Veteran actor Joe Mafela may disagree, but his fans are about to be confronted with a very different side to him.
The 69-year-old actor, known for slapstick comedy, has starred in a film thriller, called Retribution, which premiers in South Africa in two weeks.
In the film, shot in 12 days near Cape Town, Mafela acts opposite Jeremy Crutchley (who acted in local movies including Spud and Skin).
It has been selected for the Durban International Film Festival and the Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival.
Mafela plays Khumbulani Maphosa, a retired judge who is still fighting his demons. Years before Maphosa retired, he had failed to convict a murderer who was later arrested, but only after he has raped Crutchley's character's 12-year-old daughter.
About his character, Mafela said: "This could have happened to any judge, particularly during the days of apartheid. As an actor, you play different roles. I think people are used to me being in comedy series, but this one is serious."
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