Renowned South African actor Presley Chweneyagae, best known for his breakout role in the Oscar-winning film *Tsotsi*, has been laid to rest at Zandfontein Cemetery in Pretoria. The 40-year-old passed away at his home last week, leaving behind a legacy marked by passion, talent, and deep emotional resonance.
His funeral took place at Akasia Hall in northern Pretoria, where family, friends, colleagues, and fans gathered to bid an emotional farewell. Among those who paid tribute was his eldest son, Siyabulela Chweneyagae, who remembered his father as a charismatic, fun-loving, and devoted family man.
Siyabulela described the bittersweet experience of sharing his father with the world. Despite Presley’s demanding career, he was always present in his children’s lives—planning boys’ trips, enjoying dinner dates, and sharing his love for music. “Seeing my dad on TV made me proud. He showed me that no matter your background, with determination, you can make it,” Siyabulela shared. He added that through his father’s work, people found joy and healing, a testament to Presley’s impact as an artist.
Deputy Minister of Arts and Culture, Peace Mabe, also honoured Chweneyagae’s contributions to the arts. She described him as a “towering figure” whose storytelling gave South Africans a mirror to see themselves. Known affectionately as “Wale Eazy,” she praised his charm, humour, and poetic wit, saying, “We will remember Cobrizi Mokwepa as a star of the silver screen… His talents will continue to shine like a guiding light.”
The heartfelt tributes continued with creative producer and screenwriter Bonga Vilakazi, who called Chweneyagae a “once-in-a-lifetime storyteller.” Vilakazi acknowledged the actor’s emotional depth and complexity, saying Presley was both light and shadow—a man who wrestled with life’s challenges but still chose to give joy through his art.
“In preparing for today, I struggled to find the words. How do you sum up someone like Presley? He was layered, a man of deep feeling and contradictions,” Vilakazi reflected. “It takes rare strength to carry both brilliance and burden while continuing to give. Presley did that for us.”
Chweneyagae’s career was forever defined by *Tsotsi*, the 2005 film that earned global acclaim and brought South African cinema into the spotlight. But beyond that, he was a passionate performer, mentor, and father whose work and spirit touched many.
As the final procession made its way to Zandfontein Cemetery, there was a shared sense of loss, but also gratitude. Presley Chweneyagae may have passed, but his light continues to shine through his roles, his family, and the lives he changed through his craft.
May his soul rest in peace.
