Industry colleagues relive last moments with Chweneyagae

On Sunday evening, actor Presley Chweneyagae was in high spirits, dancing and singing, telling his friends how happy he was to be seeing Sjava perform live at the State Theatre in Pretoria.

Two days later, SA woke up to news that the beloved actor, popularly known as Cobra or Cobrizi from his popular character on Mzansi Magic’s The River, had died. The cause of his death remains unknown.

Remembering those last moments with Chweneyagae, South African playwright and director Aubrey Sekhabi said midway through the concert, the actor would give them big hugs, saying he was overjoyed to be around his old friends.

"Neither of us knew that those would be his last hugs. We were together until the early hours of Sunday morning. He did not want to go home and insisted that we play him the song Ndoko Mane by Norman Chauke. He was okay. He was the Presley we knew,” said a heartbroken Sekhabi.

Sekhabi had known Presley since he was 10, when he joined the Mmabana Arts, Culture and Sport Foundation to study drama. Sekhabi was their teacher at the time. 

Their relationship and mentorship would last for decades until Sekhabi last saw him alive at the Sunday concert in Pretoria.

"We were happy, taking selfies, and I remember my last words to him were ‘don’t forget to send me our selfies’."

Chweneyagae never sent the selfies, and yesterday morning Sekhabi received news of his passing.

"After seeing missed calls from my brother, I called him back and he just bluntly told me that Presley is gone," said Sekhabi.

Chweneyagae’s childhood friend, actor Zenzo Ngqobe, said he was still waiting for someone to say his friend is not dead and it’s all a joke. 

Ngqobe grew up with Chweneyagae in Mahikeng, attended the same school, joined the drama school together and eventually moved to Pretoria together in 2003. They also got their big roles in the Tsotsi movie together, which went on to win an Oscar for best foreign film in 2006.

"I’m still confused. Despite his uncle sharing this news with me in the morning, I'm still confused and haven't been answering my phone. Even when you called, I was hoping it was someone telling me that it was all a joke and that Presley is still alive."

Ngqobe said Presley's visit to him for a full week at his Mahikeng home early this year was probably his way of saying goodbye because he never spent an entire week with him even though their homes are on the same street. 

"He would come and check up on me and leave but for some reason he was with me throughout that week and that was the last time we were together," Nqgobe said. "It's a really sad day, for the country as welI. I still can't believe it."

Sekhabi said he knew as soon as he started working with Chweneyagae when he was 10 that he was destined for great things.

"He could improvise, he had his own language, the one that he used on The River. It began long before he was on big screens. We were not surprised that he made it this big because he was good at it and he worked on it. He was special. He would change characters instantly."

Terry Pheto, Chweneyagae's co-star on Tsotsi, is one of the many people who sent their tributes to the late actor.

"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.

In 2024, Chweneyagae won the Golden Horn award for Best Actor in a Telenovela. The South African Film and Television Award said in a tribute that he was "a powerhouse performer whose talent left an indelible mark on our screens and in our hearts".

According to Mmabana Arts, Culture and Sport Foundation, Chweneyagae's passing is a profound loss not only to the foundation and the artistic community but to SA as a whole.

"Presley was not just a product of Mmabana — he was a beacon of what is possible when talent is discovered, supported, and allowed to flourish.

"We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, colleagues, and all those whose lives were touched by his artistry and spirit. Presley’s legacy will live on in the many lives he inspired, and his journey from Mmabana’s drama studios to the world stage will forever remain a proud chapter in our history," said the foundation.

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