The veteran actress who has recently been bestowed with the Lifetime Achievement award at the Simon Mabhunu Sabela KZN Film and Television awards, Cynthia Shange revealed in her acceptance speech that she has had health complications.
The 75-year-old thespian renowned for being the first black Miss South Africa and the roles she portrayed on u’Deliwe, Isivumelwano, Inkedama, Shaka Zulu and Muvhango shared that in 2018 she was hospitalised after experiencing complications with diabetes.
According to Sunday World reports, during her acceptance speech, Cynthia was thankful to be able to accept the award on her own.
“I could have accepted this award being accompanied by someone with a wheelchair, but I’m grateful for God’s mercy. In 2018 when I was travelling to Durban from Johannesburg, I had complications which left me hospitalised for three months. It was hard and I was in between life and death, I ask that you let me thank Shembe for saving my life when there was no hope,” Cynthia said.
The thespian lost five toes to gangrene and narrowly escaped leg amputation after she refused and told the doctors that she was shooting a movie. Cynthia shared that she had to undergo four operations and on the last one, she was lucky to not have lost her leg.
The thespian revealed that the leg was getting worse by the day after she refused amputation and opted for antibiotics.
Cynthia’s daughter, Nonhle Thema took to her Instagram page to share snaps of her mother accepting her lifetime achievement award. She captioned her post: “Congratulations to my mom, Cynthia Shange for being honoured with her Lifetime Achievement Award, last night at the KZN Simon Mabhunu Sabela Awards for her contribution to the acting industry all these years, God is faithful,” she noted.
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Instagram users took to the comment sections to share their congratulatory messages.
One user said, “Aww, congratulations to her, long overdue to the legend.”
Another one said, “Congratulations to mama Shange, so deserving of this award. The beauty queen who graced our screens during my childhood years.”
Industry colleague, Zandile Msutwana commented, “Well deserved and congratulations to this beauty.”
Also see: First black Miss SA Cynthia Shange honoured at KZN Film Awards
