Nomzamo Khoza 
Khotso Nkhatho (born 1953) is a South African award-winning actor, author, scriptwriter, producer and director. He has distinguished himself on radio, television, and stage and is best known for his role in Mopheme.
The legendary actor received a lifetime achievement award by the South African Film and Television Awards (Saftas) in 2019. He had spent forty years in showbiz.
| Khotso Nkhatho | |
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| Full name: | Khotso Nkhatho |
| Born: | 1953 (age 70 years old) |
| Place of birth: | Ventersburg, Free State |
| Nationality: | South African |
| Education: | Junior Secondary Teachers’ Certificate |
| Alma mater: | Tshiya College of Education |
| Occupation: | Actor, author, scriptwriter, producer director |
| Known for: | Mopheme |
| Award: | Lifetime achievement award at the 2019 South African Film and Television Awards |
Early Life
Khotso Nkhatho was born in 1953 in Ventersburg, a small town in the Lejweleputswa District Municipality in Free State. He grew up in a family of teachers, where reading was a habit. He read Sesotho literature books in a study room his father owned.
The legendary actor made his acting debut in school dramas at 15. He pursues his passion for acting at college in QwaQwa.
Education
Nkhatho had his matric at Tshiya College of Education in QwaQwa in 1973. He obtained a Junior Secondary Teachers’ Certificate from the Tshiya College of Education in QwaQwa in 1975. He also holds Diplomas in Senior Education and Higher Education from Vista University.
The actor received an Honorary Doctorate in Communication and Language Practice from the Central University of Technology (CUT), Free State, at the class of 2020 Virtual graduation ceremony.
Career
Khotso Nkhatho played many lead roles in stage productions. At the age of 24 years, he was a school teacher in Heilbron and penned his first radio drama serial in 1977. It aired on Radio Sesotho, now Lesedi FM. It won him a first prize of R200 during a radio drama competition.
Subsequently, he became a full-time presenter and producer of Sesotho dramas in Auckland Park. He left teaching to focus more on his new job.
Following the launch of black TV in 1982, the legendary television personality joined TV2. He worked with the station as an actor, language adviser, screenwriter, and script evaluator.
Khotso has played many lead roles in dramas such as Mopheme in 1989 and Mmalonya in 1992. He wrote and produced ten dramas from 1977 to 1981 and 2003 to 2017. He bagged The Star Tonight Awards for Best Actor in a Television Drama (1990).
The legendary actor played a cameo role in Rhythm City. He spent years working as a drama producer at Lesedi FM. While he was in college, he appeared in stage productions. He frequented the Market Theatre in Newtown and watched many shows.
After attending auditions but could not land any more acting roles, Nkhatho returned to his hometown of Ventersburg and opened a pub. He has appeared in TV dramas such as Pholoso, Mafahla a Lahlaneng, Thabure, and Mmalonya.
As an author, here are some of his Sotho books – Ke etse jwang and Dinyane la Tshepe, Sebalamakgulo. He was inducted into the MTN Radio Awards Hall of Fame in 2013.
SAFTAs acknowledged his forty years of involvement in TV acting with a Lifetime Achievement Award in March 2019.
On 16 November 2022, Khotso delivered his Inaugural Public Lecture at the Central University of Technology Welkom Campus. He began teaching at Phiritona High School in Heilbron, Free State, in 1976. He joined the South African Broadcasting Commission (SABC) in 1977.
His books- ‘Ke etse Jwang’? (Drama), won first prize in the Shutter & Shooter Drama competitions in the 90s. His other book ‘Dinyane La Tshepe Sebalamakgulowon’ received the 2nd prize in the Van Schaik Short Stories Competition.
Khotso bagged the Astera Awards for his Excellent Work in Radio Presenting and Television Acting.
