The South African film industry is mourning the loss of actor Presley Chweneyagae, who has died at the age of 40.
Chweneyagae, best known for his role in the Oscar-winning film Tsotsi, passed away, as disclosed by his agent, the MLASA artist agency on Tuesday, May 27.
“It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of our beloved Presley Chweneyagae, actor, storyteller, father, and proud son of South Africa,” the agency said in a statement on its Instagram page. “He leaves behind his wife, their three sons and a legacy that will live for generations to come. Thank you for your light, you will always be part of our MLA family!”
The cause of his death has not been disclosed yet.
Born in 1984 in Mafikeng, North West Province, Chweneyagae began attending drama classes at the age of 10. He rose to prominence in 2006 when Tsotsi won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. In the film, Chweneyagae, as lead, played the a young gangster who kidnaps a baby when he carjacks a vehicle, only to find himself forced to care for the child. The film was based on a novel by the late South African playwright Athol Fugard.
Chweneyagae went on to appear in other productions, including the Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom and the television series The River, Hamlet, Julius Caesar, Dikeledi, State of Violence, and Africa United, iNumber Number, and Zama Zama.
The African National Congress Youth League posted a tribute to the actor, as the body said in a X post, “The ANCYL extends its heartfelt condolences to the Chweneyagae family on the passing of a renowned actor, Presley”.
“Our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the talented Presley Chweneyagae,” Netflix South Africa also said in a X post. Showmax South Africa also paid a tribute to the film star, saying, “A true South African legend. His talent and heart brought our stories to life, and his legacy will live on forever”.
Chweneyagae is the latest in a tragic list of African film professionals who have died in the past year, including fellow South African Connie Chiume who died at age 72, Nigerian actress Onyeka Onwenu (also 72), and Malian filmmaker Souleymane Cissé who passed away at 84.
