Star-studded memorial for ‘humble’ Joe

SOUTH African actors, musicians, government officials and the public havedescribed legendary actor Joe Mafela as a humble person who brought a smile to people’s faces for decades.

Mafela was honoured in a memorial at Johannesburg Theatre yesterday, following his death in a car crash at the weekend. He was 75.

His brother, Paula, said the family was devastated. “Joe was a loving person, a person you would never find angry at anyone at any given time. We always travelled together overseas and to our homeland in Venda, and he would never travel without me,” Paula said.

Joe’s son Jimmy remembered him as a drummer and a co-ordinator of their family gatherings.

“Even if it was stokvels or anything, he was always putting people together and he was passionate about the arts in South Africa,” Jimmy said.

Mafela, who grew up in Soweto, began his career in 1965 in the film In 1974, he starred in South Africa’s first black feature film,

During the 1980s, his TV career blossomed with

He also became a producer, and a creative director in the advertising industry and also began releasing highly successful musical albums.

Mafela won numerous awards including a Loerie for his advertising work and for best actor in a comedy at the SA Film and Television Awards. He also received an Emmy nomination. In recent times, he acted on

actors Thembi Mtshali-Jones and Mlangeni Nawa were among those who paid tribute to Mafela.

Veteran actresses Abigail Kubheka and Mary Twala and poets Don Mattera and Wally Serote also attended.

Mafela leaves his wife, three sons and a daughter and six grandchildren. – ANA