Jerry Mofokeng is Receiving an Honorary Doctorate

The Faculty of Humanities at the University of the Free State will be conferring veteran South African actor Jerry Mofokeng with an honorary doctorate. This doctorate is to acknowledge and honor the volume of work he has contributed to South African film and the performing arts.

Jerry Mofokeng has been a performer and actor for decades. He is well known on the theater circuit as well as in major South African films including Four Corners, Five Fingers for Marseilles, the Oscar-winning Tsotsi and Fanie Fourie’s Lobola, among many others. Mofokeng is currently playing the role of ‘Bra Moscow’ on the popular South African drama series, Scandal.

Speaking on the honor, Mofokeng simply stated: “I feel affirmed. I feel honored and I feel recognized.” An actor who is extremely committed to his craft, the actor has joken oftentimes that he’ll probably kick the bucket whilst he’s in the middle of a scene.

The actor reportedly remarked to SowetanLIVE:

“I think I will probably die on set. I don’t mind bowing out on set. Miriam Makeba did it and I would be honored to die doing what I love most.”

Mofokeng is not the first (nor will he be the last) extraordinary South African artist to be conferred with honorary doctorates. He joins other greats such as musician Caiphus Semenya, painter Esther Mahlangu, Black Panther star John Kani, the late jazz maestro Hugh Masekela and the late songstress, Miriam Makeba.