Ga-Sekororo · Limpopo · South Africa

Maleto
Ntlogeaka Papa Mpenyane

Award-winning comedian and content creator who turned a small village and a tin-roof mkhukhu into a stage for over 160 000 people. The man behind the viral “running hug.” Open for brand partnerships.

Partner with Maleto → Save the Mkhukhu
Maleto Ntloge — Papa Mpenyane, Creative Ntloge
Comedian of the Year 2025
The Story

From a village to your timeline

Maleto Ntloge grew up in Ga-Sekororo, Trichardtsdal — deep in rural Limpopo. By day, an ordinary working man. By night and weekend, the comedian and storyteller the whole country now knows as Papa Mpenyane.

It started with a mkhukhu, a phone and a feeling that the village had stories worth telling. The skits were honest, local and funny — and people felt it. The “running hug” moment took off and never really stopped, and the audience grew from a few neighbours to hundreds of thousands.

Today Maleto is a published novelist, a SABC News feature, and a working creative who films, writes and performs under the #CreativeNtlogeFilms banner. The voice is rooted in Sepedi and the lowveld, but the laugh travels everywhere.

The mission hasn't changed: tell real South African stories, make people laugh, and lift the village up while doing it. Re a leboga — thank you — to everyone who has watched, shared and shown up.

Maleto Ntloge behind the camera with #CreativeNtlogeFilms
Maleto Ntloge holding the Comedian of the Year 2025 award
  • ★
    Comedian of the Year — Limpopo Fashion & Creatives Awards, 2025
  • ▶
    Featured on SABC News — recognised as a rising rural creator
  • ✎
    Published author — released his own novel
  • ♥
    The “running hug” — his signature viral format, loved nationwide
  • ⌂
    Champion of home — proudly representing Ga-Sekororo & Limpopo
Open for Business

Brand partnerships

Maleto speaks directly to the township and rural South African youth market — the audience brands work hardest to reach. Authentic, unscripted, and trusted at home. Managed professionally by KOTI ICT & Consulting (MK ICT Group).

01

Authentic integration

Branded skits and storytelling that live inside his real content — not bolted on. The audience already trusts the voice.

02

Township & rural reach

A genuine line to the markets and communities that mainstream campaigns struggle to reach honestly.

03

Full production

Filmed, written and directed in-house under #CreativeNtlogeFilms — concept to final cut, ready for your channels.

178K+
Facebook
TikTok
@maleto_ntloge
YouTube
@NtlogeMaleto
4
Languages on camera
Maleto Ntloge editorial shoot
Editorial · Ga-Sekororo
Maleto Ntloge at an awards ceremony
Awards night
Maleto Ntloge live event headline poster
Live · headline draw
Maleto Ntloge talent show feature
On stage
Maleto Ntloge with a Carling Black Label at the shack studio in Ga-Sekororo

A genuine Carling Black Label man

Long before any boardroom, Maleto's love for Carling Black Label showed up in his content all on its own — unprompted, unpaid, the real thing. It's the brand of the people he speaks to, and it sits naturally in his world. We'd be proud to turn that genuine affinity into a proper partnership with the Champion brand.

Not for sale to or sharing with persons under 18. Enjoy responsibly. References to Carling Black Label reflect Maleto's personal affinity and an openness to partnership — they do not represent an existing endorsement or sponsorship.

Discuss a campaign View the rate card →
A community thing · Setshaba

Save the Mkhukhu

Almost every skit you've ever laughed at was filmed in one place: a small tin-roof mkhukhu in the village — our studio, our stage, our home base. That stand is now being sold.

The owner needs R8 000 to settle his tuition fees, and we completely understand — education first. So we're doing the right thing for everyone: raise the R8 000 together, the owner pays off his studies, and the village keeps its studio. One goal, one number: R8 000.

This isn't a corporate drive — it's a community thing. If 1 600 people each give R5, we're there. And every donor gets a voice: a unique token that unlocks the Wall of Hope, where you leave a message for struggling youth and graduates and pledge what your R5 stands for.

Maleto Ntloge in a graduation gown at the mkhukhu studio, Ga-Sekororo
Education first — the dream we're raising R8 000 to protect. Ga-Sekororo, Limpopo.
Maleto Ntloge in front of the mkhukhu
In front of the mkhukhu
Maleto Ntloge at the mkhukhu studio
Where the stories are made

Donate R5. One small amount, given by many — secure online payment.

Get your unique token. Every R5 donation issues a one-of-a-kind token — your receipt and your key.

Unlock the Wall of Hope. Enter your token to open the message form. The token is your key — one message per token.

Leave a message & pledge. Post a message of hope to struggling youth and graduates, and pledge what your R5 stands for. It goes live on the Wall.

Setshaba · Every donor has a voice

The Wall of Hope

Donated R5? Your token is your key. Unlock the form, leave a message of hope for struggling youth and graduates, and pledge what your R5 stands for. Your words go live for everyone to see.

Step 1 · Unlock with your token

One message per token. The token is your primary key — keep it safe.

Towards a graduate's future

You studied in the dark so your children could read in the light. Don't stop now — Limpopo is watching and we are proud of you.

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Towards keeping the studio alive

From a mkhukhu to 178K people. If he can do it from here, so can you. Keep going, bafwethu.

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Towards education first

Re a leboga. Every R5 is a brick — let's build this young man's dream together, one message at a time.

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Booking Maleto?

TV & film, live performance and digital campaign rates — all in one place, with standard terms.

Open the rate card →