Fana Mokoena
Fana Mokoena | |
---|---|
Member of the National Assembly of South Africa | |
Assumed office 24 August 2016 | |
Delegate of the National Council of Provinces | |
In office 22 May 2014 – 24 August 2016 | |
Personal details | |
Born | Lehlohonolo Goodwill Mokoena 13 May 1971 Kroonstad, Orange Free State, South Africa |
Political party | Economic Freedom Fighters (2013–present) |
Other political affiliations | African National Congress (former) |
Occupation | Member of Parliament |
Profession | Actor Politician |
Lehlohonolo Goodwill "Fana" Mokoena (born 13 May 1971) is a South African actor and politician. He has served as a Member of the National Assembly of South Africa since August 2016. He was previously a Delegate of the National Council of Provinces from May 2014 until August 2016. Mokoena is a member of the Economic Freedom Fighters party and a member of the party's central committee.
Early life and acting career
Fana Mokoena was born on 13 May 1971 in Kroonstad in central South Africa. He studied at the University of Cape Town.[1] He started his acting career in 1993, when he appeared in the South African series Generations.[2] In 1997, he played a small role in the thriller Dangerous Ground. In 2004, he portrayed the Rwandan general Augustin Bizimungu in the film Hotel Rwanda.[3] In 2006, he played the role of Jaws Bengu in the South African series The LAB, a role which he played until 2009. In 2008, he appeared in a small role in the series Silent Witness. In 2010 he played the role of Capt. James Sikobi in the South African drama A Small Town Called Descent. In 2011, he appeared in the action biography film adaptation of Machine Gun Preacher in the role of John Garang.[4]
In 2012, he played a small role in the thriller Safe House.[5] In 2013, he appeared alongside Brad Pitt in the role of Thierry Umutoni in the movie World War Z.[5] He also portrayed the anti-apartheid fighter Govan Mbeki in the film Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom.[3] He was then to take on the role of the scientist Romilly in Christopher Nolan's 2014 film Interstellar, which he had to decline due to his role in politics.[3] The role was eventually cast to David Gyasi.[3]
Politics
Mokoena was initially a member of the African National Congress.[1] He later left the party, because he believed it was corrupt. He then became a member of the Economic Freedom Fighters, where he now serves a member of the party's Central Command Team.[6] Between 2014 and 2016, he was a member of the National Council of Provinces, the upper house of the Parliament of South Africa.[7] Since 2016, he has served as a member of the lower house of parliament, the National Assembly, as a member from Limpopo.[8] Mokoena won a second term in the 2019 general election, with the Economic Freedom Fighters almost doubling their number of seats.[9]
Filmography
- Generations (1993) as Dr. Mandla Sithole[2]
- 52 Regent East (1993) as Lead
- The Line (1994) as Tebogo
- Inside (1996) as Prisoner (voice)
- Dangerous Ground (1997) as Youth
- Jump the Gun (1999) as Man in shacks
- In My Country (2004) as Mandla (uncredited)
- Hotel Rwanda (2004) as General Bizimungu[3]
- 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[3]
- World War Z (2013) as Thierry Umutoni
- Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom (2013) as Govan Mbeki[3]
- Cold Harbour (2013) as Specialist
- The Call (2015) as Sibongiseni
- The Book of Negroes (2015) as Allasane
Personal life
Mokoena's mother died in October 2019.[10]
References
- ^ a b Zvomuya, Percy; Moya, Fikile Ntsikelelo (24 October 2013). "Chirping classes: Fighting for freedom in Mokoena's blood". Mail & Guardian. Archived from the original on 14 May 2019. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
- ^ a b Dyomfana, Bulelani (19 December 2019). "9 'Generations' actors: Where are they now?". City Press. Archived from the original on 5 August 2020. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g Harding, Andrew (29 January 2015). "Fana Mokoena's dilemma: Interstellar or revolution in South Africa?". BBC News. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
- ^ "World War Z's Fana Mokoena joins EFF's celeb supporters". News24 (City Press). 11 July 2013. Archived from the original on 5 August 2020. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
- ^ a b "Fana Mokoena: Hitting the big time with Pitt". Mail & Guardian. 11 July 2013. Archived from the original on 3 November 2013. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
- ^ "I've had 5 ANC friends who condemned me for joining EFF now apologise, says Fana Mokoena". TimesLIVE. 13 April 2017. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
- ^ "Hansard: NCOP: Appointment of returning Officers; Election of Chairperson of National Council of Provinces". Parliamentary Monitoring Group. Archived from the original on 25 June 2020. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
- ^ "Actor Fana Mokoena gets a hot new seat in parliament". TimesLIVE. 1 September 2016. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
- ^ Bhengu, Cebelihle (9 December 2019). "MP Fana Mokoena reflects on EFF's growth: 'The party has shown tenacity & resilience'". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
- ^ "Khasiane Ntloko, mother of EFF's Fana Mokoena, passes away". The Citizen. 9 October 2019. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
External links
- The stuff soaps are made of, Mail & Guardian, 31 May 2002
- Fana Mokoena at IMDb
- TVSA Actor Profile
- Lehlohonolo Goodwill Mokoena at People's Assembly
- "Mr Lehlohonolo Goodwill Mokoena". Parliament of South Africa. Archived from the original on 5 August 2020.