Fana Mokoena

Fana Mokoena (born 13 May 1971) is a South African actor and politician who served as a Member of the National Assembly of South Africa between August 2016 and October 2020. He served as a permanent delegate to the National Council of Provinces from May 2014 until August 2016. Mokoena is a member of the Economic Freedom Fighters party and serves on the party's central command team.
Early life and acting career.
Fana Mokoena was born on 13 May 1971 in Kroonstad, Free State, South Africa. He was raised and schooled in Johannesburg by his biological mother and stepfather, with his three siblings. He attended Woodmead School, which was the first fully multi-racial school in the country, where his love of the arts began. He studied a BA degree in Theatre and Performance at the University of Cape Town. He started his acting career in 1993, when he appeared in the South African series "The Line". Mokoena played a small role in the thriller "Dangerous Ground" in 1997. In 2004, he portrayed the Rwandan general Augustin Bizimungu in the film "Hotel Rwanda". In 2006, he played the role of Jaws Bengu in the South African series "The LAB", a role which he played until 2009. In 2008, he appeared in a small role in the series "Silent Witness". He played the role of Capt. James Sikobi in the South African drama "A Small Town Called Descent" in 2010. In 2011, he appeared in the action biography film adaptation of "Machine Gun Preacher" in the role of John Garang alongside Gerard Butler.
In 2012, he played a small role in the thriller "Safe House" with Denzel Washington. Mokoena appeared alongside Brad Pitt in the role of Thierry Umutoni in the zombie blockbuster "World War Z" in 2013. He also portrayed the anti-apartheid fighter Govan Mbeki in the film "" with Idris Elba. He was then to take on a role in Christopher Nolan's 2014 film "Interstellar", which he had to decline due to his role in politics.
Personal life.
In 1976 Fana Mokoena's biological mother, Arcillia Mekodi Morailane was detained in solitary confinement for 3 months awaiting trial. She was incarcerated due to her students in Kroonstad joining in solidarity, as violent protests broke out around the country. She is well and living in QwaQwa. Mokoena's mother is a political veteran in her own right and inspired Fana into politics. 
Mokoena is the eldest brother to the late Karabelo Israel Mokoena, Tlotlisang Dipallo Charity Xulu (née Mokoena) and Mamello Blessings Relebohile Mokoena.
Mokoena's stepfather Elias Bhuti Mokoena is late and so is his mother's eldest sister, Khasiane Alrina Ntloko whom he fondly referred to as "Mada".
Politics.
Mokoena was initially a member of the African National Congress. He later left the party, because he believed it was corrupt. He then became a member of the Economic Freedom Fighters, where he now serves a member of the party's Central Command Team. Between 2014 and 2016, he was a member of the National Council of Provinces, the upper house of the Parliament of South Africa. In 2016, he was appointed as a member of the lower house of parliament, the National Assembly, as a member from Free State. Mokoena won a second term in the 2019 general election, with the Economic Freedom Fighters almost doubling their number of seats.
Mokoena resigned from the National Assembly with effect from 16 October 2020 but remained in the EFF's Central Command Team as a member of the War Council, the party's operational authority. He has returned back to the Film and Television industry as a writer and producer. His company Praise Poet Pictures is working on several international productions.