Latest news with #Cobrizi
The Herald
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Herald
'He was more than what the cameras saw': touching moments from Presley Chweneyagae's memorial
Oros Mampofu's wife Bianca Carmichael, who was Presley's sister-in-law, delivered a moving tribute. 'I stand before you today with a heart full of sorrow, gratitude and respect. I speak on behalf of Presley's beloved wife and her entire Kirk family. Presley was not just a husband, a son-in-law or a brother-in-law — he was a force, a light. A presence so strong that you always knew when he entered the room. Not because he demanded attention but because he carried such quiet power, charm and grace. 'To the world, he was Presley Chweneyagae the actor, the artist, the man whose talent moved many nations from his unforgettable role in Tsotsi , to his role as the opulent Cobrizi. He gave voice to stories that needed to be told. 'But to us, he was more than what the cameras captured. He was a protector, a husband who loved deeply, a father who was gentle and proud, a brother-in-law who made us proud. 'It is hard to imagine a world without his laughter, his sharp wit or his comforting presence. But as we grieve, we also celebrate the legacy he leaves behind, not only in film and television but in the lives he touched, the hearts he warmed and the inspiration he sparked in the next generation of artists.'
The Citizen
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
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
The South African
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The South African
Terry Pheto breaks her silence on Presley Chweneyagae's passing
Actress Terry Pheto has broken her silence following the passing of multi-award-winning actor Presley Chweneyagae. According to reports, the Cobrizi actor passed away on Tuesday morning, though his cause of death has not yet been confirmed. Actress Terry Pheto returned to social media after a three-year break to share a heartfelt tribute to Chweneyagae following his sudden passing. The pair starred together in the Oscar-winning film Tsotsi , which marked South Africa's first Academy Award win. Expressing her heartbreak and shock, she wrote: '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. May his soul rest in peace,' she wrote. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Terry Pheto (@terrypheto) The passing of the seasoned actor has sent shockwaves across Mzansi, and tributes haven't stopped pouring in since his management company, MLA, shared the heartbreaking news. 'It is with deep sorrow that we confirm the untimely passing of one of South Africa's most talented and beloved actors, Presley Chweneyagae, at the age of 40,' the statement reads. 'Presley was a longtime and cherished member of the MLA family — more than just a client, he was a friend, a mentor to many, and a beacon of creativity and perseverance. His passion for empowering the next generation of artists will forever be a key part of his legacy,' the statement continues. At this stage, details surrounding the actor's cause of death have yet to be revealed. Meanwhile, details of his memorial and funeral services will be announced in due course. WHAT SPECIAL MOMENTS DO YOU REMEMBER MOST ABOUT PRESLEY? 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.
The Citizen
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
‘Working with Presley and keeping a straight face is almost impossible' — industry mourns Chweneyagae
His performances on The River made him more endearing to Mzansi as the hilarious older brother with an English twang. Presley Chweneyagae, who was loved by many fans, died at the age of 40. Picture: @BafanaSurprise/X In an interview four years ago, renowned actor Presley Chweneyagae said he would retire at 40. 'I'll quit acting when I turn 40, and I won't be involved in the entertainment industry as I'll focus on different work and environment,' Chweneyagae told Daily Sun in 2021. However, those words took on new meaning on Tuesday morning as South Africa woke up to the news of the actor's demise at 40. His management team, MLA, confirmed his passing. '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. MLA described Chweneyagae as more than a client to them. 'He was a friend, a mentor to many, a beacon of creativity and perseverance. His passion for empowering the next generation of artists will remain an integral part of his legacy.' His management added that details regarding memorial services will be shared in due course. ALSO READ: 'The River' and 'Tsotsi' star Presley Chweneyagae dies at 40 Rest in peace Cobra Alongside the 'RIP Presley Chweneyagae' hashtag that trended on Tuesday morning, the Cobra hashtag was also atop the trending list on X. South Africans revered and appreciated Chweneyagae's acting from the moment the Oscar-winning film Tsotsi took over the world. However, in recent years, his performances on The River made him more endearing to Mzansi as the hilarious older brother with an English twang. In order to honour Cobra and find healing in losing him, let's make a thread of his best moments on TV as our entertainer. We lost a legend here, Cobra will forever be remembered as a remarkable actor 😭! #RIPPresleyChweneyagae — Slaughter. (@BafanaSurprise) May 27, 2025 His performances were so good that a spin-off of The River, centred on Chweneyagae's character, Cobra, was launched. Titled Cobrizi, the 13-episode series premiered in March. 'Working with Presley and keeping a straight face is almost impossible,' Ishmael Songo, Presley's co-actor on Cobrizi, told The Citizen. Songo, who plays the role of Peanut on Cobrizi, said Chweneyagae was good at improvisation. 'You never know which way he will tell a story in the most comedic way. His amount of talent to improvise in any given situation is impeccable,' shared Songo. Songo also worked with Chweneyagae on Tsotsi in 2003 and describes their working together on Cobrizi as their last dance. 'I was privileged to work with him in the year 2024 when we shared a stage again and shot Cobrizi. Little did I know that I'm saying goodbye to a legend that we had our last dance with. May his soul rest in peace.' ALSO READ: Papgeld: Potential deadbeat Presley Chweneyagae leaves 'The River' fans disappointed A giant of South African film Actress Sana Mchunu, who worked with Chweneyagae on The River, briefly took The Citizen's call while on set. 'I'm still in a state of shock, I don't know what happened. I'm on set…I'm just in shock,' Mchunu told The Citizen. Our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the talented Don Presley Chweneyagae. One of our own ❤️💔. Rest in Power 🕊️.#RIPPresleyChweneyagae — NetflixSA (@NetflixSA) May 27, 2025 ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula also tweeted his homage to the actor, describing Chweneyagae as a giant of South African film. 'Heartbroken to hear of the passing of Presley Chweneyagae. A true giant of South African film and theatre, his legacy in Tsotsi, The River, and beyond will live on. Condolences to his family, friends, and all who were touched by his brilliance,' the politician wrote. 🕊️ Rest in Power, Presley Chweneyagae A true legend of South African cinema. It is with deep sadness that we mourn the passing of Presley Chweneyagae — a powerhouse performer whose talent left an indelible mark on our screens and in our hearts.#RIPPresleyChweneyagae#SAFTAs — South African Film & Television Awards #SAFTAs (@SAFTAs_1) May 27, 2025 As recent as last year, Chweneyagae won a South African Film and Television Awards (Safta) for his performance on The River as Cobra. 'It is with deep sadness that we mourn the passing of Presley Chweneyagae — a powerhouse performer whose talent left an indelible mark on our screens and in our hearts,' the Safta wrote on their X account. NOW READ: 'Tsotsi' star Presley Chweneyagae implicated in dodgy lottery grant
