One of the three suspects wanted in connection with the killing of SA's box-office hit Matwetwe lead actor Sibusiso Khwinana was arrested on Friday night.

Police minister Bheki Cele made the announcement yesterday at the actor's funeral service in his hometown of Soshanguve, Tshwane, amid applause from hundreds of mourners. 

"We have arrested one [suspect] and he's appearing in court on Monday," said Cele during the emotionally charged service held at AFM Hilltop Restoration Centre. "We are chasing the other two."

The talented actor was fatally stabbed outside Sterland Cinema by muggers who wanted his cellphone after he attended the screening of Matwetwe last Friday.

Family representative John Malinda said they still hoped that the fallen actor would take his family to greater heights as he was the first among them to get on a Gautrain.

"I was shattered when I received a call at 2am ... I was told that Sibusiso had been killed. I immediately got on my way and swore that I was going to kill them [the attackers]," Malinda said.

The emotional uncle, who had a blue face towel in his hand to wipe tears, said he had earlier received a call from his sister with the good news that Khwinana was about to go to China. Unfortunately his life was cut short before the tour.

Gauteng premier David Makhura paid tribute to Khwinana and pleaded with the Matwetwe co-producers Kagiso Lediga and Nkosinathi "Black Coffee" Maphumulo to seek more raw talent and expose it to the nation.

"You [Matwetwe producers] needed Sibusiso to bring the greatness of Matwetwe out," said Makhura, before lamenting the actor's unexpected death. "Today is a sad day. Even though we believers believe that the Bible calms us down, this is still a sad day."

Lediga said he had been receiving global condolences but would rather pass them on to the Khwinana family.

"People say that I made him great but he was already great . When I found him at the State Theatre [in Pretoria] he was already changing other people's lives," Lediga said.

"It's crazy that a person can do so much in such a short space of time," he said, referring to Khwinana's CV that looks unbelievable for a 25-year-old.

Khwinana's co-lead Tebatso Mashishi cried throughout the service and was overcome by emotions when he stood next to the casket to say his final goodbye.

Actors Warren Masemola and Boikie Pholo also attended.

Khwinana was laid to rest at the Zandfontein Cemetery outside Pretoria.

He is survived by his parents and two sisters.