Bio
Kope Makgae (also known by his stage name Tswyza) is a South African actor and rapper best known for playing the role of Lungile in more than a dozen television commercials for online classifieds site OLX.
Born in Lebowakgomo, Polokwane, he graduated from the University of Limpopo with a degree in media studies, after which he relocated to Johannesburg to pursue a career in entertainment.
His nickname Tswyza, given to him at Capricorn High School in Polokwane, refers to the artistry of his rapping, and means flavour. "If a party's boring and I come in, they say I add flavour to it", he told TVSA. "It also reflects on my roles - they give me simple dialogue and I put my Tswyza in it, I put my flavour into it. I use my own jargon and my own vernac, my own type of words."
Kope began his career with a cameo role on the SABC1 drama series Zone 14, playing an electrician. He then went on to do television commercials, most famously for OLX and DStv. He also recurred as Papa G's henchman Thapelo on the SABC3 soapie Isidingo (first appearing on Monday 24 June, 2013) and guest starred as a journalist on the e.tv soapie Rhythm City.
His first serious acting role was on the first season of the Mzansi Magic telenovela inKaba in 2012, in which he recurred as Gunsten 'Gus' Moloi, a witty, charming hustler who has learnt to depend only on himself. Gus wants a better life but isn't prepared to put in the slog to get it, so he keeps lapsing back into crime.
In mid-2014 Kope played Mr Finance - a BEE type with a taste for flashy cars and young girls in Alexandra township - in the feature film Thina Sobabili (The Two of Us), directed by Ernest Nkosi. The film debuted at the Durban Film Festival on Saturday 19 July, 2014.
On Tuesday 29 July, 2014 he guest starred as art director Mpumi in the e.tv anthology series Mzansi Love, in the episode entitled "Rebound" (Season 3, Episode 6). In the episode, Mpumi was ditched at the alter by the love of his life, Buhle (Zakeeya Patel), who ran off to pursue a modelling career. After years of bemoaning what could have been, he unexpectedly found love again - only for his ex to unexpectedly return.
In November 2015 he co-starred with Buhle Mazibuko in the Mzansi Magic Original Movie Selling Faith, in which a pastor has to come to terms with the results of his mistakes and sins when he gives into the temptations of money, greed and power. The film first debuted on Mzansi Magic on Thursday 3 December, 2015.
In early 2016 Kope guest starred as Vusi in the sixth season of the e.tv anthology series eKasi: Our Stories, in the episode entitled "Soul Mate" (Season 6, Episode 12).
On 20 May, 2016, he guest starred as the manager of a problematic hip hop artist called ETC (played by Sabelo Radebe) in an episode of the SABC1 romantic comedy series Dream World, in the episode entitled "The Rules We Make" (Season 2, Episode 2).
On Friday 12 August, 2016, he made his first appearance on the e.tv soapie Ashes to Ashes as Otsile, a priest married to Disebo (played by Shoki Mokgapa). Disebo ran away from him to find a new, exciting life and he followed, determined to win her back.
On Friday 19 August 2016 he began a recurring role as a thug called Mrekza on the SABC1 soapie Generations: The Legacy.
In 2017 he was the co-host - with Fezile Makhanya - of the SABC2 game show Fundis.