# Mapula Mafole

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**Mapula Mafole** (born 18 July 1990)[1] is a South African actress best known for playing the role of Mapula on the [e.tv](/source/E.tv) soapie *[Rhythm City](/source/Rhythm_City)*.[2][3]

## Early life

Mafole was born in [Diepkloof, Soweto](/source/Diepkloof), [Gauteng](/source/Gauteng) and raised in [Klerksdorp, North West](/source/Klerksdorp). Her parents Moses and Monica Mafole later moved her and her siblings to [Tshwane](/source/Tshwane), [Pretoria](/source/Pretoria) when she was 10, before they relocated to the United Kingdom. In 2013, she graduated and now holds [AFDA](/source/AFDA) degree.[4]

## Career

In 2012, Mafole made her television debut with a [cameo role](/source/Cameo_role) on [SABC1](/source/SABC1) drama series *Intersexions* playing the role of Beauty.[2] She later joined the cast of the e.tv soap opera *[Rhythm City](/source/Rhythm_City)*, playing the character Mapula.[5] In interviews she has spoken about how the role resonated with her personal history and mental-health struggles, and that playing Mapula helped her confront and channel her experiences.[6]

Due to her youthful appearance, she has noted in media that she was often cast as teenagers, even after becoming an adult. In 2020, she told a newspaper that as she approached her 30s she hoped to take on more mature roles, potentially even "villainous" characters, rather than always be typecast as the victim or "schoolgirl" type.[5]

After leaving *Rhythm City*, Mafole told an interviewer she was ready to "stretch herself" and take on more varied roles. In 2022 she joined the cast of [*Unmarried*](/source/Unmarried_(TV_series)) as Rea, marking one of her first major roles.[7]

In the following years she starred in various productions, including the *Ke Bona Spoko* (2022), *Expiry Date,*[3] the [1Magic](/source/1Magic) [miniseries](/source/Miniseries) *Pila Pila* (2023),[8] and *My Girlfriend’s Father* (2023).[9]

In 2024 she was announced to star in *016 FM*, a drama series for [Showmax](/source/Showmax).[10]

## Personal life

Mafole has spoken candidly about her personal battles with depression and anxiety, describing how growing up without her parents around and moving as a child contributed to difficult emotional times. She has credited acting, especially emotionally demanding roles, as a form of therapy and self-help.[6]

She has also publicly expressed a desire to enter the music industry. In a 2018 interview she said she was learning to DJ, enjoyed music production, and considered music akin to acting, a way of storytelling and connecting with people.[11]

## Awards and nominations

List of Accolades Award / Film Festival Year Nomination Project Recipient Result Ref. South African Film and Television Awards 2018 Golden Horn Award for Best Supporting Actress Rhythm City Herself [12] 2020 Golden Horn Award for Best Actress [13] 2021 Golden Hord Award for Best Supporting Actress [a]

1. Cited to multiple sources:[14][15]

## Filmography

Television Year Title Role Notes Ref. 2012 Intersexions Beauty Cameo role [2] 2015–2022 Rhythm City Mapula Main role [2]

## References

1. Zwane, Nokuthula (2020-07-15). ["Rhythm City's tiny Mapula Mafole turns turns 30 on Mandela Day"](https://sundayworld.co.za/shwashwi/celebrity-news/entertainment/rhythm-citys-tiny-mapula-mafole-turns-turns-30-on-mandela-day/) (in en-ZA). *Sunday World*. Retrieved 2023-09-09.

1. ["Mapula Mafole talks about life after 'Rhythm City', battling depression and her new role"](https://www.timeslive.co.za/tshisa-live/tshisa-live/2022-06-16-mapula-mafole-talks-about-life-after-rhythm-city-battling-depression-and-her-new-role/) (in en-ZA). *TimesLIVE*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230907194546/https://www.timeslive.co.za/tshisa-live/tshisa-live/2022-06-16-mapula-mafole-talks-about-life-after-rhythm-city-battling-depression-and-her-new-role/) 7 September 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2023-09-10.

1. Mukotekwa, Leeroy (2023-07-08). ["Former 'Rhythm City' actress Mapula Mafole: Where is she now?"](https://www.thesouthafrican.com/lifestyle/celeb-news/former-rhythm-city-actress-mapula-mafole-where-is-she-now-breaking-8-july-2023/) (in en-ZA). *The South African*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230728194225/https://www.thesouthafrican.com/lifestyle/celeb-news/former-rhythm-city-actress-mapula-mafole-where-is-she-now-breaking-8-july-2023/) 28 July 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2023-09-12.

1. ["Rhythm City's petite Mapula Mafole is dynamite in a tiny package"](https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/entertainment/2018-02-23-petite---mapula-is-dynamite-in-a-tiny-package/) (in en-ZA). *SowetanLIVE*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220517121522/https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/entertainment/2018-02-23-petite---mapula-is-dynamite-in-a-tiny-package/) 17 May 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2023-09-10.

1. Zwane, Nokuthula (2020-07-15). ["Rhythm City's tiny Mapula Mafole turns turns 30 on Mandela Day"](https://sundayworld.co.za/celebrity-news/entertainment/rhythm-citys-tiny-mapula-mafole-turns-turns-30-on-mandela-day/) (in en-ZA). *Sunday World*. Retrieved 2025-12-09.

1. Dayile, Qhama. ["'At times I would lock myself in my bedroom, sleep for days and not eat'- Mapula Mafole on battling depression"](https://www.news24.com/drum/celebs/at-times-i-would-lock-myself-in-my-bedroom-sleep-for-days-and-not-eat-mapula-mafole-on-battling-depression-20180909). *News24*. Retrieved 2025-12-09.

1. ["Mapula Mafole talks about life after 'Rhythm City', battling depression and her new role"](https://www.timeslive.co.za/tshisa-live/tshisa-live/2022-06-16-mapula-mafole-talks-about-life-after-rhythm-city-battling-depression-and-her-new-role/). *TimesLIVE*. 2022-06-16. Retrieved 2025-12-09.

1. ["Pila Pila"](https://dstv-fe-onemagic-prod.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/onemagic/en-za/show/pila-pila). *Pila Pila*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230912085213/https://www.dstv.com/onemagic/en-za/show/pila-pila) 2023-09-12 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2023-09-12.

1. ["My Girlfriend's Father | e.tv"](https://www.etv.co.za/shows/my-girlfriends-father). *www.etv.co.za*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230912085108/https://www.etv.co.za/shows/my-girlfriends-father) 2023-09-12 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2023-09-12.

1. Seleme, Rae (2024-06-28). ["'Rhythm City' star Mapula Mafole bags a role in '016 FM'"](https://www.thesouthafrican.com/culture/entertainment/rhythm-city-star-mapula-mafole-role-016-fm/) (in en-ZA). *The South African*. Retrieved 2025-12-09.

1. ["Rhythm City's Mapula Mafole wants to be a DJ"](https://www.timeslive.co.za/tshisa-live/tshisa-live/2018-02-26-rhythm-citys-mapula-mafole-wants-to-be-a-dj/). *TimesLIVE*. 2018-02-26. Retrieved 2025-12-09.

1. ["2018 SAFTA Nominees"](https://dstv-fe-mnet-prod.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/m-net/en-za/news/2018-safta-nominees). *2018 SAFTA Nominees*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230910101613/https://www.dstv.com/m-net/en-za/news/2018-safta-nominees) 2023-09-10 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2023-09-10.

1. yomzansi (2020-02-17). ["Here are the 2020 SAFTAs nominees"](https://www.yomzansi.com/2020/02/17/here-are-the-2020-saftas-nominees/). *YOMZANSI. Documenting THE CULTURE*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20211019203121/https://www.yomzansi.com/2020/02/17/here-are-the-2020-saftas-nominees/) 19 October 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2023-09-10.

1. Höffele, Lerato. ["Here are the nominees for this year's Saftas"](https://ewn.co.za/2021/04/29/here-are-the-nominees-for-this-year-s-saftas). *ewn.co.za*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230718021009/https://ewn.co.za/2021/04/29/here-are-the-nominees-for-this-year-s-saftas) 18 July 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2023-09-10.

1. ["Mapula Mafole Bags Nomination At The SAFTA2021"](https://www.ghgossip.com/mapula-mafole-bags-nomination-at-the-safta2021/). *www.ghgossip.com*. 2021-04-30. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230910210441/https://www.ghgossip.com/mapula-mafole-bags-nomination-at-the-safta2021/) 2023-09-10 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2023-09-10.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Mapula Mafole](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mapula_Mafole) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mapula_Mafole?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.