Edit filter log

'{{short description|South African actor and politician}} {{Use South African English|date=January 2014}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2013}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific-prefix = | name = Fana Mokoena | native_name = | native_name_lang = | honorific-suffix = | image = | image_size = | smallimage = <!--If this is specified, "image" should not be.--> | alt = | caption = | office1 = Member of the [[National Assembly of South Africa]] | term_start1 = 24 August 2016 | term_end1 = 16 October 2020 | office2 = Delegate of the [[National Council of Provinces]] | term_start2 = 22 May 2014 | term_end2 = 24 August 2016 | birthname = Lehlohonolo Goodwill Mokoena | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1971|05|13|df=y}} | birth_place = [[Kroonstad]], [[Orange Free State (province)|Orange Free State]], South Africa | death_date = | death_place = | nationality = [[South Africa]]n | party = [[Economic Freedom Fighters]] {{small|(2013–present)}} | otherparty = [[African National Congress]] {{small|(former)}} | spouse = | partner = <!--For those with a domestic partner and not married--> | relations = | children = | residence = | education = | alma_mater = | occupation = | profession = Actor<br/>Politician | known_for = | committees = | portfolio = | awards = | website = }} '''Fana Mokoena''' (born 13 May 1971) is a South African actor and politician who served as a Member of the [[National Assembly of South Africa]] between August 2016 and October 2020. He served as a permanent delegate to the [[National Council of Provinces]] from May 2014 until August 2016. Mokoena is a member of the [[Economic Freedom Fighters]] party and serves on the party's central command team. ==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]].<ref name="MG2">{{cite news |last1=Zvomuya |first1=Percy |last2=Moya |first2=Fikile Ntsikelelo |title=Chirping classes: Fighting for freedom in Mokoena’s blood |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2013-10-24-chirping-classes-fighting-for-freedom-in-mokoenas-blood/ |accessdate=5 August 2020 |newspaper=Mail & Guardian |date=24 October 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190514034645/https://mg.co.za/article/2013-10-24-chirping-classes-fighting-for-freedom-in-mokoenas-blood |archivedate=14 May 2019}}</ref> He started his acting career in 1993, when he appeared in the South African series ''[[The Line]]''.<ref name="DRUM">{{cite news |last1=Dyomfana |first1=Bulelani |title=9 'Generations' actors: Where are they now? |url=https://www.news24.com/drum/celebs/9-generations-actors-where-are-they-now-20191219 |accessdate=5 August 2020 |newspaper=City Press |date=19 December 2019|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200805195338/https://www.news24.com/drum/celebs/9-generations-actors-where-are-they-now-20191219|archivedate=5 August 2020}}</ref> Mokoena played a small role in the thriller ''[[Dangerous Ground (1997 film)|Dangerous Ground]]'' in 1997. In 2004, he portrayed the Rwandan general [[Augustin Bizimungu]] in the film ''[[Hotel Rwanda]]''.<ref name="BBC">{{cite news |last1=Harding |first1=Andrew |title=Fana Mokoena's dilemma: Interstellar or revolution in South Africa? |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-31026575 |accessdate=5 August 2020 |newspaper=BBC News |date=29 January 2015}}</ref> 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]]''. He played the role of Capt. James Sikobi in the South African drama ''[[A Small Town Called Descent]]'' in 2010. In 2011, he appeared in the action biography film adaptation of ''[[Machine Gun Preacher]]'' in the role of John Garang alongside [[Gerard Butler]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/Archives/City-Press/World-War-Zs-Fana-Mokoena-joins-EFFs-celeb-supporters-20150430 |title=World War Z’s Fana Mokoena joins EFF’s celeb supporters|accessdate=5 August 2020 |newspaper=News24 (City Press) |date=11 July 2013|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200805204640/https://www.news24.com/news24/Archives/City-Press/World-War-Zs-Fana-Mokoena-joins-EFFs-celeb-supporters-20150430|archivedate=5 August 2020}}</ref> In 2012, he played a small role in the thriller ''[[Safe House (2012 film)|Safe House]]'' with [[Denzel Washington]].<ref name="MG">{{cite news |title=Fana Mokoena: Hitting the big time with Pitt |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2013-07-11-fana-mokoena-hitting-the-big-time-with-pitt/ |accessdate=5 August 2020 |agency=Mail & Guardian |date=11 July 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103012837/https://mg.co.za/article/2013-07-11-fana-mokoena-hitting-the-big-time-with-pitt/ |archivedate=3 November 2013}}</ref> Mokoena appeared alongside [[Brad Pitt]] in the role of Thierry Umutoni in the zombie blockbuster ''[[World War Z (film)|World War Z]]'' in 2013.<ref name="MG" /> He also portrayed the anti-apartheid fighter [[Govan Mbeki]] in the film ''[[Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom]]'' with [[Idris Elba]].<ref name="BBC" /> He was then to take on a role in [[Christopher Nolan]]'s 2014 film ''[[Interstellar (film)|Interstellar]]'', which he had to decline due to his role in politics.<ref name="BBC" /> In 1976 Mokoena's mother, Arcilla Mekodi Mokoena, was detained in solitary confinement for 3 months. She was a teacher who was incarcerated (due to her students in Kroonstad) joining in solidarity, as violence broke out throughout the country. She is well and living in Qwaqwa. Mokoena is the eldest brother to late Karabelo Israel Mokoena, Tlotlisang Dipallo Charity Xulu and Mamello Blessings Mokoena. ==Politics== Mokoena was initially a member of the [[African National Congress]].<ref name="MG2" /> 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.<ref>{{cite news |title=I've had 5 ANC friends who condemned me for joining EFF now apologise, says Fana Mokoena |url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/tshisa-live/tshisa-live/2017-04-13-ive-had-5-anc-friends-who-condemned-me-for-joining-eff-now-apologise-says-fana-mokoena/ |accessdate=5 August 2020 |newspaper=TimesLIVE |date=13 April 2017}}</ref> Between 2014 and 2016, he was a member of the [[National Council of Provinces]], the upper house of the [[Parliament of South Africa]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Hansard: NCOP: Appointment of returning Officers; Election of Chairperson of National Council of Provinces |url=https://pmg.org.za/hansard/18536/ |accessdate=5 August 2020 |website=Parliamentary Monitoring Group |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200625210539/https://pmg.org.za/hansard/18536/ |archivedate=25 June 2020}}</ref> In 2016, he was appointed as a member of the lower house of parliament, the [[National Assembly of South Africa|National Assembly]], as a member from [[Free State]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Actor Fana Mokoena gets a hot new seat in parliament |url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/tshisa-live/tshisa-live/2016-09-01-actor-fana-mokoena-gets-a-hot-new-seat-in-parliament/ |accessdate=5 August 2020 |newspaper=TimesLIVE |date=1 September 2016}}</ref> Mokoena won a second term in the [[2019 South African general election|2019 general election]], with the Economic Freedom Fighters almost doubling their number of seats.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bhengu |first1=Cebelihle |title=MP Fana Mokoena reflects on EFF's growth: 'The party has shown tenacity & resilience' |url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/politics/2019-12-09-mp-fana-mokoena-reflects-on-effs-growth-the-party-has-shown-tenacity-resilience/ |accessdate=5 August 2020 |newspaper=TimesLIVE |date=9 December 2019}}</ref> Mokoena resigned from the National Assembly with effect from 16 October 2020 but remained in the EFF's Central Command Team as a member of the War Council, the party's operational authority. <ref>{{cite web |title=National Assembly Members |url=https://pmg.org.za/page/National%20Assembly%20Members? |website=Parliamentary Monitoring Group |accessdate=22 October 2020}}</ref> He has returned back to the Film and Television industry as a writer and producer. His company Praise Poet Pictures is working on several international productions. ==Filmography== * ''[[Generations (South African TV series)|Generations]]'' (1999) as Dr. Mandla Sithole<ref name="DRUM" /> * ''52 Regent East'' (1993) as Lead * ''The Line'' (1994) as Tebogo * ''Inside'' (1996) as Prisoner (voice) * ''[[Dangerous Ground (1997 film)|Dangerous Ground]]'' (1997) as Youth * ''[[Jump the Gun (film)|Jump the Gun]]'' (1999) as Man in shacks * ''In My Country'' (2004) as Mandla (uncredited) * ''[[Hotel Rwanda]]'' (2004) as General Bizimungu<ref name="BBC" /> * ''Cuppen'' (2006) as Madoda * ''[[The LAB]]'' (2006–2009, South African TV series) as Jaws Bengu * ''[[Silent Witness]]'' (2008) as Katembula * ''[[Wild at Heart (UK TV series)|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 (film)|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 film)|Safe House]]'' (2012) as Officer in charge<ref name="BBC" /> * ''[[World War Z (film)|World War Z]]'' (2013) as Thierry Umutoni * ''[[Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom]]'' (2013) as Govan Mbeki<ref name="BBC" /> * ''[[Cold Harbour (film)|Cold Harbour]]'' (2013) as Specialist * ''The Call'' (2015) as Sibongiseni * ''[[The Book of Negroes (miniseries)|The Book of Negroes]]'' (2015) as Allasane ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== * [https://web.archive.org/web/20060221180334/http://server.mg.co.za/art/2002/2002may/020531-soapie.html The stuff soaps are made of], ''[[Mail & Guardian]]'', 31 May 2002 * {{IMDb name|596350}} * [http://www.tvsa.co.za/actorprofile.asp?actorid=4449 TVSA Actor Profile] * {{People's Assembly (South Africa) | id= lehlohonolo-goodwill-mokoena | name= Lehlohonolo Goodwill Mokoena }} *{{cite web |title=Mr Lehlohonolo Goodwill Mokoena |url=https://www.parliament.gov.za/person-details/238 |website=Parliament of South Africa |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200805211456/https://www.parliament.gov.za/person-details/238 |archivedate=5 August 2020}} {{Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Mokoena, Fana}} [[Category:1971 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:People from Kroonstad]] [[Category:South African Sotho people]] [[Category:South African male film actors]] [[Category:South African male television actors]] [[Category:Best Supporting Actor Africa Movie Academy Award winners]] [[Category:Economic Freedom Fighters politicians]]'