South African Star Presley Chweneyagae, Known for ‘Tsotsi,’ Dies at 40

Jephthah Nana Adjei Osei - Mensah
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South African Star Presley Chweneyagae, Known for ‘Tsotsi,’ Dies at 40
Presley Chweneyagae
The South African entertainment world is reeling from the loss of Presley Chweneyagae, the beloved actor who shot to global fame for his raw, gripping role in the 2005 Oscar-winning film Tsotsi. Chweneyagae passed away on Tuesday at the age of 40, leaving behind a legacy that lit up screens and stages alike. His family told SABC News that he died of natural causes after struggling to breathe, with paramedics unable to save him. No foul play is suspected.

Born in Mafikeng on October 19, 1984, Chweneyagae started acting at 10, joining drama classes at the North West Arts Council. His big break came as the lead in Tsotsi, a gut-punch of a film based on Athol Fugard’s novel and directed by Gavin Hood. Playing a young Johannesburg thug whose life changes after finding a baby in a stolen car, Chweneyagae’s performance was a knockout, earning him a Black Movie Award for Outstanding Actor and helping the film snag South Africa’s first-ever Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 2006. Fans and critics couldn’t stop talking about his ability to bring heart and grit to the role.
“Presley was a force,” said Nina Morris Lee, CEO of his agency, MLA, in a statement. “He wasn’t just a client—he was a friend, a mentor, and a beacon of creativity who inspired the next generation of artists.” The agency confirmed his passing but didn’t share further details on the cause.
Chweneyagae’s career spanned three decades, from theater to TV to film. He became a household name in South Africa as Cobra in the hit telenovela The River, a role that won him a South African Film and Television Award (SAFTA) in 2019. He carried that character into the 2025 spinoff Cobrizzi, keeping fans glued to their screens. He also popped up in Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom (2013) and wowed audiences in stage productions like the internationally praised play Relativity, which he co-wrote with Paul Grootboom.
The tributes are pouring in. The South African government posted on X, calling him a “gifted storyteller whose talent lit up our screens and hearts.” SAFTA echoed the sentiment, hailing him as a “true legend of South African cinema” and adding, “Rest in Power.” ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula called him a “giant of South African film and theater,” saying his work in Tsotsi and The River would live on. Chweneyagae’s work in everything from MTN ads to The National Land Act Exhibition showed his range, but it was his ability to connect with audiences that made him unforgettable.
He leaves behind a wife, children, and a grieving industry. As South Africa mourns, his stories—on screen, on stage, and in the hearts of those who knew him—will keep his light burning.

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