Jerry Mofokeng

{{short description|South African stage and screen actor (born 1956)}}{{Infobox person

| name = Jerry Mofokeng

| birth_date = 17 April 1956

| nationality = South African

| citizenship = South African

| education = Theatre Directing, Columbia University

| alma_mater = Columbia University

| occupation = Actor

| notable_works = Cry The Beloved Country

| relatives = 'Mantsopa and Thabo Makhetha-Kwinana

}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

Dr. Jerry Mofokeng wa Makhetha (born 17 April 1956{{Cite web|url=http://www.tvsa.co.za/actors/viewactor.aspx?actorid=2023|title=Jerry Mofokeng {{!}} TVSA|website=www.tvsa.co.za|language=en|access-date=2017-11-21|archive-date=21 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151121074542/http://www.tvsa.co.za/actors/viewactor.aspx?actorid=2023|url-status=live}}) is a South African stage and screen actor who has appeared in several critically acclaimed films, including Cry The Beloved Country; Lord of War; Mandela and de Klerk; and the 2005 Academy Award-winning film Tsotsi.{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0595677/|title=Jerry Mofokeng|website=IMDb|access-date=2017-11-21}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0595677/bio|title=Jerry Mofokeng|website=IMDb|access-date=2017-11-21}}

Mofokeng attended Orlando West High School and Youth Alive Ministries in Soweto in the 1970s. He studied at Wits Drama School where he initially took his major in acting then later went on to study at Columbia University in America, where he obtained his master's degree in Theatre Directing.{{Cite web|url=http://www.tvsa.co.za/actors/viewactor.aspx?actorid=2023|title=Jerry Mofokeng {{!}} TVSA|website=www.tvsa.co.za|language=en|access-date=2017-11-21}}{{Cite news|url=http://drum.co.za/celebs/q-and-a-with-jerry-mofokeng/|title=Q and A with Jerry Mofokeng|work=News24|access-date=2017-11-21}}{{Cite web|title = Partners advice on relationships|url = http://www.sowetanlive.co.za/goodlife/2012/11/26/partners-advice-on-relationships|website = Sowetan LIVE|accessdate = 2015-10-16}} At the age of 56 Mofokeng added his biological father's surname Makhetha{{Cite web|url=https://www.news24.com/drum/celebs/news/dr-jerry-mofokeng-wa-makhetha-on-the-importance-of-children-knowing-their-paternity-20220406|title=Dr Jerry Mofokeng wa Makhetha on the importance of children knowing their paternity {{!}} News 24|website=www.news24.com|language=en|access-date=2022-08-24|archive-date=3 December 2024|archive-url=https://archive.today/20241203215935/https://www.snl24.com/drum/celebs/news/dr-jerry-mofokeng-wa-makhetha-on-the-importance-of-children-knowing-their-paternity-20220406|url-status=live}} henceforth he became known as Jerry Mofokeng wa Makhetha after his biological father whom he knew all along but didn't know he was his biological father until the age of 56.

Dr. Jerry Mofokeng wa Makhetha received an honorary Doctor of Letters (DLitt) degree for from the University of the Free State (UFS) on 28 June 2019.{{Cite web |title=News Archive |url=https://www.ufs.ac.za/templates/news-archive/campus-news/2019/june/distinguished-sa-film-and-theatre-actor-to-receive-honorary-doctorate |access-date=2023-09-25 |website=www.ufs.ac.za}}

On 24 July 2023 Dr Jerry Mofokeng wa Makhetha launched his book called "Nna Ke Monna" at the University of the Free State (UFS).{{Cite web |title=News Archive |url=https://www.ufs.ac.za/templates/news-archive/campus-news/2023/july/dr-jerry-mofokeng-wa-makhetha-launched-his-latest-book-na-ke-monna-at-the-ufs |access-date=2023-09-25 |website=www.ufs.ac.za}} His other book is called I Am a Man and it was published in 2021.{{Cite web |title=NB Publishers {{!}} I Am a Man |url=https://www.nb.co.za/en/view-book/?id=9780796322586 |access-date=2025-04-22 |website=www.nb.co.za}}{{Cite web |last=team |first=Drum |title=BOOK EXTRACT {{!}} I Am A Man by Jerry Mofokeng wa Makhetha |url=https://www.news24.com/drum/archive/book-extract-i-am-a-man-by-jerry-mofokeng-wa-makhetha-20211008 |access-date=2025-04-22 |website=Drum |language=en-US}}