Nkateko Mabaso, a well-known figure in the African entertainment industry, has passed away. The cause of his death is not yet known. He is survived by his wife, Mathapelo, his son, Tshimologo, and his parents, Xithlangoma Bob and Lizzy Mabaso.
Insiders revealed that Mabaso had been ill for a few months but seemed to have recovered. Tragically, he collapsed at home yesterday, was rushed to the hospital, but did not survive.
Nomsa Philiso, CEO of General Entertainment at MultiChoice South Africa, expressed her sorrow, saying, “It is with great sadness that I share the news of Nkateko Mabaso’s passing. Nkateko, fondly known as NK, was a maverick within the M-Net world. He played a crucial role in growing our mass and middle market offerings, with the iconic Mzansi Magic being a flagship channel.”
Mabaso’s career was marked by significant contributions to the entertainment industry. He was instrumental in the success of popular productions like “Isibaya” and “The Queen,” and major events such as the Channel O Awards and the DMVCAs.
Philiso added, “We will always remember NK for his indelible mark on our work. May his family, friends, and colleagues find comfort during this very difficult time.”
Mabaso’s journey in the entertainment industry began in 2010 when he joined M-Net as a marketing manager for Vuzu and Channel O. He rose through the ranks, becoming the general manager for local entertainment channels in 2013 and later the director for M-Net’s local interest channels in 2014.
By 2016, he was the group general manager for M-Net South Africa. In 2018, he was appointed as the permanent CEO of M-Net, after serving as the acting CEO since February of that year.
In October 2020, Mabaso was promoted to MultiChoice’s group executive in charge of programming, overseeing content commissioning for the wider MultiChoice Group.
He held this position for a year before resigning and joining Netflix as the director of licensing and co-productions for Africa. He worked in Amsterdam in this role for a year and five months before quietly returning to South Africa.
Since June 2023, Mabaso had been self-employed, focusing on content curation and distribution. He was last seen publicly at the SABC Video Entertainment Content Fest 2024 programming event in Johannesburg three months ago.
Mabaso was recognized for his contributions to the industry, receiving several awards, including being named one of the Top 40 Under 40 by Destiny Magazine in 2016 and being listed in Mail and Guardian’s Top 200 Young South Africans in the media category in 2013.
Nkateko Mabaso’s legacy in the entertainment industry will be remembered by many. May he rest in peace.