Mokwena defied illness for last scenes
Sandy lived for acting and family
Born: July 26 1949 Died: January 25
Funeral: Grace Bible Church, Soweto, today from 7am Burial: Westpark Cemetery
Legendary Scandal! actor Sandy Matsile Mokwena will be buried at the Westpark Cemetery in Johannesburg today.
Mokwena died in hospital last week following a heart a heart condition with his son by his side. He was 68.
The talented actor has been hailed as a mentor, father figure and hero by his colleagues in the industry.
Fellow actor Jerry Mofokeng said: “A hero is someone who stands up when [not possible]. Sandy stood up and delivered a performance when he literally could not stand.
“It was a difficult day when he came to set to shoot his last episode and finished his race. Sandy finished 3 000 episodes. He finished 13 years and I’m told that of all the people he started episode one with he was the only one who was still standing.”
Before joining the cast of
Scandal! in January 2005, playing the role of Bra Eddie, a journalist at the Voice newspaper, Mokwena played on world stages in big theatre productions.
He toured the world with the cast of the hit musical Ipi
Tombi, playing the role of Cappie. On his return to South Africa he appeared on iconic television shows which include Generations, Soul City, Yizo Yizo, Justice for All, Going Up, Okavango and Zero Tolerance.
Mokwena is the son of the late Pike Joseph and Joyce Hilda Mokgadi Mokwena and he was born in Boksburg, on the East Rand. He went to Naledi High School in Soweto were he developed and horned his skill for acting.
He obtained his higher diploma in dramatic art from Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in the UK. He spoke fluent Afrikaans, English, Sesotho, Zulu and his mother tongue Setswana.
Sandy married his wife Grace Mosima Mokwena in 1978 and their union was blessed with four children.