South Africa
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CINEMA-FRANCE-SOUTH AFRICA-CHWENEYAGAE © JOEL SAGET / AFP
Presley Chweneyagae has died at 40. Family confirms natural causes. South Africans pay tribute to the Tsotsi actor’s powerful legacy.
2025-05-29
Summary
South African actor Presley Chweneyagae, best known for his role in the Oscar-winning movie Tsotsi, has died at the age of 40. His death has shocked the nation.
What Happened to Presley?
Presley Chweneyagae died after experiencing breathing problems, according to his family. A spokesperson, Mzwakhe Sigudla, confirmed that paramedics were called, but he "couldn't make it." The actor died from natural causes, but his sudden passing has left fans across the country asking for more answers.
Quick Facts About His Death
📍 Age: 40
📅 Year of Death: 2025
⚕️ Reported Cause: Natural causes related to breathing complications
🏥 Emergency Response: Paramedics tried to help, but he passed before recovery
Tributes Pour In Across the Country
His talent agency, MLASA, described him as “a powerful and authentic voice in African cinema.” South Africa’s Ministry of Arts and Culture said:
“We mourn the loss of a true trailblazer,a storyteller who held the soul of a nation in his craft.”
The South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTA) posted:
“A true legend of South African cinema… a powerhouse performer whose talent left an indelible mark on our screens and in our hearts.
Even the ANC Secretary-General, Fikile Mbalula, tweeted:
“His legacy in Tsotsi, The River, and beyond will live on.
Presley Career Highlights
🎬 Tsotsi (2005): His breakout role, winning the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film
🎭 Started acting professionally in 1998
🎥 Appeared in Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, iNumber Number, The River
✍🏽 Co-wrote the award-winning stage play Relativity
🏆 Won a SAFTA for The River just last year
Chweneyagae once said on a podcast:
“I just want to be remembered as an actor who loved his work, and who had great respect for others.
The sudden death of Presley Chweneyagae has left a deep emotional wound across South Africa. Fans, friends, and fellow artists are all asking the same painful questions: What happened, and why now?
His passing has sparked an outpouring of love, disbelief, and remembrance. From homes in Soweto to stages across the continent, the silence left behind by his absence is heavy.
Presley wasn’t just an actor, he was a symbol of hope, especially for young people who saw themselves in his roles and his story. His death is more than a headline. It’s personal for millions.
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