Businessman and actor Patrick 'Kid' Mokoena, who played the role of taxi driver Thulasizwe on the current season of the SABC1 drama series Soul City, was murdered in Johannesburg in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Mokoena was at a bar in Jeppe called the Why Not Bar on Saturday night and into the early hours of Sunday. He stepped outside to take a call on his cellphone and when he re-entered the bar he was accosted by four armed men who shot him twice in the stomach and twice in the head, killing him instantly.
The bar was subsequently robbed by the attackers, although Mokoena was the only person targeted.
Mokoena was a businessman who had just started an acting career, with appearances on Soul City and the SABC2 soapie Muvhango.
As a businessman he owned an independent recording label called Why Not Entertainment, which released a Durban group called Beat Nutz who were produced by DJ Tira. Mokoena also owned a fleet of 14 taxis.
According to Soul City series manager Dr William Mapham, Mokoena will be missed by the cast and crew of the show.
"I met Kid during the production of the series and I still have his business card in my wallet," he said. "It says: 'we do it with passion'. He was passionate about his role as Thulasizwe and always looked for ways to contribute to the greater team effort."
The role of Thulasizwe shows a man who is inspired to use his status as a taxi driver to help pregnant women get to hospital safely. It shows how a man of peace can become a leader in his community to create a safer and healthier environment for women and children.
Mapham continues, "Getting to know Kid in the role of a peaceful and responsible Thulasizwe makes his violent death even more shocking. He will be sadly missed by the Soul City family.
"His untimely death will continue to inspire the Soul City Institute to continue working for a safer and healthier South Africa. Our thoughts are with Kid's family."
The Soul City Institute is a multi-media health promotion and social change project utilising drama and entertainment to get their message across.
The remaining episodes of Soul City VIII will be dedicated to Mokoena's memory.