Koketso ‘Kmat’ Mathabathe, a well-known amapiano DJ, is venturing into acting with her first-ever role. The DJ, whose real name is Koketso Mathabathe, is part of the Jik’izinto campaign, a multi-faceted initiative that combines a TV show, music, and a web series to empower South African youth.
The campaign seeks to inspire, educate, and provide essential tools and information to help young people make informed decisions about their mental health, sexual and reproductive health, and economic empowerment. As part of her involvement, DJ Kmat collaborated with Dee Koala and Boohle to create a song for the campaign.
Kmat will also appear in SABC1’s upcoming educational series “Chipi”. Reflecting on her new venture, she shared her excitement with TshisaLIVE.
“I’ve always wanted to be a presenter. Even in university, I excelled at public speaking. After trying my hand at acting, I was called back to be an extra, and now landing a role on a show like this is truly reaffirming,” she said.
“For my first acting gig, I think I did pretty well. I can’t wait for everyone to see it. It was a bit intimidating, but once I got into it, it felt great. I didn’t receive any formal acting training and managed to pull it off in just one take, which was pretty cool. I hope this opens more doors for acting opportunities.”
The Jik’izinto movement focuses on instilling hope, providing practical support, and fostering resilience in youth, especially young women who often face challenges like unemployment, lack of access to education, and socioeconomic inequality.
“This initiative will help young people tackle their struggles and make the most of their lives. Being part of something so impactful is important to me. Knowing that at least one person will be touched by this movement makes it all worthwhile.”
Kmat also took a moment to reflect on her career journey.
“It’s been a long journey for me. Along the way, there are always people who try to bring you down and make you doubt yourself, especially when you’re just starting as a DJ or trying to break through. I believe this content will help others overcome similar hurdles.”
“But overall, I feel incredibly blessed. My journey has been rewarding, and I’m grateful to have had God by my side every step of the way.”
