Entertainment industry mourns Mpho Sebeng’s passing

Loss has once again come knocking in the entertainment industry.

This time, the industry is mourning the passing of thespian, Mpho Sebeng (31).

At the weekend, TV personality Zola Hathatsi took to social media to announce that Mpho died in a car accident.

Family spokesperson, Oupa Morake, says the accident happened in Potchefstroom.

“While the family appreciates the immense outpouring of love and condolences, the family requests some space to process the news,” he says.

Celebrities and ordinary South Africans alike have taken to social media to share their condolences and best memories on Mpho.

His friends are also struggling to come to terms with the news.

"Mpho was the light in our lives and his undeniable talent, together with his kindness, will forever be missed. He was a humble, loyal and geniune person who always left the room filled with love and laughter wherever he went. He will always be loved and missed," says friend group, The Real Housemates (TRH).

In a previous interview, Mpho told Drum that he ditched his political studies to follow his passion of making gripping television.

He dropped out of Wits University in his third year, when he only had one more module to do towards his BA Law degree. He majored in politics and philosophy. It was at the height of the Fees Must Fall protest and he was expelled for his involvement.

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“It was a common fight for all of us. A lot of my friends were in the SRC and student politics. I too was a politics student, so it made sense that I get involved too. But as things were heating up on campus, I had secured an acting role which was taking up much of my time.”

He had an epiphany.

“It dawned on me that I did not really want to get into politics anyway. So when I got expelled I did not fight because I knew I wanted to act and I focused all my energies on that.”

The said role was Neo in Ring of Lies with earned him a nomination for best actor at the South African Film and Television Awards. One of his best-known roles is as Siso Ledwaba in Zero Tolerance in the early 2000s. He's been around for a while, but Mpho does not have a problem with going to auditions even though he has been in the industry for 20 years.

Read more | Mpho Sebeng on redefining manhood as Themba on new Kagiso Modupe film, Ingoma – The Song

“People go to interviews in their respective fields of work and that is what auditions are for actors. Even though people know you, sometimes they want to sit down with you and talk about how you would play or interpret a certain character and that qualifies as an audition. Also, I respect my craft and my industry. I cannot enjoy success from this industry and turn around and say I am too big for the industry.”

Oupa says details of Mpho’s “home going celebration” will be announced in due course.

“We request that you continue to hold the Sebeng family in prayer. Take care of yourselves and take care of each other,” he concludes.