{{Short description|South African actor, playwright and radio personality}} {{Multiple issues| {{more citations needed|date=July 2025}} {{AI-generated|date=September 2025}} {{Orphan|date=December 2025}} }} {{Infobox person | name = Mahuma Paul Rapetsoa | image = | caption = | birth_date = 1950 | birth_place = Limpopo Province, South Africa | death_date = 29 December 2020 | death_place = Seshego, Polokwane, South Africa | occupation = Actor · playwright · radio broadcaster · theatre manager | years_active = 1970s–2020 | known_for = Portrayal of Malome Josias on ''Skeem Saam''; head of drama at Thobela FM; "father of township theatre” }}
'''Mahuma Paul Rapetsoa''' (1950 – 29 December 2020) was a South African actor, playwright, radio broadcaster and theatre manager. Often called the "father of township theatre" in Limpopo, he is best known for his portrayal of Malome Josias on the SABC1 soap opera Skeem Saam, his leadership of the Thobela FM drama department, and for founding a community theatre institute that trained generations of township actors.<ref name=":0" />
==Early life and education== Rapetsoa was born in 1950 in the Limpopo Province of South Africa.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mahuma Paul Rapetsoa – ESAT |url=https://esat.sun.ac.za/index.php/Mahuma_Paul_Rapetsoa |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220911191557/https://esat.sun.ac.za/index.php/Mahuma_Paul_Rapetsoa |archive-date=2022-09-11 |access-date=2025-06-30 |website=esat.sun.ac.za |language=en |url-status=live }}</ref> Details of his early schooling are not widely documented. He was inspired by "the father of township theatre" Gibson Kente after watching his play Sikalo in 1968.<ref>{{Cite web |title= |url=https://www.pressreader.com/south-africa/sowetan/20210108/281968905318213?srsltid=AfmBOooiGUrUalp2qrmqkbETPZhQHHEG7mq1phK_fON8O1EelbtZi9tu |access-date=2025-07-02 |via=PressReader}}</ref><ref name=":2" />
==Radio and theatre career== In the 1970s Rapetsoa joined the SABC’s Thobela FM, where he eventually became head of drama. Over two decades he wrote, produced and directed dozens of Sepedi-language radio plays—many of which launched the careers of young voice actors from rural Limpopo.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Morkel |first=Graye |title=Tributes pour in for Skeem Saam actor Mahuma Paul Rapetsoa |url=https://www.news24.com/life/arts-and-entertainment/celebrities/tributes-pour-in-for-skeem-saam-actor-mahuma-paul-rapetsoa-20201230 |access-date=2025-06-30 |website=News24 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Nongauza |first=Lwazi |date=2022-10-10 |title=Fast Facts About Mahuma 'Bra Paul' Rapetsoa |url=https://www.showbizscope.co.za/fast-facts-about-mahuma-bra-paul-rapetsoa/ |access-date=2025-07-02 |website=SHOWBIZ SCOPE |language=en-US}}</ref>
After resigning from Thobela FM in the early 2000s, he opened drama schools in 3 provinces. He founded the Rapetsoa Township Theatre Institute at Yeoville Recreation Centre in Johannesburg. He opened the 3 more drama theatres after he had realised a demand. He then opened the Mamelodi Community Centre, Pretoria – and one in Mpumalanga at the Siyabuswa Community Centre and he established the Paul Rapetsoa School of Dramatic Arts (Prida) in Thlabane in Rustenburg, North West.<ref name=":0">{{cite web | title=Itching to revive art | date=12 December 2006 | url=https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/2006-12-12-itching-to-revive-art/ }}</ref> There he ran weekly workshops in acting, scriptwriting and stagecraft for township youth, drawing on the techniques of Gibson Kente and other pioneers of Black South African theatre.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2021-01-04 |title=The township theatre exploits of theatre legend Paul Rapetsoa – CityLife Arts |url=https://citylifearts.co.za/the-township-theatre-exploits-of-theatre-legend-paul-rapetsoa/ |access-date=2025-06-30 |language=en-US}}</ref> He toured Limpopo schools and community halls, effectively establishing a permanent footprint for drama in a province that previously lacked formal theatre venues.{{Citation needed|date=July 2025}}<ref>{{Cite news |last=Tsumele |first=Edward |date=2021-01-04 |title=The township theatre exploits of theatre legend Paul Rapetsoa |url=https://citylifearts.co.za/the-township-theatre-exploits-of-theatre-legend-paul-rapetsoa/ |access-date=2025-07-02 |work=City Life Arts}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Bambalele |first=Patience |date=2014-09-29 |title=Kente's legacy still alive |url=https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/entertainment/2014-11-29-kentes-legacy-still-alive/ |access-date=2025-07-02 |work=SowetanLive}}</ref>
==Television and film==
===Radio=== {| class="wikitable" |- |} {| class="wikitable sortable" ! Medium ! Title ! Role/Contribution |- | Play | Ba tla kwa ka mang | Contributor |- | Play | Leswiswing La Pelo | Contributor |- | Play | O re haa | Contributor |- | Play | Bjang kapa Bjang | Contributor |- | Show | Fola Moya Waka | Host |- | Radio | SABC Radio Drama | Head of Drama |}
===Theatre=== {| class="wikitable" |- |} {| class="wikitable sortable" ! Medium ! Title ! Role/Contribution |- | Theatre | The Last Song | Writer/Director |- | Theatre | Themba | Writer/Director |- | Theatre | The Bicycle | Actor/Director |- | Theatre | The Last Dance | Actor/Director |- | Theatre | The Fall | Actor/Director |- |}
===Television=== {| class="wikitable" |- |} {| class="wikitable sortable" ! Medium ! Title ! Role/Contribution |- | Television | ''Skeem Saam'' | Malome Josias |- | Television | Dimilone tsa Keriri | |- |}
Rapetsoa's most prominent on-screen role was as "Malome Josias" on the SABC1 soap opera Skeem Saam. Initially a cameo, the character grew into a series regular credited with bringing Sepedi-speaking audiences to the show. Colleagues remember him as a generous mentor on set, often coaching younger actors such as Charles Maja.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2020-12-30 |title=Tributes continue to pour in for Skeem Saam actor Paul Rapetsoa – SABC News – Breaking news, special reports, world, business, sport coverage of all South African current events. Africa's news leader. |url=https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/tributes-continue-to-pour-in-for-skeem-saam-actor-paul-rapetsoa/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221110083225/https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/tributes-continue-to-pour-in-for-skeem-saam-actor-paul-rapetsoa/ |archive-date=2022-11-10 |access-date=2025-06-30 |work=SABC News – Breaking news, special reports, world, business, sport coverage of all South African current events. Africa's news leader. |language=en-US |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Personal life== He was married and had children, including his son Matome Rapetsoa, who in 2022 began using community musicals to raise awareness and fight gender-based violence in Gauteng townships.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Langa |first=Phumlani S. |title=Theatre: Paul Rapetsoa's son fights GBV through musicals |url=https://www.news24.com/citypress/trending/theatre-paul-rapetsoas-son-fights-gbv-through-musicals-20221103-2 |access-date=2025-06-30 |website=News24 |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Awards ==
* Artes Award in Italy, in 1994 for best radio drama productions on behalf of Thobela FM.<ref name=":1" />
==Death and tributes== On 29 December 2020 at 18:56, Rapetsoa died aged 70; his son announced the passing on social media without specifying a cause.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mzansi mourns the death of theatre legend & 'Skeem Saam' actor Mahuma Paul Rapetsoa |url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/tshisa-live/tshisa-live/2020-12-30-mzansi-mourns-the-death-of-theatre-legend-and-skeem-saam-actor-mahuma-paul-rapetsoa/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240930132715/https://www.timeslive.co.za/tshisa-live/tshisa-live/2020-12-30-mzansi-mourns-the-death-of-theatre-legend-and-skeem-saam-actor-mahuma-paul-rapetsoa/ |archive-date=2024-09-30 |access-date=2025-06-30 |website=www.timeslive.co.za |date=30 December 2020 |language=en |url-status=live }}</ref> The Limpopo provincial government announced plans to honour him, including naming the planned Limpopo Arts Theatre in Polokwane after him.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ramothwala |first=Peter |date=2021-01-04 |title=Province vows to honour arts legend Rapetsoa |url=https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/south-africa/2021-01-04-province-vows-to-honour-arts-legend-rapetsoa/ |access-date=2025-06-30 |work=SowetanLive}}</ref>
==Legacy and honours== In September 2022 the Paul Rapetsoa Legacy Foundation was established to preserve his work and support emerging artists. Each September the Foundation hosts a Legacy Month Extravaganza in Polokwane, featuring performances, workshops and panel discussions in theatre, radio drama and music.<ref>{{Cite web |title=PAUL RAPETSOA LEGACY MONTH EXTRAVAGANZA DAY 1 |url=https://www.howler.co.za/rapetsoapaul |access-date=2025-06-30 |website=www.howler.co.za |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Book tickets for Paul Rapetsoa Legacy Month Extravaganza |url=https://www.quicket.co.za/events/191444-paul-rapetsoa-legacy-month-extravaganza/ |access-date=2025-06-30 |website=www.quicket.co.za |language=en}}</ref>
==References== <references />
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rapetsoa, Paul}} Category:1950 births Category:2020 deaths Category:South African male stage actors Category:South African male television actors Category:South African dramatists and playwrights Category:South African radio personalities Category:Theatre managers and producers Category:People from Limpopo Category:20th-century South African male actors Category:Soap opera actors