Thapelo Mokoena / 37 / Actor, Filmmaker, Wine Producer, Brewer & Restaurant/Tap Room Owner
Viewers are currently glued to MNet’s Trackers, tell us about the character you play, Quinn…
Quinn is an ambitious young father chasing his dream. His main mission is to protect and serve the republic and the president’s office. He is a high-end conflicted cop who has a family to look after at home but also has the toughest time at the office, trying to work his way up to one day take charge and head up the bureau.
Bosman Wines has been doing amazing, what’s the collaboration all about?
Bosman Wines is a collaboration about family and the power of unity. Myself and Petrus Bosman became friends and ultimately family in a space of literally a month. The collaboration is all about us expressing the powers we hold as people that can work together, it’s about us being open and showcasing that together we can achieve more and be ground breaking, be brave and try something new and see what happens. It’s also been a year since we started, November is Nero month (we released last year November). We’ve sold out 6400 bottles in 6 months and right now we’re already comfortably selling stock we should be selling in 2020!
One doesn’t see a lot of Africans tapping into the wine industry, what motivated you to take this route?
While visiting and traveling the wine lands via Destinate Tours, the interest sparked. I decided to go out and experience the wine lands as I needed some inspiration to help me with a script I was working on. As I was meeting all the wine families, I also met the Bosmans and that changed everything. We shared conversations and realized we share the same views such as family and business. Meeting the Bosmans felt like the kind of upbringing and values I have known throughout my life so connecting came naturally. Petrus introduced me to a “black grape” (Nero) and explained how it originates from Sicily and can grow in volcanic soil and doesn’t need much to grow, given the drought in Cape Town, it was a game changer. Petrus was looking for someone of my caliber to collaborate with and help open up wine to the average South African. All the work that goes into wine making, the patience required and the challenges faced throughout the process made me learn so much. I still have dreams of living on a farm and I grew up in that space so the venture opportunity really spoke to me.
You’re already a household name in the entertainment industry, how do you always stay on top of your game?
We as South Africans need to become a culture of people that are consistent. As much as I am an actor first, I knew it wouldn’t build me wealth, especially in our country, it bothered me a bit, but I was okay with it. God put me in Africa, not in Hollywood so hey?! I knew I enjoyed the Arts but didn’t know how to apply that passion. Growing up in a small town, I never knew how to articulate it, I mean we never had gadgets such as phones and laptops growing up. When I came to Johannesburg I studied Accounting at Wits but started noticing Art schools, and I’d always say, “they look like how I feel”. From then on I knew I would have to fight to be happy and keep myself in a stable space while pursuing my dream. I’d always pray to God about using my talent and still being able to pay the bills. I come from a family of business so I have always been business minded. The talent has always said you will work, I was in all the lead graduation roles in school while also qualifying as a producer in the film business. I knew I had to be smart and wise, hence I always strive to control the business side of all the projects I am involved in. Consistency is subjective, I can only be consistent as my hard work and I believe there’s more to a human being than being one dimensional.
2019 has seemingly been a great year for you, any other exciting stuff to close of the year?
2019 has been a tough year but a great one in general, there’s always light at the end of the tunnel. In the midst of the toughness, the exciting news is that I am officially a co-owner of a beer brewery/restaurant/Tap Room as of today Thursday 21 November! The Ukhamba Beerworx Tap Room & Shisanyama is in Claremont, Cape Town (53 Main Rd, Claremont). We’re launching The Tap Room and the highly anticipated new branding for the Ukhamba beers today. The business has been around for 3 years and with my involvement comes a new identity, a new age and new journey. The Tap Room is a concept store for beers and a full solution liquor distribution company that handles logistics on and off consumption in the Gauteng, Western Cape and Kwazulu Natal areas. Currently it boasts being South Africa’s largest and most reliable one stop route to market partner for brewers, distillers and brands looking to expand…You’re the first to get the scoop!
You’re involved in a lot of projects, how do you manage all of them efficiently?
The trick is to always find a balance, so I always take Mondays off to focus on me, (for my sanity). I set times for work and all the projects I’m involved in. I do all of this while sitting in my garden, sometimes even barefoot because I love nature (growing up on a farm and all), I sometimes call myself a “dignified hippie”. I am an early riser too so I take time to try and meditate as that assists with training my mind to focus. I also constantly creatively think of ways to make all the businesses I am involved in better.
You’re also a big fitness fan, do you have a schedule you follow?
Yes I am a big fitness fan and I always try and have a schedule, I always want to be prepared.
Proudest moment in your career so far?
There’s definitely more than one moment, but getting a South African Film & Television Award (SAFTA) for my mobile cinema was a proud moment. I hadn’t even planned to take the trip to Sun City that day, so that was definitely a highlight. One other highlight was getting to star on Deon Meyer’s ‘Trackers’ that is going to be aired across the world. I am at the point in my career where I am clear about what I want and what my story is. I hope this is the point in my career where I “Denzel!” I’ve got a lot of international projects coming up that I am signing away, its crazy! 2020’s already fully booked. It’s been 17 years for me in this industry and I’ve never not worked.
What/who keeps you grounded and focused?
It’s where I come from, I come from a very hardworking family. My brothers and I were never raised as kids that had privilege. We were always reminded that we were just people, our own person. My father is quite a successful man (which is all my mother’s doing) but we never used his name or title to gain anything in our personal lives. The prayers from my family as well, there’s a lot of well wishes from them that keep me going and not let me go astray or lose focus of the bigger picture. I am in a public industry and there is so much that could easily go wrong, I am human and I am not perfect but I do however always strive to be the best version of myself. There’s always pressure and I always say I am not a role model, I am a human being who is pursuing his vision and his dream, so take the good that you see, take what you need and leave what you don’t want because I’ll still be human tomorrow. I don’t believe I am “the guy”, my wife and I are not “the couple” and there’s no such thing as perfect love or a perfect marriage. At the same time, I have to be a father to 2 beautiful souls which are my sons, I have to do it for them, they have to be proud of their father. I believe the more you get drawn into the spotlight, is the more you should be selfless, the moment I forget that, I’ll live in my ego and be driven by it. I am South African but I am born into the world, have I really started working as an artist if my work is only consumed in Africa and a bit of London? I don’t think so. There’s still a lot of work to do. I don’t think I am worth celebrating, I think I am just a guy that works hard.
Follow Thapelo!
Instagram: @mokoenalive
Twitter: @ThapeloMokoena
Facebook: Thapelo Mokoena
-Bridgette Makhela
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