Fana Mokoena facts for kids

Fana Mokoena (born 13 May 1971) is a famous South African actor and political activist. He has worked as a Member of Parliament, first in the National Council of Provinces from 2014 to 2016. Later, he became a full member of the National Assembly of South Africa from 2016 to 2020. He returned to Parliament in 2024. Mokoena is also one of the people who started the Economic Freedom Fighters political party.

Early Life and Education

Fana Mokoena was born on 13 May 1971 in Kroonstad, South Africa. He grew up there and later went to school in Johannesburg. He lived with his mother, stepfather, and three siblings.

He spent his last three years of high school at Woodmead School. This was the first school in South Africa that allowed students of all races. It was here that he found his love for acting and the arts. He later studied Theatre and Performance at the University of Cape Town. He also studied Media.

Acting Career Highlights

Fana Mokoena started his acting career in 1993. He joined the Playhouse Theatre company. In 1994, he appeared on TV for the first time in a film called The Line.

He played a small part in the movie Dangerous Ground in 1997. In 1999, he was Thula in the popular TV show Yizo Yizo. A big role for him was playing Rwandan general Augustin Bizimungu in the 2004 film Hotel Rwanda.

From 2006 to 2009, he played Jaws Bengu in the South African series The LAB. In 2011, he acted alongside Gerard Butler in the movie Machine Gun Preacher.

In 2012, he had a small role in the thriller Safe House with Denzel Washington. A year later, in 2013, he appeared with Brad Pitt in the zombie movie World War Z. He also played the anti-apartheid hero Govan Mbeki in the film Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, starring Idris Elba.

Awards and Recognition

Fana Mokoena has won several awards for his acting. These awards are from South Africa and other countries.

• He won the Best Actor Award at the SAFTA for his role in The LAB.
• He also won Best Actor in a Supporting Role at the African Movie Academy Awards AMAA in Nigeria. This was for his part in the film Man On Ground.

Personal Life and Family

Fana Mokoena's mother, Arcillia Mekodi Mokoena, was a political activist. In 1976, she was held by the Apartheid government. She was arrested for encouraging a student protest in Kroonstad. This protest supported the 1976 Soweto Student uprising. That uprising saw many students killed by the Apartheid government. His mother's activism greatly influenced Fana Mokoena.

Fana Mokoena is the oldest of four children. His siblings are Karabelo Israel Mokoena (who has passed away), Tlotlisang Dipallo Charity Pigou, and Mamello Blessings Relebohile Mokoena. His stepfather, Elias Bhuti Mokoena, has also passed away. He also considered his mother's eldest sister, Khasiane Alrina Ntloko, as a mother figure. She helped raise him when his own mother was in prison or working.

Political Career

Fana Mokoena was first a member of the African National Congress political party. He later left this party because he felt it had become corrupt. He then became one of the founding members of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF). He is now a member of the EFF's Central Command Team.

From 2014 to 2016, he was a member of the National Council of Provinces. This is the upper house of the Parliament of South Africa. In 2016, he became a member of the National Assembly, which is the lower house of Parliament. He was re-elected in 2019.

Mokoena left the National Assembly in October 2020. However, he remained part of the EFF's leadership team. He has since returned to the film and television industry. He now works as a writer and producer. His company, Praise Poet Pictures, is working on several international projects. After spending eight years focused on politics, Mokoena returned to acting in the popular South African TV show Scandal!. He plays a main role as Vukile Kubheka.

Filmography

• 52 Regent East (1993) as Lead
• The Line (1994) as Tebogo
• Inside (1996) as Prisoner (voice)
• Dangerous Ground (1997) as Youth
• Generations (1999) as Dr. Mandla Sithole
• Jump the Gun (1999) as Man in shacks
• In My Country (2004) as Mandla (uncredited)
• Hotel Rwanda (2004) as General Bizimungu
• Cuppen (2006) as Madoda
• The LAB (2006–2009, South African TV series) as Jaws Bengu
• Silent Witness (2008) as Katembula
• Wild at Heart (2008-2010, TV Series) as Mr Ekotto
• A Small Town Called Descent (2010) as Captain James Sikobi
• State of Violence (2010) as Bobedi
• Hopeville (2010) as Mogapi Khobane
• Machine Gun Preacher (2011) as John Garang
• Man on Ground (2011) as Timothi
• Inside Story (2011) as Goodwill
• Safe House (2012) as Officer in charge
• World War Z (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! (2021-2022) as Vukile Kubheka

See also

In Spanish: Fana Mokoena para niños