South African comedian and actor Oscar Mgudlwa, widely recognized as Madluphuthu, has passed away. He was a pioneering figure in the low-budget film industry, which saw considerable expansion during the DVD era of the 2000s. Mgudlwa achieved instant fame through his portrayal of the intellectually disabled yet hilariously endearing character, Madluphuthu, in popular films such as My Sht Father*, My Lotto Ticket, Madluphuthu 1, and Madluphuthu 2.
These films, with their DVDs often priced under R50, became a staple in many townships, resonating deeply with the infectious humor that many Black South Africans in those areas could relate to.
Before establishing his name in film and comedy, Mgudlwa had a period as a Kwaito musician. He collaborated with the late Mapaputsi in 2001 and, prior to that, released an album with Mina Nawe’s Man Child in 1998.
Mgudlwa hailed from Daveyton, located on the East Rand.