Ray Ntlokwana

Ray “Velaphi” Ntlokwana was an award-winning South African actor from Gugulethu, who was affectionately known as “Velaphi” following his lead role in the SABC Xhosa play, Velaphi, a name he was associated with throughout his career. Ntlokwana also starred in the award- winning television Xhosa drama Trouble in Constantia in which he played a rural man from the mud huts of the former Ciskei who won money in a lottery and bought a mansion in Constantia, an upmarket suburb in Cape Town. In 1996, the film won Ntlokwana the Artist Award for Best Actor in a Comedy. Ntlokwana was also known for his roles in many other movies, TV and stage plays, including Kwa-sindw'ezama, Senzekile, Living the Blues and Abakwazidenge.

Awards

In March 2000, Ntlokwana was also awarded with the provincial merit award by the Western Cape provincial government for his contribution to drama in the Western Cape over the years. In another Xhosa film, Ingqumbo Yeminyanya, Ntlokwana played an old stubborn man, Ngxabane, from a rural area who fiercely opposed any attempts to move from tradition to modernisation.

Death

Ray Ntlokwana died poor. He died in the year 2000 at the age of 63 years old at his home in Gugulethu from colon cancer.

Personal life

Ntlokwana is survived by his wife and 10 year-old twins Babalwa and Lubabalo. He had four other sons from his previous marriages.