Moitheri Pheto (born 11 May 1981) is a South African actress who is known for starring in an Oscar-winning film ''

Tsotsi ''Tsotsi'' is a 2005 crime drama film written and directed by Gavin Hood and produced by Peter Fudakowski. It is an adaptation of the novel '' Tsotsi'' by Athol Fugard, and is a South African/UK co-production. Set in the Alexandra slum in Jo ...

'' (2005) and other South African soapies. She had a recurring role of a heart surgeon, Dr. Malaika Maponya, on the American soap opera ''

The Bold and the Beautiful ''The Bold and the Beautiful'' (often referred to as ''B&B'') is an American television soap opera created by William J. Bell and Lee Phillip Bell for CBS. It premiered on March 23, 1987, as a sister show to the Bells' other soap opera ''Th ...

''. Terry Pheto is among a group of individuals and companies implicated in the National Lotteries Commission corruption scandal.

Early life

Raised in

Soweto Soweto () is a Township (South Africa), township of the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality in Gauteng, South Africa, bordering the city's mining belt in the south. Its name is an English syllabic abbreviation for ''South Western T ...

until the age of 20, Pheto was spotted by casting agent Moonyeenn Lee in a theatre group in Soweto during the casting process for ''Tsotsi'' with Presley Chweneyagae.

Career

After her debut in ''Tsotsi'', Pheto appeared in other films such as ''

Catch a Fire ''Catch a Fire'' is the fifth studio album by the reggae band The Wailers (aka Bob Marley and the Wailers), released in April 1973. It was their first album released by Island Records. After finishing a UK tour with Johnny Nash, they had sta ...

'' (2006), ''

Goodbye Bafana ''Goodbye Bafana'', or ''The Color of Freedom'' ( US), is a 2007 drama film, directed by Bille August, about the relationship between Nelson Mandela ( Dennis Haysbert) and James Gregory ( Joseph Fiennes), his censor officer and prison guard, ...

'' (2007) and '' How to Steal 2 Million'' (2012). Television series she has acted in include the

SABC The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) is the public broadcaster in South Africa, and provides 19 radio stations (Amplitude modulation, AM/Frequency modulation, FM) as well as 6 television broadcasts and 3 OTT Services to the general ...

1 drama series ''Justice for All'' (as Lerato), ''Zone 14'' (as Pinky Khumba) and ''Jacob's Cross'', as Mbali. Pheto played the key role of Fikile in the SABC2 mini-series ''Hopeville'', from March to April 2009. The series was later made into an award-winning film. In 2011, after leaving South Africa to try her luck in

Hollywood Hollywood usually refers to: * Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California * Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States Hollywood may also refer to: Places United States * Hollywood District (disambiguation) * Hollywood ...

, she landed a recurring role of a heart surgeon, Dr. Malaika Maponya, on the American soap opera ''

''. She was the subject of an episode of the Nicky Greenwall-hosted documentary series ''The Close Up'', which aired on

e.tv e.tv (commonly referred to on-air as e) is the first and only privately owned free-to-air television station in South Africa. Founded in 1998, the company is headquartered in Cape Town. It is the fifth terrestrial television channel in the ...

and the eNews Channel in 2012. In the same year, she was a featured subject in the first episode of the second season of the SABC1 reality series ''Play Your Part'', aired on 9 July 2012. In 2010, she was a guest judge on the SABC1 reality competition ''Class Act'', in the "Film Noir" episode. She has also acted in the theatre productions ''The Toilet'' (directed by Bongani Linda) and ''The Devil's Protest'', directed by Thulani Didi. In July 2008, she modelled in several advertisements and campaigns for

L'Oréal L'Oréal S.A. () is a French multinational personal care corporation registered in Paris

. She has also been featured in numerous magazines, including ''

Destiny Destiny, sometimes also called fate (), is a predetermined course of events. It may be conceived as a predetermined future, whether in general or of an individual. Fate Although often used interchangeably, the words ''fate'' and ''destiny'' ...

'', '' Vanity Fair'', ''

Drum The drum is a member of the percussion group of musical instruments. In the Hornbostel–Sachs classification system, it is a membranophone. Drums consist of at least one membrane, called a drumhead or drum skin, that is stretched over a ...

'', ''You/Huisgenoot'', ''Y-Magazine'', ''Bona'', ''Heat'', ''

Elle Elle may refer to: Arts, entertainment and media * Elle (magazine), ''Elle'' (magazine), a fashion publication ** Elle Style Awards * Elle (India), ''Elle'' (India), the Indian edition * Elle (film), ''Elle'' (film), a 2016 French film * ''Elle: ...

'', ''

Cosmopolitan Cosmopolitan may refer to: Internationalism * World citizen, one who eschews traditional geopolitical divisions derived from national citizenship * Cosmopolitanism, the idea that all of humanity belongs to a single moral community * Cosmopolitan ...

'', ''

Marie Claire ''Marie Claire'' (stylized in all lowercase; ) is a French international monthly magazine first published in France in 1937. Since then various editions are published in many countries and languages. The feature editions focus on women aro ...

'' and ''True Love''.

South African National Lottery Corruption Investigation

In March 2023, her house in the Johannesburg suburb of Bryanston was prevented from being put on auction by the South African

Special Investigating Unit The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) is an independent agency of the South African government which investigates corruption and maladministration in state institutions. It was first established in July 1997 by President Nelson Mandela, although ...

and Asset Forfeiture Unit as a part of a investigation of corrupt use of National Lottery funds. The investigation has revealed that the funds earmarked for cultural campaigns and projects was used for buying land and building houses. Pheto paid R3 million into a trust account setup by the construction company. The property was then signed over to her, with the construction company keeping the accrued interest without a mortgage being paid, according to the South African Special Investigating Unit. Pheto's attorneys has not appealed the preservation order to halt the auction and is cooperating with the investigation.

Personal life

In 2019, Pheto was expecting her first child with fiancé, Masande Peter.

Filmography

* ''

'' (2005) - Miriam * ''Catch a Fire'' (2006) Miriam *''Day and Night'' (2006) * ''

'' (2007) - Zindzi Mandela * ''Mafrika'' (2008) - Malinda *''

The Bold and The Beautiful ''The Bold and the Beautiful'' (often referred to as ''B&B'') is an American television soap opera created by William J. Bell and Lee Phillip Bell for CBS. It premiered on March 23, 1987, as a sister show to the Bells' other soap opera ''Th ...

'' (2011) - Dr. Malaika Maponya * '' How to Steal 2 Million'' (2012) - Olive * '' Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom'' (2013) - Evelyn Mase * ''

Cuckold A cuckold is the husband of an adulterous wife (or partner for unmarried companions); the wife of an adulterous husband is a cuckquean. In biology, a cuckold is a male who unwittingly invests parental effort in juveniles who are not geneti ...

'' (2015) - Laura * ''

A United Kingdom ''A United Kingdom'' is a 2016 biographical romantic drama film directed by Amma Asante and written by Guy Hibbert, based on the true-life romance of Seretse Khama, heir to the throne of the Bangwato Tribe in Serowe – one of many tribes fo ...

'' (2016) - Naledi Khama * ''The Number'' (2017) * '' Madiba'' TV series (2017) - Winnie Mandela *''Faces'' (2018) - Aisha

Accolades

* Africa Movie Academy Awards for Best Actress in a supporting role * 2012, Golden Horn Award for her Best Supporting Actress: '' How to Steal 2 Million''

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Pheto, Terry 1981 births Living people South African film actresses Actors from Soweto 21st-century South African actresses Best Supporting Actress Africa Movie Academy Award winners