The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) extends its condolences to the family, friends, colleagues, and fans of Presley Chweneyagae, on his untimely passing. At just 40 years of age, Chweneyagae departs this life having left a significant mark on the South African cultural and creative landscape.
Born in Mahikeng, Presley Chweneyagae’s journey into the arts began at the age of 10, when he joined drama classes under the North West Arts Council. He would then go on to become one of the most celebrated actors in our nation’s history, an icon of township storytelling and Black artistic excellence.
His breakout role in Tsotsi, which won the 2005 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, catapulted him to global recognition. In this role, Chweneyagae not only stunned international audiences but he also placed South African cinema squarely on the global stage. For his work, he received the Golden Horn Award in 2006 and continued to receive accolades throughout his career, including an Outstanding Lead Actor award at the Royalty Soapie Awards in 2020.
His brilliance was, therefore, never limited to one role. In The River, he became a household name as Thuso “Cobra” Mokoena, a character that captured the tension, humour, and tragedy of modern township life. His last major television work, Cobrizi, a 13-part drama series launched in early 2025, reaffirmed his unmatched ability to breathe life into characters who reflect the complexity of our society.
Chweneyagae was a dynamic actor, and he appeared in many stage plays across his lifetime. He brought his talents to classic and contemporary productions from Hamlet and Julius Caesar to uniquely South African stories like Kalushi, Dikeledi, and Jack in the Box. As a writer and director, his work on Relativity and CELL NO 4 showcased his creative vision and deep commitment to African storytelling.
Chweneyagae was not just an actor, he was a cultural force. As a mentor to young artists, a fierce advocate for township youth, and a man whose own experiences informed his craft, he demonstrated that the arts are not just a mirror to society, but also a weapon for its transformation. May his soul rest in revolutionary peace.
The EFF supports land expropriation without compensation to address historical injustices.
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