Dr. Jerry Mofokeng wa Makhetha stands as a celebrated South African actor in stage, film, and television, with a career exceeding four decades that has established him as a key figure in national arts. Hailing from Soweto, he gained global acclaim through standout roles in films like Tsotsi, Cry the Beloved Country, and Lord of War. His contributions extend to directing, playwriting, teaching, and arts leadership, marking his path from apartheid-era Soweto to worldwide artistic honors.
Profile Summary
| Full Name | Dr. Jerry Mofokeng wa Makhetha |
| Date of Birth | 17 April 1956 |
| Place of Birth | Moema Street, Orlando West, Soweto |
| Nationality | South African |
| State of Origin | Gauteng Province |
| Relatives | Uncle of Thabo Makhetha-Kwinana |
| Partner | Claudine Mofokeng wa Makhetha (married since 1980) |
| Children | Tsakane, Palesa, Lerato Makhetha, Mpho, Mosa |
| Occupations | Actor, Director, Playwright, Lecturer, Author |
| Net Worth | $1.5 million |
Early Life and Education
Jerry Mofokeng entered the world on 17 April 1956 on Moema Street in Orlando West, Soweto, Gauteng—a site tied to the 1976 student uprising where Hector Petersen fell. Growing up near homes of Nelson Mandela and Walter Sisulu, he attended Orlando West High School amid apartheid tensions, even sitting an Afrikaans exam as protests erupted nearby.
Early sparks of creativity came from Gibson Kente’s shows at Uncle Tom’s Hall, leading to community theater at Youth Alive Ministries in Dube, Soweto, where he shifted from acting to writing and directing.
Formal training began in 1983 at the University of the Witwatersrand’s Drama Department, starting with acting before focusing on directing. A Fulbright Scholarship took him to Columbia University in New York, earning a Master of Fine Arts in Theatre Directing and Management.
Career
Jerry’s professional journey spans acting, directing, academia, and administration. His debut came in the 1984 film Sus at the National Arts Festival. Post-Columbia, he lectured at Wits University and served as Resident Artistic Director at the Market Theatre, later leading Johannesburg Civic Theatre and Mpumalanga’s Sport and Culture directorate.
Notable directing works include The Blood Knot (1986), Boesman and Lena (1993), The Piano Lesson (1996), A Raisin in the Sun (2003, 2021), and The Suit (2002). As a playwright, he penned A King is Born (1995), Mpolelle, and Don’t Look Away (2011).
Screen roles feature in The Line (1994), Mandela and de Klerk (1997), Mr. Bones (2001), Max and Mona (2004), Tsotsi (2005), Safe House (2012), Five Fingers for Marseilles (2017), Shaft 6 (2020), Mr. Bones 3 (2022), Blood Legacy (2024), and Marked (2025).
Personal Life
Jerry shares a 45-year marriage with Claudine Mofokeng wa Makhetha, met in 1978 and wed in June 1980 after her initial reservations turned to commitment. They raise five children: Tsakane, Palesa, Lerato, Mpho, and Mosa. Their son Lerato Makhetha performs music as Larry Soulo, acts, and works in real estate, gaining his father’s eventual support.
At 56, Jerry learned his biological father’s identity, adopting “wa Makhetha” to honor him. He is uncle to designer Thabo Makhetha-Kwinana. In 2019, he disclosed his prostate cancer diagnosis to promote men’s health awareness. His memoirs I Am A Man (2021) and Nna Ke Monna (2023) draw from these experiences.
Net Worth
Jerry Mofokeng holds an estimated net worth of $1.5 million USD, accumulated primarily through his extensive acting roles, directing projects, and entertainment ventures across film, television, and theater over four decades.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Sus | Various | Film |
| 1994 | The Line | Duma Nkosi | Film |
| 1995 | Cry, the Beloved Country | Hlabeni | Film |
| 1996 | Rhodes | Unguba | TV Series |
| 1997 | Mandela and de Klerk | Walter Sisulu | Film |
| 2001 | Mr. Bones | Medicine Man | Film |
| 2004 | Max and Mona | Uncle Norman ‘Bra Nox’ Mogudi | Film |
| 2005 | Tsotsi | Morris | Film |
| 2005 | Lord of War | Ernest | Film |
| 2012 | Safe House | Man at Mint | Film |
| 2013 | The Forgotten Kingdom | Katleho | Film |
| 2017 | Five Fingers for Marseilles | Jonah | Film |
| 2019 | This Is Not a Burial, It’s a Resurrection | Lesiba Player | Film |
| 2020 | Shaft 6 | Doc Dlamini | Film |
| 2022 | Mr. Bones 3: Son of Bones | King | Film |
| 2024 | Blood Legacy | Tumi Mashishi | TV Series |
| 2025 | Marked | Baba G | TV Series |
Awards and Nominations
Jerry Mofokeng’s achievements include the Standard Bank Young Artist for Drama (1994), SAFTA Lifetime Achievement Award (2013), African Film Festival Legend Award (2018), and Royalty Soapie Lifetime Achievement Award (2024). He received an Honorary Doctor of Letters from the University of the Free State in 2019. Nominations feature Vita National Director of the Year for Nongogo.
