Presley Chweneyagae: ‘He was every mother’s son, every girl’s funny lover, and everyone’s best friend’

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.

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