Happy 81st birthday to Award Winning Skeem Saam Veteran Actress Mme Lydia Mokgokoloshi (Koko Mantsha). She also appeared in a retro classic show ‘Bophelo ke Semphekgo’ as Mma Nkosheng…All the best to her 🎊🎉🎁🎂❤.

Mogola clarified that the decision for Mokgokoloshi’s sabbatical was taken before the Covid-19 pandemic hit South Africa.

“The decision was made before lockdown, so I can’t really say that Covid-19 is the sole reason,” Mogola said.

Mokgokoloshi became a household name as the wicked Mma-Nkosheng in popular 1980s Pedi drama Bophelo ke Semphekgo.

Born in the small village of Botlokwa in Limpopo, she was a school teacher for more than 20 years in Soweto.

In her late 40s in 1984 she decided to pursue her acting passion.

In 2017 Mokgokoloshi was introduced as a “national treasure” as she received the honorary Lifetime Achievement Award at the prestigious South African Film and Television Awards (Saftas).

She received the same special honour at Limpopo’s inaugural Film, Arts, Music and Entertainment (Fame) Awards in 2015.

“Thank you to all South Africans. You have loved me so much. I can’t even walk and wherever I walk they all want my photo,” she jokingly said after receiving a standing ovation from her industry peers at the Saftas.

“Thank you to [the] Skeem Saam crew and all those who are playing with me.

“I really feel honoured to be called granny and I feel so proud to be a granny, although sometimes I can be so cruel and injure you with a needle pin.

“If you came into my house without informing, remember you can be injured somehow.

“I’m so happy and honoured. I honour those who are writing the scripts, dressing us and the production companies.”