The Limpopo Department of Sports, Arts and Culture has committed to support the province’s ailing performing arts industry in honour of the late veteran and seasoned actor, Paul Rapetsoa.
Arts and Culture MEC, Thandi Moraka, made the commitment during Rapetsoa’s funeral service at his home in Seshego.
The 70-year-old died in hospital in Polokwane on December 29, 2020 from COVID-19 related complications.
He was popularly known for his role as “uncle Josias” on SABC’s 1’s Skeem Saam. Rapetsoa was also regarded as the father of township theatre in Limpopo, and a veteran contributor to the development of radio drama at the SABC’s Thobela FM.
Moraka told mourners that at the time of his death, she and Rapetsoa had arranged to meet this January to discuss ways to grow the performing arts industry in the province.
“Others were even saying if the provincial government is going to build a theatre, we need to name that theatre after Paul Rapetsoa, so Matome the son of ntate Rapetsoa, as the provincial government we are committing ourselves here to be walking together and making sure that we honour what ntate Rapetsoa wanted to for the community of Limpopo, of course working together with you.”
Meanwhile, Thobela Fm’s Alfred Lekalakala has described Rapetsoa as a pioneer who changed the broadcaster’s presentation style.
“Thobela FM was a nobody until Paul Rapetsoa came on board. The SABC and Limpopo were nobodies until Paul Rapetsoa came on board and changed everything. Thobela FM become somebody because of Paul Rapetsoa, he changed the presentation style of our presenters.”
Seasoned playwright, actor Paul Rapetsoa passes on at age 70:
