Rofhiwa Mukwevho carves his name in the tattoo industry

Rofhiwa Mukwevho’s love for art emerged early, long before needles and ink entered the picture. As a child, he spent hours copying cartoons from magazines and newspapers, unknowingly laying the foundation for a future career.

The turning point came during his high school years at Mphaphuli High School, when he noticed a tattoo on a friend. That moment sparked a fascination that would later grow into a profession.

Mukwevho, who hails from Ha-Magidi in Thohoyandou Unit E, is the founder of Ink with Ghost, a tattoo studio that has steadily built a local following. The 26-year-old is also a final-year student at the University of Venda, where he is studying language practice, with the hope of becoming a teacher one day.

While juggling his studies, Mukwevho runs his tattoo business, focusing on quality and client satisfaction. He says some clients arrive with clear ideas, while others rely on his guidance.

“I do tattoos for the love of art and make a living out of it,” he said. He was inspired by the popular tattoo artist Rendani Qwinji Ink Ndou. “I looked up to his work, until I bought my first machine in 2018 with the money I saved when I was doing matric. I had a friend called Jacob who loves tattoos, and he gave me a chance to ink him. Since then, I have never looked back,” he added.

He admits the journey has been adventurous. “I have learned so much, and I am still learning. I have met different people with different kinds of skin, but I managed to do my best for my clients. I am very happy that most people are giving me a chance to ink them, and I love their response after inking them,” said Mukwevho.

He believes tattooing requires more than artistic talent. “Being a tattoo artist comes with being good at sketching, understanding the technicalities involved in the equipment, hygiene, and knowing and understanding people’s skin textures and colour,” he said.

Looking ahead, Mukwevho has ambitious plans. “I want people to come to my studio from other countries for a tattoo. I want to give my family the best life because of tattooing. I want to be the first person that comes to mind when you think or talk about tattoos,” he said.

Date:24 January 2026

By: Maanda Bele

Maanda  Bele, born and raised in Nzhelele Siloam, studied journalism at the Tshwane University of Technology. He is passionate about current news and international affairs. He worked as part of the Zoutnet team as an intern in 2017. He is currently a freelance journalist specialising in news from the Vhembe district.

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