admin
He has come a long way from his days as Javas on Yizo Yizo. Growing up on our screens, Meshack has been on television for over 25 years.
Ebullient actor Meshack Mavuso Magabane’s career spans more than twenty-five years, and he shows no signs of stopping anytime soon. He continues to establish himself as one of the most revered actors to ever grace the small screen.
He captured the attention of South Africans with his enthralling performance in the unforgettable crime drama series Yizo Yizo, where he starred as Javas. Although he has played other roles, this particular character continues to be the one most associated with him, as it’s the first that comes to mind whenever he is mentioned.
Fast forward to 2025, he stars as Jaxon, a villain in e.tv’s hit telenovela, Smoke ‘n Mirrors.
Even this role he portrays with as much fervour as he’s done his other roles.
In a rare interview, he exclusively chats to Drum about what’s kept him fired up about being an actor, the challenges he’s come across and more.
While some of his industry peers come and fizzle out, the star says he’s secret to longevity is being professional and taking care of his craft.
“I take care of my craft for it to take care of me. Acting is my job, I’m not a celebrity. I’m an actor. I didn’t come into the industry for the sake of fame, I came into it because I wanted to be an actor, so that’s why I’ve survived this long”.
It goes without saying that there are drawbacks in the industry, something that Meshack is well aware of. He says he has managed to handle these pitfalls well.
“Sometimes you get a lot of money and you don’t know what to do with it, so you end up squandering it, and sometimes it’s little, so these are some of the challenges of being in this industry, but I’ve learned how to be smart through this,” he shares.
Being a father and husband are roles that Meshack takes seriously, and he approaches them with dedication and commitment.
“What I do is just likes someone who works at the bank and goes home to be with their family. As soon as I’m done in studio, I take off the costume, go home and be a father, husband and brother. So, I make time for my family, because that is important to me. I’m not a celebrity at home, I’m a father,” he explains, “I balance fatherhood and my career very well.”
His role as Jaxon, a corrupt mayor thrills some viewers while it irks some, because he plays with so much conviction. He tells us that he draws his inspiration for the role from the politicians he hangs out with.
“I hang out with a lot of politicians, so I know when a politician is lying or when they are about to, so I take a combination of that to be able to play Jaxon with passion,” he asserts. (@Drum Magazine)
Online Reporter
Bongani Ndlovu