Family, colleagues pay last respects to ‘humble Ntate Joe’
JOHANNESBURG: South African actors, musicians, government officials and the public yesterday described legendary actor Joe Mafela as a humble person who brought a smile to many people’s faces.
Mafela was honoured in a memorial service at Johannesburg Theatre, following his death in a car crash at the weekend. He was 75.
His brother, Paula, said the family was devastated. Paula said he accompanied Joe on many of his travels.
“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, who played a drum in tribute to his father, remembered him as 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, especially black people. According to him, all you actors here were supposed to be in Broadway,” Jimmy said.
Born in Limpopo and raised in Soweto, Mafela began his career in 1965 acting in the film Real News. In 1974, he starred in South Africa’s first black feature film Udeliwe, which gained him a new following among cinema-goers.
During the 1980s, his television career blossomed with Sgudi Snaysi. He also became a creative director in the advertising industry as well as focusing on producing. He became a co-owner of Penguin Films, and began releasing highly successful musical albums.
Mafela won numerous accolades including a Loerie award for his advertising work and best actor in a comedy at the South African Film and Television Awards. He also received an Emmy nomination. Recently, he acted in Generations: The Legacy.
Surviving actors with whom Mafela starred in Sgudi Snaysi, Thembi Mtshali-Jones and Mlangeni Nawa, were among those who paid tribute yesterday.
Veteran actresses Abigail Kubheka and Mary Twala, along with poets Don Mattera and Wally Serote, also attended the service.
Tony Kgoroge, actor and president of Cultural and Creative Industries Federation of South Africa, said Mafela did not escape the exploitation in the film and broadcast industry, and urged the SABC to pay artists their due royalties.
“Ntate Joe comes from a generation of people who encouraged us. But Ntate Joe Mafela did not escape exploitation of our industry,” Kgoroge said. “In as much as he was a great man, very humble person, quiet and never wanted to entertain nonsense, we would be lying if we say he was never exploited in our industry. But I am glad that he rose above it.”
Generations creator and producer, Mfundi Vundla, said he came full circle through working with Mafela, and called for the SABC to rename Studio 5 where the show is shot to “Joe Mafela Studios”.
“After I came back from California after a 21-year period in exile, he heard I was around and he invited me to a studio in Midrand. I was so excited to see him I said we must make a film. But unfortunately that never happened, and the next thing I ended working with him in Generations,” Vundla said.
“I am privileged to have worked with Mafela. I came full circle with him.”
Mafela is survived by his wife, three sons and a daughter and six grandchildren. – ANA