Mthatha content creator Kungentandoyenkosi Maphipha, known online as Ta Take, has spoken about his path from short social media videos to his first professional acting set. The 21-year-old shared his story in an interview with BONA magazine.
Maphipha, who also goes by Ntando, got his break on Sugar Mama, a production created by Liya Nqaba. He said the chance came only after he waited for months for a reply to his message.
“My intentions were not to promote violence, smoking of drugs or robbing,” he told BONA, speaking about his best known character.
The Ta Take character shows the lifestyle of people often called amaphara. Maphipha said the idea came from his own childhood experiences with smoking. He said it was also shaped by his younger sister’s ongoing struggle with drug addiction.
He said he wanted people to see the person behind a label that is often used to judge others. “I wanted to show people how they think, how they react and talk when they are under that influence,” he said.
According to BONA, his work is based on the view that people dismissed as amaphara are still part of their communities. In some cases, they are also part of families.
Maphipha was raised by his mother in Mthatha. He said his childhood was shaped by the absence of his father, who was often in and out of jail.
He finished primary and high school in Mthatha. He then enrolled at Walter Sisulu University and started his first year in 2024.
After posting his videos online, he decided to contact the Sugar Mama team directly. He sent them a long message asking to appear in one of their episodes. The answer was not an instant yes.
The role gave him his first time on a professional production set. There he worked with actors and directors. He later made short videos with some of the people he met through the show.
Maphipha said the experience helped his brand. He said it also made him more sure that he wants a full career in entertainment. He is most interested in acting but is open to other roles in the industry.
He said he values working with others, but only with people who are truly committed. “For me to work with you, I have to see dedication in you, the hunger of doing this and definitely someone who is doing it out of love,” he said.
He added that he would like to work with creatives who live fairly close to him. This would make it easier for them to work together.
Maphipha also hopes to give back to the community that raised him. He said he may start a community project in future, but a lack of money has held back some of his plans.
One of his goals is to donate sanitary pads and toiletries to a nearby high school. He also wants to organise events and games for children in his area.
Source: this article is based on reporting by Bona Magazine. Image: Bona Magazine. Written with the help of AI and published by the Tzaneen Voice Entertainment desk. See our Editorial Standards.
Rirhandzu Baloyi writes about entertainment for Tzaneen Voice. Rirhandzu covers South African music, film, TV, streaming, awards and celebrity news, from amapiano and local soapies to Showmax and Netflix releases. Stories stick to what happened, who was involved and when fans can watch or listen.