WeeklySA_AdminSTAND-UP: One on one with Black Tax Season 3 script writer and actor Mojakisane Lehoko…
By Priscilla Malinga
I always get anxiety when I have to interview a prominent comedian, fairly because I’m a big fan of comedy and comedians intimidate me period.
When the opportunity came to chat to one of Black Tax’s scriptwriters, Mojakisane Lehoko, an actor, stand-up comedian, I was no less anxious, yet eager at the same time to find out how he ended up being part of the writing crew for a comedy show that has now entered into its third season. Finally, I smacked myself and put on my professionalism cap and hit the dial.
COMEDIAN MOJAK’S
ONE OF A KIND
A 35-year-old Mojak is one of the highly achieved comedians in South Africa, and his resume confirms it. He was just a young adult when his career kick-started when he was offered an opportunity at Cool Runnings in Melville in 2009, to do a stand-up comedy session. This offer led to him becoming one of the script writers of Black Tax Season 3 today.
He still remains modest as he chuckles and says, “I only added the funny parts to the comedy show,” Ok, no big deal I suppose, but we wouldn’t be calling it a comedy show without his input. Black Tax airs on Channel 129 BET, and explores issues revolving around being a black person and the familial responsibilities that come with it, is a bit intimidating.
Interviewing a comedian is a tricky expedition peppered with a few laughs, jokes here and there, and being extra careful not to overdo it, and end up being featured on the next comedy show. I felt the need to tread carefully with questions and choice of words as Mojak is not just a comedian, he is a very smart quantity surveyor, and surprisingly serious too. ‘Mojaks’, whose short version of his name he inherited from his white teachers who couldn’t pronounce his full name, was born in Johannesburg and grew up in Katlehong, a location situated East of Johannesburg, as well as at few suburban areas as his parents moved back and forth between Katlehong and various suburbs in Johannesburg, including Fourways.
He received his high school education at Northcliff High and proceeded to Wits University, where he studied quantity surveying. It was on his third year at university in 2009, when he was offered an opportunity to perform stand-up comedy at Cool Runnings, a venue in Melville, south west of Johannesburg CBD. His content from there was featured at the Grahamstown Arts Festival. Also known as ‘The Undergrounds’, Cool Runnings is the longest running comedy club in South Africa. He proved wrong the perception about comedians being class clowns and troublesome at school or growing up wrong, something he says wasn’t the case with him.
“I was always viewed as being a serious guy. I was always like the old soul of the group,” says Mojak as he giggles. He also added that he knew he can make fun of things, but it was never a personality trait that was obvious with him.
Mojak has always been involved in arty sessions as he used to attend hip-hop open mic sessions when he was younger, and he would also participate enthusiastically. This is the aspect of his earlier life that possibly some people don’t know about him.
“I love music, I am into music as well,” he adds. As a matter of fact, one of his songs was featured on one of Loyiso Gola’s late-night news shows. “I met Loyiso Gola and pitched some of my ideas to him and that is how I ended up working with him,” says Mojak. This is one other opportunity that opened other doors for his career to bloom. He discovered most of his writing strengths through this show. It is here where he was nominated for a Comic’s choice award for the television show Late Nite News with Loyiso Gola.
He also got nominated for an International Emmy, and also nominated in the Newcomer category in the inaugural Comics Choice awards.
“As a comedian you do not always make money first hand, it is more about passion and you just keep going as long as you are booked and handed an opportunity,” Mojaks said.
As a stand-up comedian Mojak performed at various clubs all over South Africa, such as Parker’s Comedy and Jive in Johannesburg, and Tings and Times in Pretoria, Zula in Cape Town and ‘Jou Ma Se Comedy Club’ also In Cape Town.
“I am not a funny person as I’m considered to be just a bit too serious. I derive all my content from basically everything,” he says. “I don’t always see things and immediately make fun of them; I watch and observe then think to myself this is funny”. For example, at high school, his Zulu teacher was white and couldn’t pronounce most of the words properly.
“Things like that are funny, I mean. We had to help her with how to pronounce some of the words but she was the (Zulu) teacher,” he says. Those are the experiences and instances he makes fun of.
Mojak has since moved into the world of television, where he has produced the popular television serials: The Real Jozi A-Listers, Ekasi stories and the sitcom Abomzala telecast on SABC. As a stand-up comedian, he staged a one-man show, ‘How did I get here”, which became popular at the South African Film and Television Award (SAFTA’s).
In 2017, he became a multiple Comic Choice Awards nominee as well as winner of the Comics Pen Award for best writer. In television, he worked as the host of popular programmes Newsish and Woza Kleva. There, he appeared in the comedy show ‘As a People’ aired inComedy Central. Meanwhile, he made his maiden film appearance in the film Wonderboy for President, directed by John Barker.
In August 2020, he appeared in the comedy film Seriously Single with a minor role, which was released on July 31 2020 on Netflix. After all, Mojak is an easy person to talk to, making all the anxiety that prefaced our interview to disappear due to his warm nature.
Black Tax Season 3 started on July 1 on Channel 129 BET. Season 1 and Season 2 are already on Showmax for those who want to catch up.
UNMASKING OF BEAUTY BEHIND THE GUISE
FUTURE: Television career on the cards for Zozi after rousing experience on popular reality show…
By Gugu Sibiya
Miss Universe 2021 Zozibini Tunzi, who could have brought a lot of glamour and fanfare to The Masked Singer SA if she wasn’t in disguise, still had the audience eating out of the palm of her hands for eight consecutive weeks.
The most beautiful woman in the universe became the first contestant of the mystery show to have all the celebrity detectives in agreement over her identity. She’s also the first participant comedian Skhumba whose hidden identity has ever been “positive” about, so far.
After listening carefully to clues she was cautiously throwing about and still none the wiser, the comedian was the first to hit the bull’s eye. For judge Somizi, it was her demeanor that gave her away.
Reflecting on her experience in the popular show, an elated Zozi says: “Taking part in The Masked Singer SA was a great experience. It was fun and I loved going there without anybody knowing who I was. I love music, I love to sing and being on stage enabled me to tap into something I care about. I had fun”.
Conceding that the entire experience was scary in a comfortable way, she said: “Although the songs are suggested and you choose from the available costumes, it’s really more of a collaborative exercise. It’s fun”. She had great fun for eight weeks while doing her best to direct detectives to the opposite direction.
“I’m working on Crown Chasers currently on S3, which I’m hosting and am the executive producer. I’m very excited about that”.
As if her dainty hands are not already full enough, the brainy beauty who scooped the coveted Miss SA crown before ascending to the throne of the globally prestigious Miss Universe, at the height of the gravest pandemic, says she’s forging ahead full steam with her foundation that was established in 2022.
“The Zozibini Tusi Foundation for women and girls, is close to my heart. Mine is a multi-faceted goal to accelerate gender equality in Africa, close the gap between the fairer sex and their male counterparts as well as fighting for an exclusive and resilient education system that empowers women and girls.”
Zozi’s intentional about pursuing a career on television. “I intend to host TV shows and the many exciting projects that come my way. The foundation is operating countrywide and we’re hoping to spread our wings throughout Africa and finally globally,” she reveals.
