TVSA can exclusively reveal that there's a new Pheko on the Muvhango scene.
Pheko,
Thandaza's former flame and fiancé, makes his comeback in late March and he's arriving with a burst of newness. He sparks new possibilities for Thandaza and he's a new face on TV.
Rapulana Seiphemo won't be reprising the role - not because of his tragic accident but because of his contract with Generations so Muvhango has cast someone else... Palo Mokoailane:
You may have spotted him before - on Mponeng, as Lillian Dube's son Khotso who appeared a couple of times but this is Palo's first substantial TV role and it's a Very Big Deal because he's been auditioning for Muvhango since... wait for it... the 1990s!
He's a behind-the-scenes production specialist with his own production company and he's a self-confessed serial Muvhango auditionee who's been auditioning for the show since it first started.
He tried out for the role of James but lost out to Dingaan Mokebe (who he grew up with) and since then he's auditioned for various characters (including Ranthumeng) without success. Until now. In his fortieth year.
Palo explains:
For every audition they did for Muvhango I’d be there. You name the roles and I’ve auditioned for them so eventually I gave up and said, “You know what… maybe this is not my line. ”
Then, there I am, in the first week of this year, I was in Botswana and I got a call from Mam Lillian (Dube) who told me, “Hey my man, you can be the right person for Pheko on Muvhango."
I said: "No ways! What will make it different this time?" But I must say... I went to a lady called Dorothy Ann Gould - she’s an acting coach who used to be on Isidingo and Generations - I was encouraged to go to her and she boosted my confidence.
This time around it wasn’t like the last audition I went to for Muvhango because then Duma told me to my face: “This is the worst acting I’ve ever seen!” *laughs*
From that I thought: “I’m not going there again,” but then Dorothy helped me and when I auditioned for Pheko Duma said to me: “Wow, whatever you’re doing you’re doing well - I’m impressed!” He was shocked!
To me, whether I got the job or not, those words encouraged me so much, especially from him - he’s the best according to me. He created Muvhango, he’s done Uzalo and they’re both doing well. To me his comment meant a lot and whether I got the part or not I was excited.
Palo went for two call-backs after his first audition where he had to do scenes with
Liteboho Molise (Tebogo) and Sindi Dlathu (Thandaza) and then he got call to say that he'd landed the role. He started filming the next day and spent his first day on set filming 10 scenes. He passed out on a couch at the end of the day, feeling he was in a dream.
And that, as they say, is showbizzzz.
Which Palo knows well. He's been in the TV industry since he finished his studies through the SABC at Wits, working behind-the-scenes with his production company Mokoailane Productions. He's worked on various productions including SABC1's Take 5 and Sunday Chillaz so he's well known in the corridors of the SABC.
He's very involved with skills development in South Africa and across Africa - he's been to every African country except the Sudan - and he was the technical director for SONA. He also recently started his own radio show on Lesedi FM, on Saturdays at 18h00.
What sort Pheko will he be? All will be revealed on Thursday, 24 March.