Tributes continue to pour in, following the passing of creator and writer Teboho Mahlatsi. Mahlatsi known for being the co-creator and writer of the controversial drama series Yizo Yizo in the late 90s, died on Monday afternoon at the age of 49.
Details surrounding his death have not yet been revealed.
Mahlatsi with other notable figures in the television industry such as Harriet Perlman, Angus Gibson, Peter Esterhuysen and Mtutuzeli Matshoba, co-created and wrote Yizo Yizo. The story behind the drama series was to address the social challenges that students were facing in South Africa in the 90s. The standard of the education system annihilated the culture of learning and teaching. This led to conditions in the society to spin out of control among parents, students and teachers.
Mahlatsi’s pile of works in the industry also includes For Love and Broken Bones, Sekali le Meokgo (Meokgo and the stickfighter), Isibaya, the short film Portrait of a Young Man Drowning which won him the Silver Lion award at the Venice Film Festival in 1999. In 2018, he was also presented with another accolade for his role in the audiovisual and creative field at the USIBA Awards hosted by the Minister of Arts and Culture Nathi Mthethwa.
Mahlatsi was also a co-director at Bomb Productions Company that launched the Mzansi Magic series, Shaka iLembe.
Other industry colleagues have also expressed their heartfelt condolences, describing Mahlatsi as a great filmmaker and that his loss has left some big shoes to fill.
The veteran creator and writer leaves behind his wife Palesa and two children.