Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 131, June 2020 June 2020 | Page 36

RACE WALKING
With his unmissable hairstyle, it’s hard not to
spot Reggie Hufkie in a crowd, but what
makes him even more noticeable is his eyes.
At times, one sees a smile playing around the edges,
especially when he talks about his blossoming career
as an actor and singer, or fond memories of his race
walking career, now on hold. But there are also times
when the hardship and tragedy of his youth show in
his eyes. It’s an unmistakeable sadness, mixed with
hardened resolve, which he says is what now drives
him to follow his dreams in the world of showbiz.
Last year the 28-year-old enjoyed a breakout year in
television, beginning with landing the recurring role of
Luke on the SABC1 soapie, Generations: The Legacy.
He followed this up with a guest role on the kykNET
supernatural crime series, Die Spreeus, and later in
2019 he landed his first starring role in television, as
Spanner Proes in the kykNET sitcom, Huis Lelieveld.
Before that, Reggie had made his television acting
debut in 2014, in an episode of the SABC1 sitcom
Single Galz. Later that year he had another cameo
role, this time in the SABC1 drama series Kowethu,
and later had minor roles in the SABC2 soapie 7de
Laan and the SABC3 soapie High Rollers. In 2017 he
played the recurring role of Lem in the SABC2 drama
series Swartwater, and in 2018 he appeared in the
miniseries Liberty, but 2019 stands out as the year he
really made a name for himself on TV.
Walking to
Stardom
Actor and singer Reginald Hufkie, a.k.a. Reggie Peace, is best known for his
recurring role as Luke on the SABC1 soapie Generations, but few know that his
current career as a performer received a kickstart thanks to his talent as a race
walker. – BY SEAN FALCONER
In the meantime, his music career has steadily been
taking off, with the release of his first music single in
December 2018 on YouTube, followed by another six
in 2019. His musical stage name is Reggie Peace,
which he says comes from the days when he was part
of a musical group called Peacemaker. “I never had
peace in my life growing up, but I always wanted it. My
biggest focus in the last few years has been acting,
where I am getting work right now, but during the
lockdown I have been really focussed on music. I felt it
was time for that side of me to come out, so have been
introducing myself to people. My music is all about
me, what I stand for, and I want to give the message
that the strength is inside you, if you move to the beat
inside you. In acting, I am telling somebody else’s story,
whereas in music I am telling my story.”
Difficult Youth
Born into the Schauderville community near Port
Elizabeth, the middle child of three boys, Reggie
says his family were amongst the poorest of the poor.
On top of the family’s financial woes, tragedy struck
when Reggie’s mother passed away in 2004, when
he was just 12 years old. “I grew up in a small shack
Images: xxxx
Reggie playing Luke
in Generations
Playing Spanner in Huis Lelieveld
One of Reggie’s music singles
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ISSUE 131 JUNE 2020 / www.modernathlete.co.za