Dr. Sophonia Machabe Mofokeng

Sophonia Machabe Mofokeng (1923–1957) was born near Fouriesburg in present-day Free State, South Africa. In 1955, he became the first Black scholar to earn a PhD from the University of the Witwatersrand, after completing an MA in Sesotho and earlier studies at Fort Hare University. His published creative works include the play Senkatana (1952) and the short story collection Leetong (1954). Several works appeared posthumously, including Pelong ea ka (1962) and Textbook of Southern Sotho Grammar, co-authored with C. M. Doke. He died of tuberculosis in 1957.