Mduduzi talks about the South, art, family and respect

THE South’s very own TV and movie star, who is well-known for his long role in TV soapie Rhythm City, welcomed the COURIER to his home to talk about the South, art, family and respect.

Mduduzi Mabaso (41) is still amazingly humble after playing roles in internationally renowned films such as Blood Diamond (2006), Hotel Rwanda (2004) and Machine Gun Preacher (2011) – he says there is no such a thing as “you have made it” to him, because you never stop learning in the entertainment industry.

The husband and father trusts in God and believes that the values that were instilled in him since childhood are what keep him going, as well as focused, after all the years he has spent appearing on TV screens.

Acting is an art to respect

“Respect is something important to me. You can have all the things in the world but if you have no respect you have nothing. You need to understand that respect varies – there is the respect of a humbled person who is still trying to get started and the respect of someone who is already established.

“To us actors there is also something called ‘having respect for your craft’, especially in theatre play. Respect is important in theatre because when you are on that stage you get to be your complete self – it is like you get to be normal in the best way possible. You approach theatre with respect because it is not just your work but the work of everyone who came before you. When preparing for theatre in our day, we were told things I cannot even say to you, but we must just make sure we approach that craft with respect and delicacy,” explained Mduduzi.

Living in the South

Mduduzi explained that he chose the South because it is convenient and it is closer to everything when you work in the entertainment industry.

But living in the South can be challenging, because crime in the South affects everyone. He explained that he too has been a victim of the South’s criminal activities. Working in unity, however, he and his neighbours have improved their area’s security by sticking together and confronting people who use their houses for suspicious activities.

“When I think of all the young people who love art but are living in this South with its high criminal activity it makes me sad. But my message to those kids is that all they need to achieve their dreams is their art. I am willing to work with such young people and help them improve their work. Their art is all they need to achieve – they must remain focused,” explained Mduduzi.

Family

Mduduzi smiled as he described how his family makes him happy. His wife, Fatima, is his manager and best friend. She is well-known for her vast knowledge and expertise about the entertainment industry, as she was in the industry before they even met.

Mduduzi believes his wife has a great deal of knowledge about the industry that she needs to share with various schools and organisations in the South to educate and uplift the spirits of many young people.

Upcoming project

Although Mduduzi is a man who is always working on many projects, he often has to wait for the right time to talk about them. His excitement at playing Collen Chauke – a former MK soldier and cash-in-transit robber who was at some point the most wanted criminal in South Africa – in upcoming film ‘State Enemy Number 1’ is overwhelming. He is, after all, taking on the role of a man suspected of having been behind 17 murders and robberies that resulted in more than R82 million being stolen.

Mduduzi believes that the movie is going to shake the South African film industry.

The COURIER will give an update about the film when the time is right, as the director is a resident of the South.

For free daily local news in the south, visit our sister newspapers Alberton Record, Comaro Chronicle, Southern Courier and Get it Joburg South Magazine.

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