Presley Chweneyagae: ‘He was every mother's son, every girl's funny lover, and everyone's best friend'
Chweneyagae embodied God-given talent, said Phathutshedzo Makwarela, executive producer of The River and Cobrizi.
DStv, the broadcaster which was home to late actor Presley Chweneyagae in recent years, has paid tribute to the beloved actor.
'He was every mother's son, every girl's funny lover, and everyone's best friend,' said CEO of General Entertainment at MultiChoice, Nomsa Philiso.
Chweneyagae passed away on Tuesday morning at the age of 40. His talent agency and management team at Moonyeenn Lee Associates (MLA) confirmed his death.
'It is with profound sadness that we confirm the untimely passing of one of South Africa's most gifted and beloved actors, Presley Chweneyagae,' the statement read.
The cause of death is still unknown to the public.
ALSO READ: 'The River' and 'Tsotsi' star Presley Chweneyagae dies at 40
A generational talent
Philiso said Chweneyagae was a generational talent whose work helped shape Mzansi television.
'His characters felt like family,' she shared.
'Through characters like Cobra on The River, and most recently on Mzansi Magic's Cobrizi, he didn't just entertain — he made us laugh, made us care, and helped us understand the people behind the stories. His work brought heart and humanity to every role.'
Chweneyagae's performances on The River made him more endearing to Mzansi as the hilarious older brother with an English twang.
'His legacy lives on in the stories he helped bring to life. He was part of some of DStv's most loved productions, and his performances will continue to resonate. We will miss him dearly,' Philiso said.
ALSO READ: 'Working with Presley and keeping a straight face is almost impossible' — industry mourns Chweneyagae
A tribute to Chweneyagae
Hours after the news of the actor's passing broke out, Showmax released a tribute to the actor on its app.
Titled A Tribute To Presley Chweneyagae, Showmax has curated a collection of recent shows featuring the late actor, as aired on MultiChoice platforms.
The tribute includes all six seasons of The River, the first season of the drama series iNumber Number and the feature film of the same name, which was released in 2014.
Co-creator and executive producer of The River and Cobrizi, Phathutshedzo Makwarela of Tshedza Pictures, said Chweneyagae epitomised God-given talent.
'Presley was one of a generation. He was the epitome of God given talent. Tshedza Pictures is blessed to have worked with him for close to nine years on The River and its spin-off Cobrizi. Today, the world is a much sadder place today by the loss of this talent.'
Tsotsi co-star Terry Pheto said she was shocked by Chweneyagae's passing.
'I'm shocked and saddened by the news of Presley's sudden passing. My heart goes out to his family and the rest of our friends and colleagues in the film industry. We shared an unforgettable moment when we won the Oscar. It's a moment I will forever cherish,' said Pheto.
NOW READ: Khanyisa Jaceni welcomes her first bundle of joy
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The South African
an hour ago
- The South African
Nonku Williams leaves 'The Real Housewives of Durban'
In a shocking and unexpected announcement, Nonku Williams, the longest-serving housewife in Africa, has exited ' The Real Housewives of Durban (RHOD) .' The reality star rose to fame through the show after joining its first season, quickly becoming a household name with a loyal fan base. After entertaining fans for five seasons on the Showmax hit The Real Housewives of Durban, Nonku Williams has officially left the show. She announced her exit in an emotional and detailed post on her Instagram account. The reality star shared that she is stepping away from the franchise to prioritise her mental health, well-being, and personal growth. She also revealed that she won't be attending the reunion, disappointing many viewers who were expecting her to show up. They wanted her to take accountability for her actions this season and address questions about her character. Nonku has stirred controversy this season, with many viewers expressing disappointment in her behaviour. While some still believe she's reality TV gold, bringing the sass and drama that helped make the show a success, it seems she didn't win many hearts this time. The mother of two revealed that after watching herself on TV, she has realised that the woman she sees is not someone she recognises or respects. 'After much reflection, I've made the difficult decision not to return to the show and to distance myself from the reunion. It's not an easy choice, but it's one I must make. Watching myself on screen, I'm confronted with a reality that's hard to accept. The woman I see isn't someone I recognise or respect.' Reflecting on her journey with the show, she shared that the toxic cycle of women being pitted against each other, constant negativity, conflict, and drama no longer aligns with who she wants to be. She said it's time to choose peace and personal growth. 'I've played a role in shaping this narrative, but I'm also a product of the show's dynamics. The relentless pursuit of drama, the pitting of women against each other, the gossip, and the put-downs – it's a toxic cycle that wears me down,' she wrote. Nonku further opened up about her decision to walk away from the show, sharing: 'As I look to the future, I'm reminded of my responsibilities – to myself, my children, my faith, and the community. I want to make a difference, to leave a positive mark on the world. But this show, with its destructive tendencies, isn't the platform for that. I've come to realise that I have a responsibility to myself to prioritise my well-being, to protect my mental health, and to surround myself with positivity.' She further said that she chooses this to be a better role model for her kids and to positively impact her community. 'To those who've supported me throughout this journey, I'm grateful. I acknowledge my part in the chaos, but I also recognise the show's role in shaping our narratives. I'm choosing to break free from this cycle, to seek a path that uplifts and inspires. She further said, 'I'm choosing to use my platform to spread love, kindness, and positivity. I'm choosing to be a role model for my children and for others who may be watching. I'm choosing to prioritise my well-being and to take care of myself,' she said. ARE YOU GOING TO MISS NONKU ON RHODURBAN? Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 . Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
eNCA
9 hours ago
- eNCA
Cracked glass artist pays tribute to Presley Chweneyagae
JOHANNESBURG - Artist and digital creator, Sandile Kgaphola, has paid tribute to late actor, Presley Chweneyagae. The Grammy Award winner died last week due to respiratory complications. Kgaphola has done cracked glass portraits of celebrities including Siya Kolisi, Chris Brown, Kylian Mbappé and many more celebrities.
The Citizen
a day ago
- The Citizen
Where the voice fails, a pen takes over – The life of Denzel
Where the voice fails, a pen takes over – The life of Denzel A dream turned into an inked reality. A pen voiced out feelings that the voice knew nothing about. Meet Denzel Mabona, a 21-year-old poet, writer, and singer from the City of Coal. Denzel was born and raised in Phola, where his talents unfolded. Denzel recently published a book called 'The dark desires to the throne'. The book was inspired by a dream that Denzel had, and his love for the English language made everything possible. 'I should say, I don't just take the glory, but I give God the glory too, because when I wrote this piece, I was just writing as I am a poet, not knowing that I am also a writer,' said Denzel. According to Denzel, he had a dream one night, and he didn't want to forget about it, therefore, he chose to ink everything and believed in the power of pen and paper. The book was published in January this year, and several institutions, including Tshwane University of Technology, have reviewed the book. Denzel did not just sit and let the talents do the work for him; he also saw the need for education in his life, and he is also pursuing his studies at TUT. Another marked milestone worth Denzel's effort was winning the TUT short stories competition for the year 2024. 'I am really excited about the piece that I published,' Denzel said. It seems like Denzel does not know about the word 'enough', the young author cannot sit and fold his hands, and his voice can't help but want to make an impact on the lives of people. He is also a preacher, using his voice and knowledge to touch lives. Denzel's journey can be an inspiration to numbers. His consistency, dedication, love, and courage proved that talents can unlock other talents. The author is looking forward to flying the Mpumalanga flag in the creative industry. Breaking news at your fingertips … Follow WITBANK NEWS on our website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or TikTok Chat to us: info@ At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
