a former general of the Rwandan Armed Forces (FAR). On 16 April 1994, at the start of the Rwandan genocide, he was appointed chief of staff of the army and promoted to the rank of major general.
Biograph ...
in the film ''
Hotel Rwanda
''Hotel Rwanda'' is a 2004 drama film directed by Terry George. It was adapted from a screenplay co-written by George and Keir Pearson, and stars Don Cheadle and Sophie Okonedo as hotelier Paul Rusesabagina and his wife Tatiana. Based on the Rw ...
''.
In 2006, he played the role of Jaws Bengu in the South African series ''
The LAB
The Lab is a not-for-profit arts organization and performance space located in San Francisco's Redstone Building. Since 1984, The Lab has hosted performances and projects by artists including Nan Goldin, Barbara Kruger, David Wojnarowicz, Barry M ...
'', a role which he played until 2009. In 2008, he appeared in a small role in the series ''
Silent Witness
''Silent Witness'' is a British crime drama television series produced by the BBC, which focuses on a team of forensic pathology experts and their investigations into various crimes. First broadcast in 1996, the series was created by Nigel McC ...
''. He played the role of Capt. James Sikobi in the South African drama ''
A Small Town Called Descent
A, or a, is the first letter and the first vowel of the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is ''a'' (pronounced ), plural ''aes'' ...
'' in 2010. In 2011, he appeared in the action biography film adaptation of ''
Machine Gun Preacher
''Machine Gun Preacher'' is a 2011 American biographical action drama film directed by Marc Forster and starring Gerard Butler, Michelle Monaghan, and Michael Shannon. It tells the story of Sam Childers, a former gang biker turned preacher, and ...
'' in the role of John Garang alongside
Gerard Butler
Gerard James Butler (born 13 November 1969) is a Scottish actor and film producer. After studying law, he turned to acting in the mid-1990s with small roles in productions such as ''Mrs Brown'' (1997), the James Bond film ''Tomorrow Never Di ...
.
In 2012, he played a small role in the thriller ''
Safe House
A safe house (also spelled safehouse) is, in a generic sense, a secret place for sanctuary or suitable to hide people from the law, hostile actors or actions, or from retribution, threats or perceived danger. It may also be a metaphor.
Histori ...
'' with
Denzel Washington
Denzel Hayes Washington Jr. (born December 28, 1954) is an American actor and filmmaker. He has been described as an actor who reconfigured "the concept of classic movie stardom". Throughout his career spanning over four decades, Washington ha ...
.
Mokoena appeared alongside
Brad Pitt
William Bradley Pitt (born December 18, 1963) is an American actor and film producer. He is the recipient of various accolades, including two Academy Awards, a British Academy Film Award, two Golden Globe Awards, and a Primetime Emmy Award. ...
in the role of Thierry Umutoni in the zombie blockbuster ''
World War Z
''World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War'' is a 2006 zombie apocalyptic horror novel written by American author Max Brooks. The novel is broken into eight chapters: “Warnings”, “Blame”, “The Great Panic”, “Turning the Ti ...
'' in 2013.
He also portrayed the anti-apartheid fighter
Govan Mbeki
Govan Archibald Mvuyelwa Mbeki (9 July 1910 – 30 August 2001) was a South African politician, military commander, Communist leader who served as the Secretary of Umkhonto we Sizwe, at its inception in 1961. He was also the son of Chief Sike ...
in the film ''
Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom'' with
Idris Elba
Idrissa Akuna Elba (; born 6 September 1972) is an English actor. .
Accolades and awards
Mokoena has received several accolades in the entertainment industry, both in his home country and internationally, including Best Actor Award at the South African Film and Television Awards
SAFTA for his role in ''
The LAB
The Lab is a not-for-profit arts organization and performance space located in San Francisco's Redstone Building. Since 1984, The Lab has hosted performances and projects by artists including Nan Goldin, Barbara Kruger, David Wojnarowicz, Barry M ...
''; and Best Actor in Supporting Role at the African Movie Academy Awards
AMAA
The Africa Movie Academy Awards, popularly known as AMAA and The AMA Awards, is presented annually to recognize excellence among professionals working in, or non-African professionals who have contributed to, the African film industry. It was fou ...
in Lagos, Nigeria for his role in ''
Man On Ground
''Man on Ground'' is a 2011 Nigerian South African drama film directed by Akin Omotoso. It was screened and premiered at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival. The film tells a story about how Xenophobia in South Africa affect the lives ...
''
Personal life
In 1976 Fana Mokoena's mother,
Arcillia Mekodi Mokoena was detained and held in solitary confinement by the Apartheid regime for political activism She was incarcerated for inciting a student protest at a school in Kroonstad where she was a teacher, a protest action effected in solidarity with the 1976 Soweto Student uprising which saw scores of students being massacred by the Apartheid regime. This as violent protests broke out around the country against the oppressive use of Afrikaans as a medium of instruction, plus a host of other concerns. Mokoena*s mother was also physically and emotionally tortured, which.has left her scarred, but she is well and living in
QwaQwa
QwaQwa was a bantustan ("homeland") in the central eastern part of South Africa. It encompassed a very small region of in the east of the former South African province of Orange Free State, bordering Lesotho. Its capital was Phuthaditjhaba. It ...
. Mokoena's mother is a political veteran in her own right and her son, Fana Mokoena took after her in political activism.
Mokoena is the eldest brother to the late Karabelo Israel Mokoena, Tlotlisang Dipallo Charity Xulu (née Mokoena) and Mamello Blessings Relebohile Mokoena.
Mokoena's stepfather Elias Bhuti Mokoena is late and so is his mother's eldest sister, Khasiane Alrina Ntloko whom he regarded as his mother too because she raised him while his real mother was incarcerated, and later had to study and work elsewhere. Mokoena fondly referred to Khasiane as "Mada".
Politics
Mokoena was initially a member of the
African National Congress
The African National Congress (ANC) is a Social democracy, social-democratic political party in Republic of South Africa, South Africa. A liberation movement known for its opposition to apartheid, it has governed the country since 1994, when ...
.
He later left the party, because he believed it was corrupt. He then became a Founding Member of the Economic Freedom Fighters, where he now serves a member of the party's Central Command Team. Between 2014 and 2016, he was a member of the
National Council of Provinces
The National Council of Provinces (NCOP) is the upper house of the Parliament of South Africa under the (post-apartheid) constitution which came into full effect in 1997. It replaced the former Senate, but is very similar to that body, and to ma ...
, the upper house of the
Parliament of South Africa
The Parliament of the Republic of South Africa is South Africa's legislature; under the present Constitution of South Africa, the bicameral Parliament comprises a National Assembly and a National Council of Provinces. The current twenty-seve ...
. In 2016, he was appointed as a member of the lower house of parliament, the
National Assembly
In politics, a national assembly is either a unicameral legislature, the lower house of a bicameral legislature, or both houses of a bicameral legislature together. In the English language it generally means "an assembly composed of the repre ...
, as a member from
Free State. Mokoena won a second term in the
2019 general election, with the Economic Freedom Fighters almost doubling their number of seats.
Mokoena resigned from the National Assembly with effect from 16 October 2020 but remained in the EFF's Central Command Team as a member of the War Council, the party's operational authority.
He has returned to the Film and Television industry as a writer and producer. His company Praise Poet Pictures is working on several international productions. After 8 years hiatus from the entertainment industry due to his engagements in politics, Mokoena has returned to the small screen in a popular South African soapie ''
Scandal!'' in a lead role as Vukile Kubheka which has thrust him back into the entertainment centre-stage.
Filmography
* ''52 Regent East'' (1993) as Lead
* ''The Line'' (1994) as Tebogo
* ''Inside'' (1996) as Prisoner (voice)
* ''
Dangerous Ground'' (1997) as Youth
* ''
Generations
A generation is "all of the people born and living at about the same time, regarded collectively."
Generation or generations may also refer to:
Science and technology
* Generation (particle physics), a division of the elementary particles
* Gen ...
'' (1999) as Dr. Mandla Sithole
* ''
Jump the Gun'' (1999) as Man in shacks
* ''In My Country'' (2004) as Mandla (uncredited)
* ''
Hotel Rwanda
''Hotel Rwanda'' is a 2004 drama film directed by Terry George. It was adapted from a screenplay co-written by George and Keir Pearson, and stars Don Cheadle and Sophie Okonedo as hotelier Paul Rusesabagina and his wife Tatiana. Based on the Rw ...
'' (2004) as General Bizimungu
* ''Cuppen'' (2006) as Madoda
* ''
The LAB
The Lab is a not-for-profit arts organization and performance space located in San Francisco's Redstone Building. Since 1984, The Lab has hosted performances and projects by artists including Nan Goldin, Barbara Kruger, David Wojnarowicz, Barry M ...
'' (2006–2009, South African TV series) as Jaws Bengu
* ''
Silent Witness
''Silent Witness'' is a British crime drama television series produced by the BBC, which focuses on a team of forensic pathology experts and their investigations into various crimes. First broadcast in 1996, the series was created by Nigel McC ...
'' (2008) as Katembula
* ''
Wild at Heart'' (2008-2010, TV Series) as Mr Ekotto
* ''
A Small Town Called Descent
A, or a, is the first letter and the first vowel of the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is ''a'' (pronounced ), plural ''aes'' ...
'' (2010) as Captain James Sikobi
* ''
State of Violence
''State of Violence'' is a 2010 South African-French film written and directed by Khalo Matabane. The film features Fana Mokoena, Presley Chweneyagae, Neo Ntlatleng, Lindi Matshikiza, and Vusi Kunene. Its settings situated in black township, Ale ...
'' (2010) as Bobedi
* ''
Hopeville'' (2010) as Mogapi Khobane
* ''
Machine Gun Preacher
''Machine Gun Preacher'' is a 2011 American biographical action drama film directed by Marc Forster and starring Gerard Butler, Michelle Monaghan, and Michael Shannon. It tells the story of Sam Childers, a former gang biker turned preacher, and ...
'' (2011) as
John Garang
John Garang de Mabior (June 23, 1945 – July 30, 2005) was a Sudanese politician and revolutionary leader. From 1983 to 2005, he led the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) after the Second Sudanese Civil War, the comprehensive peace agreement ...
* ''
Man on Ground
''Man on Ground'' is a 2011 Nigerian South African drama film directed by Akin Omotoso. It was screened and premiered at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival. The film tells a story about how Xenophobia in South Africa affect the lives ...
'' (2011) as Timothi
* ''
Inside Story'' (2011) as Goodwill
* ''
Safe House
A safe house (also spelled safehouse) is, in a generic sense, a secret place for sanctuary or suitable to hide people from the law, hostile actors or actions, or from retribution, threats or perceived danger. It may also be a metaphor.
Histori ...
'' (2012) as Officer in charge
* ''
World War Z
''World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War'' is a 2006 zombie apocalyptic horror novel written by American author Max Brooks. The novel is broken into eight chapters: “Warnings”, “Blame”, “The Great Panic”, “Turning the Ti ...
'' (2013) as Thierry Umutoni
* ''
Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom'' (2013) as Govan Mbeki
* ''
Cold Harbour'' (2013) as Specialist
* ''
The Call'' (2015) as Sibongiseni
* ''
The Book of Negroes'' (2015) as Allasane
* ''
Scandal!'' (2021) as Vukile Kubheka
References
External links
The stuff soaps are made of ''
Mail & Guardian
The ''Mail & Guardian'' is a South African weekly newspaper and website, published by M&G Media in Johannesburg, South Africa. It focuses on political analysis, investigative reporting, Southern African news, local arts, music and popular cultu ...
'', 31 May 2002
*
TVSA Actor Profile*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mokoena, Fana
1971 births
Living people
People from Kroonstad
South African Sotho people
South African male film actors
South African male television actors
Best Supporting Actor Africa Movie Academy Award winners
Economic Freedom Fighters politicians
University of Cape Town alumni