Mothusi Magano

EARLY LIFE

Mothusi Magano was born on 26 March 1979 in the small village of Phokeng on the outskirts of Rustenburg, North West Province, South Africa. At the age of five, his family relocated to Mafikeng (Mahikeng). He first experienced performance at the Mmabana Cultural Centre, where he appeared in the pantomime A Dragon For Dinner. In 1998 he enrolled at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) School of Dramatic Art. In his first year he successfully auditioned for multiple productions and was cast in Death and the Maiden (as Gerardo Escobar) and Little Shop of Horrors (as Audrey Two).

CAREER

After university, Magano began building a stage career, appearing in productions including The Third Man (as Harry Lime, 2003), Stones in His Pockets, Venus, Lysistrata, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Romeo and Juliet, American Buffalo, Hamlet, and others. His screen breakthrough came with early film roles: Gums & Noses (2004) – Calvin Kleynhans Hotel Rwanda (2004) – Benedict Tsotsi (2005) – Boston (the Oscar-winning film that brought international attention to South African cinema) Television highlights include: The Lab (2006–2009) – Charles “Mingus” Khathi (his first major television lead role, spanning three seasons) Wild at Heart (2010) – recurring role as Baruti Intersexions (2011) – Kabelo 90 Plein Street (2012) Tempy Pushas (2013) – lead role Scandal! (from 2013) – Phehello Mokheti / “The Dustbin Man” (a mysterious assassin role that raised his profile significantly) Hustle (2016–2017) – Maxwell Keeping Score (2017) Emoyeni / Emonyeni: Nsanguluko (2018) – Phakamile “Phaks” Skeem Saam (joined 2019) Blood Psalms (2022) – King Letsha Unseen (2023) – Lufuno Ngesi Selected later film credits Of Good Report (2013) – Parker Sithole The Number (2017) – Magadien Wentzel Griekwastad (2019) – Felix Dlangamandla I Am All Girls (2021) – Captain George Mululeki Wild is the Wind (2022) – Vusi Matsoso Awards He has won multiple SAFTA Golden Horn awards, including Best Actor (notably for Of Good Report in 2014) and further recognition for dramatic and supporting roles in subsequent years (including nominations and wins around 2019 and 2021). He has also received Africa Movie Academy Award recognition.

Mothusi Magano is widely regarded as one of South Africa’s most versatile and intense dramatic actors, frequently cast in complex, often villainous or morally ambiguous roles. His body of work spans Oscar-winning cinema (Tsotsi), long-running soaps (Scandal!), prestige dramas, and international co-productions. He continues to be active in both film and television while maintaining a relatively low public profile outside of his professional work.