Arthur Mafokate has announced the funeral details for his father, Enos Mafokate, remembering the late equestrian pioneer as the “King of Horses” to the public and simply “Dad” to his family.
Enos died last week at the age of 80, and the Mafokate family has now confirmed plans for his final farewell.
Arthur shared that the funeral service will take place on Thursday, 10 September 2026, at 09:00. The ceremony will be held at The Plot Studios, 35 Lyncon Road, Carlswald Holdings.
In a family statement, the Mafokates described Enos as their beloved father, “Kgosi ya Dipere,” meaning “The King of Horses,” and said relatives and loved ones would come together to honour his life, celebrate his extraordinary journey and bid him goodbye.
The family also expressed its appreciation for the public’s kindness during their grief, thanking supporters for their love, prayers, messages and encouragement. They added that Enos could rest peacefully and that his legacy would continue.
That legacy reaches well beyond his role as the father of one of South Africa’s best-known music personalities. Enos was widely recognised as the country’s first Black showjumper, entering a discipline largely controlled by white competitors during apartheid.
He later represented South Africa internationally and became a sports ambassador during the nation’s return to the Olympic Games in Barcelona in 1992.
Throughout his life, Mafokate also worked to create opportunities for young riders. In 2007, he founded an equestrian centre in Soweto, allowing township children to learn about horses, riding and competitive show jumping. The facility has since developed into an important training hub for a younger generation of equestrian athletes.
For Arthur, however, his father’s public achievements were only one part of the man he knew personally.
In his emotional tribute, Arthur admitted that the magnitude of the loss was difficult to express. He said some moments leave language unable to capture the depth of the emotion, describing this as one of them. He also wrote that he would always be proud to be Enos’s son, proud of the life he led, the struggles he overcame and the legacy he leaves behind.
Messages of condolence have continued to come from the entertainment and sporting communities. Many have remembered Enos as a barrier-breaking figure who created opportunities for others even after his own competitive career had ended.
Actor Lerato Mvelase shared her condolences and recalled that Enos taught her eldest daughter to ride a horse.
Musician Oskido sent strength and comfort to Arthur and the wider Mafokate family, praying for Enos’s soul to rest eternally and saying that his influence would endure.
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