Jane Mamotse Mpholo

Nominee's Province:
Free State

Age:
33

Project Name/Description:
Drama and Theatre Arts

More info:
https://www.facebook.com/janemamotse.mpholo

Jane Mamotse Mpholo, 33, is a Drama and Theatre Arts graduate from the Free State and professional creative who is passionate about using art to tackle sticky social issues, provoke discussions and seek interventions. “The traumas I have encountered have played a huge role in me using art for awareness and change,” she explains. “I was raped at the age of 13, lost my parents to HIV at the age of 17, and endured my sister’s death when her husband poured petrol in the car and set it alight.” Her sister and brother-in-law were both in the car and they both died. Mpholo says it was only after performing a show that had themes of rape many years later that she understood the violation from her childhood. Thereafter, she became passionate about mirroring society on stage and giving others an opportunity to use art as therapy. “We have touched the lives of thousands of kids and adults. Because the story comes from me, they feel they can trust me and my team to help them,” she adds. Most of the time Mpholo and her team work in collaboration with the provincial Department of Social Development and schools. School principals would also take lists of affected people to the allocated social workers but unfortunately, not all of them get the attention they need. Mpholo’s work has been recognised on several distinguished platforms such as Love Life FS Role Model 2020/21 and Black Women Arise Most.