Bio
Mahlubi Kraai was a South African actor, director, choreographer, dancer and singer best known for his starring role as Jakes in the SABC1 drama series Mzansi, from 2004-2006.
He also starred as Lebo, a car mechanic who inherits a fortune and a whole world of trouble to go with it, in the SABC1 sitcom Gauteng Maboneng.
Mahlubi studied for a National Diploma Drama at Technikon Pretoria from 1995-1997, although he was involved in theatre productions from as far back as 1992.
He performed in numerous theatre productions in the nineties, including Noqawuse, directed by Pogiso Mogwera; Sophiatown, directed by Wendy Sokhupha; Boesman and Lena, directed by Rene Tedoux; The Island, directed by Jerry Pooe; Three Penny Opera, directed by Etienne Puren; Tongues, directed by Janine Lewis; and Messiah, directed by Denny Moleko.
Other theatre productions include PAST, directed by Greg Melvill-Smith; Cold Stone Jug, directed by Mncedisi Shabangu; Biko, directed by Martin Koboekae; Not With My Gun, directed by Aubrey Sekhabi; and the Mpumelelo Paul Grootboom-directed plays Julius Caesar and Relativity.
He began his television career with the role of Pitso Masalesa in Orlando, in 2000 and went on to actin numerous television productions including Ke Nako, Generations, Snitch, Isidingo, Mzansi, Soul City, Rhythm City, Hillside and Gauteng Maboneng.
He also played the cameo role of a Security Branch Policeman in the 2006 political thriller film Catch a Fire, starring Tim Robbins.
Mahlubi also performed in numerous corporate ventures for clients such as Voter Education & Registration, National Road Safety, Western Chrome Mines, Harmony Gold Mine, Anglo Gold, Standard Bank and Spoornet.
He choreographed a production of Sekunjalo in 1997 and appeared as a dancer in a number of productions including The Stick, Joseph, and Perpetual Motion.
He was multilingual, speaking Setswana, English, Zulu, North Sotho and Afrikaans.
Mahlubi died on 2 May, 2021. His cause of death was not made public.