Despite being thrown into the competitive 6.30pm timeslot with SABC2’s 7de Laan, e.tv’s Rhythm City and kykNET’s Villa Rosa, SABC1’s Skeem Saam has been getting noticed for its inspired homegrown storytelling. Debashine Thangevelo caught up with Clement Moasa to find out more on how life has changed since the lawyer bagged his breakthrough role as Kwaito opposite his role model, Patrick Shai, in the youthful soapie.
CLEMENT Moasa’s zeal is instantly recognisable during our one-on-one. And the actor (pictured) who obtained his LLB at the University of Limpopo, is personable and sincere too, making him quite a delight to converse with.
The 25-year-old says his late parents were against him pursuing a career as an actor until he ensured he had a fallback option to provide financial security.
He says: “People think that when you are in the entertainment industry, there is no money. They said, the only way they would allow me to pursue acting is if I studied something practical. And I’m more thankful to them now because we deal with contracts. Since I don’t have an agent, I’m able to specify my terms and conditions, too.”
When he was in his final year of his studies, Moasa’s tenacity to gain a toehold in the industry led to frequent trips to Joburg – funded secretly by his older sister.
The actor, who comes from a small village called Bochum, Limpopo, shares: “She was the only one who truly understood. And I thank her very much.”
As for when he realised that acting was his destiny, he reveals: “I was this hyperactive child from a young age. I used to take part in every activity in primary school, from debates to fashion parades to soccer. When I went to high school, I was the lead in every play. That’s when I realised acting was really my passion and told my parents.”
He had another interesting story, too. “When I was growing up, I used to watch this old Sepedi drama called Bophelo ke Semphekgo, with Patrick Shai. He was the lead and also from Limpopo. He inspired me and became my role model. I used to write to him on Facebook and he would respond. And now I get to work alongside him – he plays my on-screen dad. Skeem Saam came along at the right time. It gave me my big TV break. It was just a fulfilment of my dream. I never thought I would meet him (Shai), let alone work with him.”
On landing the role of Kwaito, a pupil at Turfloop High, he recalls: “I followed the SABC1 Mzansi Fo Sho fan page on Facebook, they normally provide updates on auditions and what they are doing. At that time, I didn’t know anyone in Joburg or where Auckland Park and Sasani Studios were.”
Navigation dilemmas aside, he made it to the audition.
“When I got there, they said: ‘I hope you impress us’. The casting director added: ‘I have been looking for Kwaito, but we haven’t found him’. So you can imagine, I was nervous as hell. They gave me the script and I had to wing it.
“And the whole Sepedi boy, who is smart but comes from a poor background, were things I could relate to.”
Rather than head back to Limpopo afterwards, Moasa was booked into a guest house for the night until SABC1 gave their verdict.
He continues: “In the morning, I got a call from the casting director to say I got the role. Sjoe, wasn’t I just happy!”
First launched as a drama series in 2011, Skeem Saam proved such a hit with the follow-on season that the channel commissioned it as a soapie for the third season.
And Kwaito has proved to be quite the drawcard. His high school-going character has gone from being a 16-year-old virgin to a sort of bad boy – he started drinking alcohol without his parents knowing and cheated on his girlfriend Rachel with a manipulative and psychopathic sex-kitten (played by Amanda DuPont).
Moasa praises: “I had fun working with her (DuPont). She is such an amazing performer. It was easy to work with her. We had some kissing scenes – that was a definite perk.”
By the way, there is apparently a very interesting storyline planned around New Year’s Eve for Kwaito.
The actor teases: “Let’s just say Kwaito gets some… but I can’t tell you with who.”
Almost three years later, he is still with the show and rising in popularity.
He smile:, “I’m just a village boy. I had to move to Joburg and now I’m apparently this celebrity.”
But he seems to be taking everything in his stride – wearing that megawatt smile, of course!
• Skeem Saam airs on SABC1 at 8pm. From next month it will resume its original 6.30pm slot.