Rapulana

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Rapulana Seiphemo is big-time South African actor famous for his thrilling role as Tau Mogale in the telenovela weekday soapie, Generations: The Legacy. The actor and editor was born and raised at Meadowlands in Gauteng South Africa. He has three brothers and a sister.

Career

Rapulana Seiphemo’s career stretches to about three decades, making him among the oldest actors that are still rocking the industry. His long-lived career has mentored several upcoming actors and actresses, most of whom are now threading on his path. Since his debut in the late 1980’s, Generations Tau Mogale has been making headlines for his stunning appearances on various stages.

Besides his leading role as Tau Mogale in the telenovela soap Generations, Rapulana is a featured cast in several other favourite films.

He has also crossed borders to perform in several stage productions. As a result, his personal and private lives have received exceeding recognition beyond South Africa.

The actor first came into the public limelight in 1989 when he stole the audience at Market Theatre stage production in the film My Children, My Africa directed and written by Athol Fugard. The play toured South Africa and England. As his career progressed, Rapulana, in 1991 he went to the US where he studied towards a BA in Theatre Arts.

When he returned to South Africa in 1995 he started teaching at Fuba Academy, before moving on to the Sibikwa Community Theatre Group in 1996, and becoming a Wits University tutor in 1997. He featured in several productions, including The Merchant of Venice (1991), Saturday Night at the Palace written by Paul Slabolepszy (1993), the Piano Lesson written by August Wilson (1996), The Blacks directed by Ultza and Martin Duncan, which showcased both locally and in Stockholm’s Stadteatren. Rapulana also appeared in a number of television dramas and big screen films.

He starred in the soapie Isidingo for three years (1998-2001); Rhythm and Rights, a TV docu-drama directed by Oliver Schmidt (1995); Deafening Silence, a TV mini-series directed by Etienne De Villiers (1996); Jump the Gun, a feature film directed by Les Blair (1996); Tarzan and Jane, directed by Carl Schenkel (1997); and Highjack Stories (2000), a film directed by Oliver Schmidt which received an official selection at the Cannes Film Festival in 2001.

Rapulana also had a lead role in Akin Omotoso’s God is African, and played the role of John Dube in the Oscar-winning movie Tsotsi, directed by Gavin van den Bergh.Rapulana has directed several stage productions including Athol Fugard’s Master Harold and the Boys (at the Market Theatre in 1998) and Five Past Two at the Sibikwa Community Theatre (1996). He won the 2002 Duku Duku Award in the category Best Actor in a Soapie, for his portrayal of Tau Mogale in Generations.

In 2006 he was cast in the role of Pheko Mokoena, the long-lost son of Tshepo Mokoena, on the SABC2 soapie Muvhango. He was also a producer on the SABC1 drama series Mzansi. In 2007 he appeared in the South African film Jerusalema, which was released in October. He was also a judge on the SABC1 reality competition television series Class Act, since 2010.He also hosted the SABC1 reality game show Ambush, in 2010.

Rapulana attended Anchor Comprehensive High School found in Orlando West, Soweto in 1991. He proceeded to enroll in Texas A&M University, Brazos County college station in the US. While in college, Rapulana concentrated on Bachelor of Arts (BA) studies. Rapulana would later graduate in 1995 with a Bachelor of Arts having acquired skills in English, Acting, Sociology, Theatre production, and Psychology.

Love life

Rapulana engaged with his long-time partner Olga Rubeiro in 2003. The two became a couple at Royal Swazi Sun in Ezulwini, Swaziland, and they have sired three children together.

 

Rapulana Seiphemo has been romantically linked to famed actress Zoe Mthiyane who previously dated sportscaster Robert Marawa and playwright Lebo M. Zoe Mthiyane also plays Rapulana Seiphemo’s onscreen love interest on Generations: The Legacy.