Fana Mokoena (born 13 May 1971) is a South African Film, television and theater actor, and a political activist who served as a Member of Parliament, first as a delegate to the National Council of Provinces representing his home province Free State from May 2014 until August 2016; then later as a full member of the National Assembly of South Africa between August 2016 and October 2020. Mokoena is a member of the Economic Freedom Fighters party and serves on the party's central command team. Early life and acting career Fana Mokoena was born on 13 May 1971 in Kroonstad, Free State, South Africa. He was raised in Kroonstad and later schooled in Johannesburg by his mother and stepfather, along with his three siblings. His last three years of high school were spent at Woodmead School, which was the first fully multi-racial school in the country, where his love of the arts began. He studied Theatre and Performance at the University of Cape Town and later qualified in Media Studies. He started his acting career as a full member of the Playhouse Theatre company in 1993, and in 1994 he made his television debut in the South African TV film The Line. Mokoena played a small role in the thriller Dangerous Ground in 1997. In 2004, he portrayed the Rwandan general Augustin Bizimungu in the film Hotel Rwanda. In 2006, he played the role of Jaws Bengu in the South African series The LAB, a role which he played until 2009. In 2008, he appeared in a small role in the series Silent Witness. He played the role of Capt. James Sikobi in the South African drama A Small Town Called Descent in 2010. In 2011, he appeared in the action biography film adaptation of Machine Gun Preacher in the role of John Garang alongside Gerard Butler. In 2012, he played a small role in the thriller Safe House with Denzel Washington. Mokoena appeared alongside Brad Pitt in the role of Thierry Umutoni in the zombie blockbuster World War Z in 2013. He also portrayed the anti-apartheid fighter Govan Mbeki in the film Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom with Idris Elba. Accolades and awards Mokoena has received several accolades in the entertainment industry, both in his home country and internationally, including Best Actor Award at the South African Film and Television Awards SAFTA for his role in The LAB; and