Renowned actor Presley Chweneyagae dies at 40

by Nomonde Simelane

South Africa’s entertainment industry has suffered yet another devastating blow, as news of the unexpected passing of renowned actor Presley Chweneyagae has hit the media.

Not long after mourning the death of veteran actor Don Mlangeni Nawa, South Africa’s film and television industry now mourns renowned and beloved actor Presley Chweneyagae. According to Daily Sun, the actors, untimely death was confirmed by his agency MLA, who have revealed that the details regarding memorial services will be shared in due course.

Although Presley’s role as Cobrizi on Mzansi Magic’s The River gained him unprecedented levels of popularity, his role as David on Tsotsi was the role that catapulted him into the limelight and becoming the actor we knew and loved until his death. Presley’s performance on Tsotsi was one of the most impactful ones in South African television at the time, and resulted in mzansi’s first-ever Academy Award, as the movies took home the Best Foreign Language Award that year.

The Mafikeng-born thespian’s talents also expanded outside of acting, and as he was determined to follow his passions, he used his connections in the industry to break into the writing and directing aspects of film, and was involved in several projects as a crew member, including a stage play called Relativity, and an award-winning production called CELL NO 4.

Fans and supporters from allover the country have taken to social media to mourn the beloved actor, and take a look back at some of his memorable moments, both on and off the screen. These users have hailed Presley for his impact on South Africa’s film and television industry, and reveal that they believe his legacy will live on for many more years to come.

Also see: Izingane Zesthembu picks up where it’s parent show left off