By Mandi ‘Poefficient’ Vundla |
Ntate Jerry Mofokeng has been in the industry for over three decades. “I’m a dinosaur” he says laughing. But I imagine his craft is far from extinction.
Our conversation is made sweet by the passion in his voice and he lowers it, as if to whisper the secret to his longevity in the industry. “I am incurably an Artist” Ntate Jerry and i met up at the Joburg Theatre where he was rehearsing for the play Acceptance. The play was inspired by a tragic event that occurred in 2014, when a South African mother smothered three of her disabled children in England and a long court proceeding took place to determine her fate. In the play the three deceased children visit the judge preceding over the case in a dream to share their side of the story and Jerry who plays the role of the judge interacts with them. In this interface he also reflects the society and its attitude towards people with disabilities and how it identifies people by their disability and not their names. In a personal encounter Jerry remembers the discrimination he faced after he lost the use of his eye. It was in high school, during his lunch-break, when someone threw a bottle and it cut through his eye. After his injury, he was mocked by his peers. “The kids called me Sgili, Lehlo, One Eye Mambazo and it hurt me deeply” The vulnerability in his throat carries a chunk of that wounded boy. His hope for the audience after they leave the theatres that they are able to see, hear and do things differently because when you know better, you do better. Having tried his hand in Law and Theology, Ntate Jerry is certain that he couldn’t possibly do anything else outside of acting.
There is no retirement option here. There will always be roles for old versatile men who can speak Sesotho and are able to inspire and teach just like him.
And I am learning alright, from the sage as he takes me through the years that have made him grey. Acquiring a degree at Wits and Columbia University could be a daunting task for an African man in the 80’s. In those days, before you could apply in South Africa, you needed to get the minister of education’s permission. This resulted in very few black students getting into University. When Jerry arrived at Wits in 1983, there was only one black student in fourth year; Julius Ntsaka. In 3rd Year was Themba Wakashe, 2nd year: Ntshabeng wa le Roli and he was the only one in 1st year. With only a community theatre background and a heightened knowledge of self, he knew when to allow himself to be a token and when to abuse that power;thus he was cast in the classic ‘Sizwe Banzi Is Dead.’
“How do you cast a 1st year student in a play like that?”
People often said that he was in a gifted year, he still meets most of his classmates in the industry, however he is much older than them as he only started Tertiary at the age of 27; already married and with his first child. But you know what they say; “Rather late than never.”
I can’t imagine the burden of balancing school and family in your first year of university, when people advised Jerry’s wife that he would leave her, she responded by saying: “I won’t be the first one, let’s see what happens” When he wanted to drop out of school to fend for his family, she rejected the thought and held the house together on a nurses income. She told him that quitting was a betrayal unto himself, his dreams, God and his family. So he continued with his studies. Little did he know that the year 1986 would unwrap doors for him and two would open.
Firstly, his Professor Ian Stedman suggested that he should apply for a Fulbright Scholarship: a prestigious grant for select scholars from around the world to go and study abroad. They would select only so many students in South Africa and he was one of the chosen. In that same year, Peter Brook came to South Africa to audition artists throughout the country for Mahabarata and only Mavuso Tshabalala and Jerry were cast. Faced with a very challenging decision to make, he chose the scholarship.
“Mahabarata is one great line on my C.V, but school will provide me with tools I can utilize. I didn’t want to spend my life auditioning for work, I wanted to depend on myself”
Jerry spent August 1987 – December 1991 in the U.S studying for an MFA in Theatre Directing. He also took up courses in Theatre Management because he was tired of always seeing black talent under white management; he didn’t want his life to remain in white hands. His mother wasn’t pleased with his career choice, she thought it insane for her son; so smart and well-spoken; to leave his wife behind for a Drama-Sketch degree in the U.S.
“In those days, the most people knew about Theatre was Gibson Kente and one didn’t have to attend Wits to get cast in his plays.”
By the grace of the Gods, in August of 1987, when Jerry left for the U.S, he met former Chief Justice,Mr Arthur Chaskalson who volunteered to process his wife; Claudine’s legal papers. She joined him in the states in November and by the end of December she had acquired her legal documents to practice as a nurse in New York. His Fourth child was born overseas and after his studies, Jerry came back home with his family. But having a degree didn’t mean he was perceived as a professional. Mooneen Lee from MLA signed him as an actor while he taught at Wits. His Big Break happened when he was cast in a three part series called The Lion, where he played a mean killer. That was the beginning of his journey and villain characters on Television. He is also back on Scandal as the bad*ss Neo Mokgethi. Ntate Jerry is known to be sensitive about the productions he associates himself with. He says he always looks for something meaningful. “I’m not interested in productions that are judgmental and frivolous in how they address issues and humanity”
Mofokeng has directed a lot of productions but none like the play he scripted for the late Brenda Fassie. He wanted to touch the raw nerve of Brenda. “It’s one of the most meaningful productions I’ve ever directed.” He boasts about the late Lesego Motsepe, in how she translated the role of the late Mabrrr floorlessly. If he could ever bring the play back he says he would have to do it differently, to refrain from pressurizing the actor into filling both Brenda and Lesego’s shoes.
When the Multi-faceted Ntate Jerry who has been married for 36 years is not being a villain on screen or directing anything, he offers marriage counseling services to those that need it. Yes! He has been a marriage counselor since the 80s. Together with his wife, they offer counseling separately. He believes that some people are scarred in the area of love and when they find a person that knows how to love them, they no longer know how to receive that love. “A marriage counselor listens compassionately, never judges and never loses patience. Counselling is about asking questions” If you and your partner ever seek marriage counseling, you can reach the SAFTA Lifetime Achievement Award recipient on his email (jerrymofokeng8@gmail.com)
