Scandal’s only gangster, Mpho Malatsi, lets us in on his character Jafta, his fights with Daniel, and being a humanitarian.
Alexandra-born Mpho Malatsi who plays the gangster Jafta on Scandal started acting at 15 doing community theatre in Alex. His mentor, the theatre great Bongani Linda, also directed him in his first big theatre production called Divine and Rule, about black-on-black violence in the township. It was written and directed by Bongani and was very popular and even toured the UK.
In the 2000s he decided to give TV a go. He did numerous commercials and became ambassadors of huge brands like DStv, Standard Bank, Vodacom and Debonairs. He then went on to land roles in big productions such as Yizo Yizo, Zero Tolerance, Backstage and more. He’s played various roles from a policeman to a teacher, but being a mobster is the one that stuck. “I’ve played different roles, it’s just that this bad, mafia type of guy works for me,” says Mpho.
In 2011 he got a call from Scandal saying that they needed a gangster and they thought he would be perfect for the role. “At the end of the day if that‘s what the director has chosen for you, you have to do it.”
In real life Mpho is nothing like Jafta. He’s actively involved in community projects; he opened an education trust fund in Alex in memory of his late friend Joe Marutha to assist young people in accessing education. Together with his friends Thami Boqwana and Thato Mothopeng, he’s starting a community gospel radio station called The Gospel Power which will focus on traditional gospel churches. “The community is very close to my heart, I think I do my 67 minutes every day.”
We chat to Mpho about his role on Scandal!
Tell us about your character Jafta.
Jafta started out as taxi businessman. Then he started working for Neo doing dirty work for his clients. He was Neo’s right-hand man. When he realized that Neo was getting old he started taking over his clients. Daniel was one of them.
Tell us about doing the dirty work for Daniel? What’s in in it for Jafta?
Jafta loves money and he wants to see himself as part of a big mafia in Newtown. He’ll do anything that will bring him money. Jafta is the middle man – he doesn’t involve himself in dirty dealings like killings. He sends people to do these things for him. Whatever you want he’ll send his people.
What dodgy work has he done for Daniel exactly?
Jafta is a Tsotsi. He’s playing Daniel all the time. Remember the incident with Stan? He was supposed to kill him and he didn’t do it. He took a lot of money from Daniel saying that he’ll do the job. He likes power and money. He knows once he has that no one can touch him. Whatever opportunity he sees to make money he uses it, someone like that is very dangerous.
There’s now some kind of cold war between him and Daniel? What’s that about?
The fight between Daniel and Jafta started because Daniel wants to control Jafta and tell him what to do. Remember he was groomed by Neo – the guy who used to do all the dirty work for Daniel. He was Neo’s right-hand man. He knows everything about Daniel so that’s why he can tell him that he can’t control him.
It’s no secret that Jafta wants to get with Shakira, what draws him to her?
Every gangster wants a dangerous woman – that psycho woman who pushes boundaries. All these bad guys, they won’t go for a soft, Christian woman. They will go for someone who thinks like them. Shakira took over when Daniel was kidnapped and that’s when they connected and he started noticing her.
What does Jafta hate most about Daniel?
He’s greedy. I think that summarizes everything when it comes to Daniel. He loves money, business and women. Jafta has a thing for Shakira and Daniel doesn’t like that.
Why does he have a soft spot for Quinton?
Jafta is trying to make sure his other businesses are legit. Cole’s has the potential to get him to another level. At the end of the day he’s a businessman and he wants to own shares at NFH. Quinton has shares at NFH. The more he protects him from the Nyathis the more he will trust him. Quinton is his gateway to NFH so he will try to guide and protect him but only for his own selfish reasons.
What wouldn’t he do for money?
It’s hard to answer that question. He’s a middle-man so anything that comes his way he will do it. He loves money and power.
What can we expect from Jafta in future?
He’s going try to be a legit businessman, that’s why Cole’s is close to his heart. He wants to own it 100%.
Catch Jafta Monday to Friday at 7:30PM on Scandal!
