Voices of Joburg – Life on the city streets

Kagiso Moeng, who takes part in drama classes at Constitution Hill Cultural Centre, has had the dream of becoming an all-round entertainer since the age of 15. And this dream is one that has taken him on a number of unexpected journeys since then.

Moeng took a risk and made his way to Joburg to pursue his dream of being discovered.

Originally from Rustenburg, the aspiring actor used the money given to him by his mother to buy bread to travel to Johannesburg to be discovered. With the little money he used to make his way to the city, he had none to get back home and was forced to sleep on the street for the night.

“I can remember, I slept in the street. I came back to Joburg to reach my dream,” Moeng explained.

“In 2008, I was here and I was looking for agencies, so I went to SABC first. They made me pay to join their agency and then they made me an extra in Rhythm City.”

Not satisfied by his small part in the local TV series, he employed a new tactic to find work in the entertainment industry.

“I saw a lady in Newtown and I knew that she was the person I had to talk to and that she would be able to give me my dream. I followed this lady around because I wanted to know where I could go to be like her and do what she does.”

City Buzz inquired how Moeng knew what profession she was in.

“I just knew she was doing what I wanted to do.”

It is the very same woman who would become Moeng’s guiding light as she directed him to the drama classes he now attends at the centre.

This came after a tumultuous time in his life – a few months earlier his father had been arrested. “I don’t want people to judge me for my background and for what my father has done. I just want to act and express my feelings and to also be a musician.”