She is on a winning streak, seemingly effortlessly juggling between acting and poetry.
Botlhale Boikanyo, (21) who plays the role of Omphile on the e-tv soapie Scandal! recently bagged the role of Thandeka in Paul Modjadji’s short film, The Deal, which is set to premiere this Youth Month on 14 June 2022 at the Nelson Mandela Foundation auditorium, following its launch in Dublin, Ireland in March 2022.
The film is about gender-based violence and its impact on one’s mental health and stars legendary South African actors Dr Jerry Mofokeng, Abigail Kubeka, Aubrey Pooe, Napo Masheane and Matli Mohapeloa.
Acting alongside veterans is a dream come true for the young star who began her career in 2012 after winning SA’s got Talent.
“Looking back, I realise that I have come far, but I know I still have a long way to go,” she says.
“Acting alongside veterans and being in the same space, acting amongst such great giants in this industry was an honour,” she says.
“It was such an incredible experience to learn from them during the shooting process but also have conversations with them on set. I think one of the main things I learned from them was to put in the work. Often, we forget how important this craft is and can take it so lightly, and working with these great veterans was a reminder to truly immerse yourself in this craft and do the work, and be fully prepared when you show up,” she adds.
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On The Deal, 18-year-old Thandeka finds herself in a transactional sexual affair with a wealthy benefactor, widely labelled the “blesser and blessee” relationship while in pursuit of higher education. The film examines the line between coercion and consent.
“Thandeka is a very complex character,” Botlhale says. “She is driven, hardworking and resilient. She is also an academic and is very smart and aspires to be a chartered accountant.”
On the other hand, she also still harbours pain and anger due to her father abandoning her and having to grow up watching her father start a new life with a new family while absent in her life.
“She also grows up in dire poverty and has had to struggle for a lot in her life. She grows up in a township in South Africa and comes from a single parent-headed household, where she also is a caretaker to her grandmother who has dementia. This character nonetheless will stop at nothing to reach her goals and is determined to make a better life for herself and family.”
Botlhale relates to the young girl's struggles, especially being a woman living in South Africa.
“I think as a woman in South Africa the issue of gender-based violence, issues of consent and harassment are a saddening reality for so many. This character for me is a reflection of a fellow sister or aunt’s story – where we see effects of poverty, of abandonment, of the inaccessibility of education in our country and desperation,” she says.
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Like Thandeka, Botlhlale does not come from a privileged background with wealth.
“Similar to my character, I was from a small town where poverty was dire and I had to work, set goals and truly believe in my dreams and be driven in pursuit of these dreams,” she says.
“One experience that is similar to my characters and is an overarching theme in the film is definitely one of consent and gender-based violence. This issue is one a black woman in South Africa along with other friends, mothers, and aunts are still battling through. This one is one we haven’t overcome yet, but for me, this work is one of the ways, as a storyteller, I chose to contribute can contribute to overcoming it by educating and sparking conversations about it.”
The child star also recently graduated with a degree in Motion Picture and is now a qualified Director and Producer says working and studying was a balancing act.
“It was not easy balancing education, acting, poetry, and everything else I do.”
“I sometimes still find myself struggling because I’m also one person who loves taking on new challenges and putting myself in various spaces. I do believe that the work I’m doing is a God-given purpose and, honestly, I find the most fulfilment in this space. So you make it all work and find a way to balance when it comes to the things you love.”
Botlhale got into the entertainment industry 10 years ago. “So I was 12 at the time. I always say I am humbled each time that my dreams and career took off at such a young age and that my work was well received by so many people. It has honestly been a journey of learning and just growing and ensuring that I work to become better at my craft.”
In these fulfilling 10 years, she has also been highly rewarded for her hard work, she says.
“I am currently working on a project that will be looking at sharing some of my lessons in the industry over the decade that I have been working as a performing artist and I can’t wait to share it in due course."
She has always known she had a bright future ahead of her.
“I always say God’s plan, not my own. I am grateful to have been able to achieve all that I have at such an early age, and to be in spaces that align with my purpose,” she says.
“I have always been driven and believed in working hard towards one’s dreams and goals, the work continues though as there is still so much, I want to do and achieve.”
We are halfway through the year, and she can already count her blessings for 2022, she says.
“There are numerous career highlights thus far. But I think the top three have been performing at the presidential inauguration and being the youngest performer to ever grace such a stage.
“Also being one of the youngest SAMA and SATMA winners is up there in my list of achievements. But also getting the role on Scandal! because it became my first big break as an actress, and I will forever be grateful for that platform,” she says.
This year she still plans to tick off goals from her bucket list.
“My number one plan is to continue working hard," says the poet.
“I have another film that I am currently shooting at the moment. I also have some work that I’m hoping to publish this year and an exciting celebration coming on the 24th of September which I can’t reveal as yet, but keep an eye out. This is going to be a first for me, so I am both nervous and excited.”
With all the opportunities coming her way, poetry will always remain her first true love.
“I don’t think I will ever stop writing and performing poetry. Poetry was my first love and one that I have a deep appreciation for. I have some exciting work poetry-related lined up so be sure to look out for those.”
