Khala brought people together

STEVE ‘ Brodie’ Khala was born in Alexandra Township. He was brought up by his grandmother Lydia Khala.

He grew up with his cousins – Dipuo, and the late Morris and Mamaki – therefore he didn’t feel the loneliness of being born an only child. He started school at the Dutch Reform School in Alexandra Township.

After he left school because of lack of resources to study further, he worked in a number of jobs. His last formal job being in the Public Service as a clerk at the West Rand Bantu Administration Board’s offices in Zone 7 Meadowlands before following his true calling in theatre.

In his own words, “I was inspired by the atmosphere of freeness in interactions among actors and their bosses in the performing arts groups I saw at Dorkay House in Johannesburg – it made me want to be part of those scenarios.”

His entry point into theatre was through the School Theatre Project – dramatising school set-books in Soweto and East Rand Townships. He got a small part in a Gibson Kente play that was performed at the Wits University Great Hall.

Then through a friend, Junior Tshabalala, he was introduced and offered a singing and dancing role in Ipi ’ Ntombi.

Inspired by the outbreak of the Soweto upheavals of 1976 – Khala and a few cast members left Ipi ’ Ntombi and founded their production ‘ Sounds of Soweto ’ based on the Pass laws system.

He was like a magnet, always bringing people together.

Khala is survived by his wife Liz and four sons – Teboho, Thabang, Jesse and Neo.

At the time of his death we were working on documenting his life into a picture book.

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