Lawrence Maleka is all about love. Love for his craft, love for his roots, and love for the journey that has shaped him into the powerhouse he is today. With a career spanning 15 years in the entertainment industry, Maleka has become a formidable force, carving out a space that represents him in the most authentic way possible.
The award-winning presenter and actor has built a reputation as a hard-working creative, passionate about the industry and always ready to offer his best. But before the bright lights and accolades, there was a young boy from Soweto whose journey was nudged in an unexpected direction by a mother who saw his star potential before he even did.
And while he once imagined a future in law, it was mme ma’Maleka who gave him the necessary push toward the screen. One day, while flipping through channels, she stumbled upon a new TV station, Soweto TV, searching for fresh talent. With unwavering belief in her son, she knew this was his calling.
“I believe my mother knew this fact even before I could even realize it for myself. So when she made this discovery, she would relentlessly call Soweto TV to get appointments or to see when I could go there, when the auditions were being held…the works. So I landed there, on Soweto TV, because my mother made it happen. But even with her push, there were other elements at play – one of them being the late Soweto TV founder Tshepo Thafeng, who dreamt it and realized it. Secondly, it was my mom, who obviously knows her child and thus gave me that gentle push that I didn’t know I needed, and thirdly, once I realized that this is it for me, I became persistent in my pursuit.
“So when Soweto TV was launched, it came at a time when we all needed each other at the same time. I joined the channel at a time when they already had shows, and they needed to pivot in a different direction.”
With his bravery and out-of-the-box thinking, Lawrence was able to do the unprecedented on Soweto TV, hosting a gadget show as his first bold attempt.
“If you look at my career, how I’ve moved, and the things I have done, it kind of gives you a picture of who I am. I am going to run in the opposite direction and just forge my own path,” he said.
Growing up, influences from ikasi (the township), his mother, and an innate characteristic of being independent moulded an individual who was steadfast in his decisions even at a young age.
“Yes, one could categorize me as the black sheep. If you look at my childhood pictures, even while in crèche, you’d see all the other kids playing over there and I’m here all by myself. I’ve just always moved differently, and because I couldn’t articulate it then, my mother was there to walk me through it. And as I got older, I would start to feel socially awkward, thinking, ‘Ah, maybe people won’t like me,’ but with time, I started accepting that this is who I am. This is what I do and what I don’t do; I’m not trying to compromise what I believe in without stepping on toes,” he said.
But even in his steadfastness and his difference, Lawrence has always been deeply rooted in ikasi; with his twang and model C education, he still came back to the township feeling embraced and accepted for who he is.
His upbringing in Soweto and the love he shows for the township with every shout-out at every endnote of any gig is an admiration of where he comes from and all that the township moulded him to be.
“Firstly, I represent my surname with pride, and I am so proud to be the son of these two amazing human beings that the world might never know. It’s real to me when I say, ‘ke ngwana wa mme Maleka le ntate Maleka’ (I am the son of Mr. and Mrs. Maleka). With the very little they had, they raised me. Everything you like about me is because of these two individuals who took the time to nurture it. I am very proud of my heritage, my roots, and my family, and that comes first above all else.
“With ikasi, there’s so much beauty in it that has helped shape people like us. Some of the best minds in the world have come from ekasi. I learnt so much from just the sisters in the hood, and my most fondest memories come from there. I went to a private school and I remember how I’d feel like the odd one out due to not having as much as those around me, but when I went back to the hood, where everyone is accepting and we all see each other as the same, I felt validated and that I belonged. I even felt that I had the support of the ama groot man (older guys) from the hood who would run and stop the bus for me so I wouldn’t be late for school. They recognized that I had a chance and supported it.
“So I love everything about the hood; I love who we are when we are happy, and I love who we are when we are sad. I love who we are in how we reprimand ourselves, how we carry ourselves, and the things we do to survive and live. We are a force. And no matter where I go, I walk with the confidence of knowing I have a community behind me. Ngingavutha,” he said, laughing.
Of course, along the way, Maleka has ticked off some significant milestones, one of which includes starring in Lobola Man, a Netflix romantic comedy that showcased his comedic talents and marked his return to acting after a brief hiatus. But to him, every role, every gig, and every opportunity is a step towards cementing a legacy bigger than just entertainment.
“Even at the Grammys, and I am saying this to you now: at the Grammys or at the Oscars, I will tell everyone in that room that ‘nna ke ntwana ya ko White City, opposite Morris Isaacson.’ (I am a child from White City, opposite Morris Isaacson.)
And with every goal he achieves, Maleka is determined to be better than his last. He hopes that with every step forward, he continues to prove that he is worth betting on, worthy of a seat at the table, and most importantly, he hopes to make his mother proud—the one who placed a bet on him before anyone else did.
Onwards and upwards!