Aaron Polopotla Moloisi is a South African television presenter, actor, and media personality whose warm on-screen presence and remarkable linguistic versatility have made him one of the most recognizable faces in South African broadcasting.
Best known for hosting the SABC2 discussion program “The Big Question” and the long-running SABC1 education talk show “Shift,” Moloisi has built a career spanning more than two decades across television presenting, acting, and content production.
His international breakthrough came in 2016 when he appeared alongside Oscar-winning actress Lupita Nyong’o in the Disney film “Queen of Katwe.” Fluent in multiple South African languages, Moloisi has connected with audiences across the country’s diverse cultural landscape.
Profile
| Full Name | Aaron Polopotla Moloisi |
| Born | May 13, 1979 |
| Age | 46 years old (as of 2025) |
| Birthplace | Ga-Dikgale, Polokwane, Limpopo, South Africa |
| Nationality | South African |
| Occupation | Television Presenter, Actor, Producer |
| Parents | Rosina Moloisi (Mother); raised by grandmother Phefi |
| Education | University of Fort Hare (BSc, Chemistry and Microbiology) |
Early Life
Aaron Polopotla Moloisi was born on May 13, 1979, in the rural village of Ga-Dikgale, located outside Polokwane in Limpopo Province, South Africa, to a single mother, Rosina Moloisi. He was raised primarily by his grandmother, Phefi Moloisi, alongside seven other cousins in the same household in Ga-Dikgale village. His grandmother was a respected and influential figure in the local community described as a village visionary who started a creche, pioneered the local high school, and held leadership positions in social clubs and the church, both locally and at the parish level. Her example of community service and leadership had a profound and lasting influence on Aaron’s own development and values.
Aaron is of Pedi ethnicity and grew up speaking multiple South African languages from a young age, an early foundation for what would become one of his most distinctive professional assets his ability to communicate fluently with audiences across South Africa’s diverse linguistic landscape.
Education
Aaron Moloisi completed his matriculation and went on to study at the University of Fort Hare, one of South Africa’s most historic and respected institutions of higher learning, renowned for educating generations of African leaders. He pursued and completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry and Microbiology between 1996 and 1999 a rigorous scientific program that stood in sharp contrast to the media and entertainment career he would ultimately pursue.
Career
Aaron Moloisi’s professional journey began, perhaps surprisingly, in the information technology sector rather than entertainment. After completing his BSc degree at Fort Hare, he moved to Johannesburg at around age 20 in pursuit of an IT industry job opportunity. From January 2000 to January 2002, he worked for Computer Configurations Holdings as an Oracle Database Developer. He then joined Liberty Group South Africa as an Oracle Database Management Systems Developer, a position he held until February 2003.
Moloisi’s entry into the media and entertainment industry came in 2002, when he joined SABC1 as a presenter on “Take 5,” one of South Africa’s biggest youth talk shows at the time, addressing political and socio-economic issues affecting young South Africans. During his five-year tenure on the show, he developed skills not only as an on-camera presenter but also behind the scenes, working as a producer, scriptwriter, translator, and offline editor a comprehensive grounding in television production that would serve him well throughout his career.
In the same year he joined “Take 5,” Moloisi was also invited to join SABC2’s discussion program “The Big Question” as a field reporter. The show became extremely popular, and Moloisi presented it until 2006, becoming one of South Africa’s most-watched television personalities thanks in part to his ability to speak all 11 of South Africa’s official languages a rare and valuable skill that allowed him to connect authentically with viewers from every corner of the country.
In 2007, Moloisi made his acting debut in the controversial SABC1 mini-series “After Nine,” taking on the lead role of “Hector Mogale,” a gay character whose storyline broke new ground for South African television drama. The role demonstrated his range as a performer and further elevated his public profile.
Since 2008, Moloisi has served as the presenter of “Shift,” an SABC Education talk show airing on SABC1 a role he has held for well over a decade, making it one of the longest-running and most consistent chapters of his broadcasting career. In 2013, he expanded his television presence by hosting the SABC1 reality competition show “Rize Mzansi.”
Moloisi’s most significant international breakthrough came in 2016, when he was cast in a supporting role as “Rwabushenyi Official” in “Queen of Katwe,” a Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures biographical drama directed by acclaimed filmmaker Mira Nair. The film starred Oscar-winning actress Lupita Nyong’o and told the inspiring true story of a young Ugandan chess prodigy. Appearing in a major Hollywood production alongside an internationally celebrated cast marked a significant milestone in Moloisi’s career and introduced him to global audiences.
Beyond “Queen of Katwe,” Moloisi has built an extensive acting resume in South African television, appearing in popular drama series and soaps including “Skeem Saam” (2014), “The Queen” (2017), and “The Wife,” as well as the investigative SABC3 series “Special Assignment,” where he served as an anchor. He has acted in approximately nine local drama series and soaps over the course of his career, in addition to hosting various talk shows and business reality shows across seven different television channels, including BET Africa.
Moloisi is also the executive director of Moloisi Media House, his own brand development and media production agency, reflecting his evolution from on-camera talent into a broader entrepreneurial and production role within the South African media industry. He is additionally known as a talented singer, adding another dimension to his multifaceted entertainment career.
Personal Life
Aaron Moloisi is openly gay and has been in a relationship with fellow actor Innocent Matijane, whom he is also reported to have married. His openness about his sexuality has made him a notable and visible figure within South African media as an openly LGBTQ+ public personality in a country still navigating broader conversations around representation and acceptance.
Moloisi has spoken about the profound influence of his late grandmother Phefi on his life, crediting her community leadership and visionary spirit as foundational to his own values and his commitment to using his media platform to inform and empower others. He has also spoken about his journey supported by South Africa’s National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), through which he was recognized as a “pioneer” a former beneficiary who went on to achieve significant success and used his television platform to reach and inform millions of disadvantaged young South Africans.
Languages
Aaron Moloisi is renowned for his linguistic versatility, fluently speaking more than eight of South Africa’s official languages, including Sesotho, Setswana, isiZulu, isiXhosa, and conversational Xitsonga and Tshivenda, in addition to his native Sepedi. This multilingual fluency has been central to his broad appeal and success as a national television presenter.
Filmography & Television Credits
- Take 5 — Presenter (2002–2007)
- The Big Question — Field Reporter/Presenter (2002–2006)
- After Nine — Lead role as Hector Mogale (2007)
- Shift — Presenter (2008–present)
- Rize Mzansi — Host (2013)
- Skeem Saam (2014)
- Queen of Katwe — Rwabushenyi Official (2016)
- The Queen (2017)
- Special Assignment — Anchor
- The Wife
- Zaziwa (2020)
FAQs About Aaron Moloisi
Who is Aaron Moloisi?
Aaron Moloisi is a South African television presenter and actor, best known for hosting “The Big Question” and “Shift” on SABC, and for his role in the Disney film “Queen of Katwe.”
What did Aaron Moloisi study?
He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry and Microbiology from the University of Fort Hare.
How many languages does Aaron Moloisi speak?
He speaks more than eight South African languages, including Sesotho, Setswana, isiZulu, isiXhosa, Xitsonga, and Tshivenda.
What role did Aaron Moloisi play in Queen of Katwe?
He played the supporting role of Rwabushenyi Official in the 2016 Disney film alongside Lupita Nyong’o.
Is Aaron Moloisi married?
He has been reported to be in a relationship and married to fellow actor Innocent Matijane.
Conclusion
Aaron Moloisi’s career stands as a powerful example of reinvention and versatility from a scientifically trained university graduate working in the IT sector, to one of South African television’s most enduring and beloved presenters. His ability to connect with audiences across South Africa’s eleven official languages, combined with his work as an actor, producer, and media entrepreneur, has earned him a lasting place in the country’s broadcasting history. With more than two decades on South African screens and continued visibility through Moloisi Media House, Aaron Moloisi remains a respected and influential figure in South African media.
