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‘Maybe it'll sink in after the funeral' – Tshepo Seagiso on bidding ‘Cobrizi' farewell
When he received the news, he was clouded with confusion and was flooded with tons of questions.
Over a week later, he still has those questions unanswered.
To him, Presley Chwenyegae was one of the realest people he's ever worked with in the acting industry.
Tshepo 'Bugzito' Seagiso, who played Charlie on The River, remembers the day of Presley's passing, vividly.
'On the day of his passing, I hadn't checked my phone or any social media or anything like that. So that was just a point where I saw that my phone was getting unusual traffic of missed calls. And when I opened my WhatsApp, I realised that people are sending me condolences, and I was wondering 'condolences for what?'. Then that's when I went on social media and saw the news, called up a couple of guys, and everyone confirmed that it's true.
Read more | 'That man raised me' – The River cast breaks down at Presley's memorial
'It's been a very sad, confusing week for me, and I think for many other people within the industry, because Presley was a giant; he was amazing. For me, Presley is one of the most amazing actors to ever work in this country. So, I'm glad and honoured to have worked with him. And I'm still shocked. I'm still confused. I still don't know what to think. And me being here now is what is confirming the fact that we really did lose an icon,' he adds.
When Tshepo first joined the Refilwe township squad on the telenovela, they had already formed a bond amongst themselves. For some time, he struggled to find his feet and place, but Presley, alongside Thapelo Sebogodi, who played Makabaza, gave him the warmest welcome he'll never forget.
With the welcome came the pressure of pulling his acting socks up due to how great his surroundings were.
Fortunately, he was already familiar with Presley's work and knew which standards to aspire to.
'It wasn't my first time meeting him when we worked together, because I had seen him on stage whenever I came to watch some plays here at the theatre. I hadn't gotten used to him, though. So, when I finally got on The River, I got to get used to him. I knew him, he knew me, but we never really got to hang out before that. Working with him was very surreal. And that's why I'll always say, I learned a lot, directly and indirectly.'
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Speaking to Drum on the sidelines of the memorial service, which was held at the South African State Theatre, where he used to come watch him play regularly, he takes us back to his first day on The River set.
'My first day on set, when I came in, the first person to welcome me was a friend of ours called Thapelo, who was playing Khabzela. I remember how crazy he went when he saw me. And then when Presley came, he was also happy to see me, and I remember feeling the pressure with the kind of welcome that these people were giving me. I remember telling myself, 'I need to show up'.'
Tshepo also reminisces on one of the scenes they shot together that required them to shoot more than five takes because everyone was just struggling to keep a straight face through his jokes.
'That is the effect Presley had on us most of the time. He would be so dead serious and so authentic within that moment, but he would throw you off. I'm really going to miss him, and I don't know if I believe it already. Maybe Saturday, after everything, it will sink in.'
Read more | 'He was very humble' - Presley Chweneyagae celebrated for his humility
Final goodbyes will be bid this morning at the Akasia community hall in Pretoria, and his final resting place will be at Zandfontein cemetery.
If he had the chance to have one last conversation with the legendary Oscar-award-winning actor, he says he'd sing his praises one more time and let him know how much he was appreciated.
'I would want him to know how much I respect and revere his work, how much of an inspiration he's been to me, how much me getting to know him has helped me grow, even in my craft, and also how much I appreciated him as a human being, because I feel like he is one of the most genuine souls I've ever met. There was even a time when I once said to him, I think that sometimes you are just too kind. You are too good.'
