VETERAN actress Thoko Ntshinga has been awarded the Langa Icon and Legends Award.
She received the award at home as she was unable to attend the gala dinner held at KwaLanga in Cape Town on Friday, 22 September.
Thoko started acting in the 1970s and rose to fame when she played a switch board operator Joyce in the Xhosa sitcom Velaphi. She has won at least six awards.
"The first award was for best supporting actress and that was in the 1990s. In the years that followed, I received other awards, including one for lifetime achievement," she said.
Thoko said the acting industry has changed a lot.
"When we started, we could hardly exercise our rights. There are still challenges, but at least we have organisations fighting for our rights," she said.
She said she will not retire anytime soon.
"Apart from being an actress, I am also involved in community work and run the Thoko Ntshinga Foundation. I teach you people acting and performance.
"Growing up, we never had these opportunities, and I don’t want the next generation to be in the same situation," Thoko said.
