By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The award-winning actor Presley Chweneyagae was celebrated in an emotional memorial held in his hometown of Mahikeng, North West.
The award-winning actor passed away last week on Tuesday at the age of 40.
Family spokesperson Mzwakhe Sigudla spoke to the media outside his home in Pretoria after his passing last week.
“We want to set the record straight that it was a natural death, as far as we are concerned. He had a complication related to breathing which occurred abruptly.”
“Paramedics were called to the house and attended to him. We appreciate the professional manner in which the paramedics handled the situation, but unfortunately, he didn’t make it,” Sigudla said.
This is the first of two memorial services expected this week.
Mahikeng Municipality’s executive mayor, Councillor Tshepiso Mphehlo, took the podium and delivered a moving tribute on Chweneyagae’s legacy.
He referred to Chweneyagae as one of Mahikeng’s most “outstanding sons”, recalling how Chweneyagae’s rise to fame following his Oscar win for “Tsotsi” in 2006 instilled hope in many young people in the area.
“Like many of us here, I came to know Presley when he rose to stardom in 2006 after winning the Oscar for ‘Tsotsi’. When it was released, there was so much talk and controversy around the movie, at least for the reason that there were two versions of how the movie ends: Does Tsotsi end up getting shot and killed by the police, or does he get arrested?
“So many of us watched the movie to see how it ends.
“It was during this time that we, as youngsters growing up in Mahikeng, had hoped for a better life because our dusty streets produced an international movie star … That period was the pinnacle for the arts and culture in Mahikeng,” said Mphehlo.
Legendary Actor Israel Matseke-Zulu, best known for his roles in “Gaz’lam”, “Gomora” and “Tsotsi”, offered a song followed by a poignant speech.
“Thanks for the opportunity to be recognised as one of the friends of Presley Chweneyagae. We’ve done everything with him … He proved that where you come from doesn’t determine your destination.
“You can come from the west and become the greatest. No one can replace him, but we can follow in his legacy. There is so much talent here, but it needs to be nurtured and promoted. To be in Hollywood is not to be in heaven.
“Yes, we won the Oscar, but it doesn’t make you a millionaire. Unfortunately, our country is not like America. Let’s make the situation better. Let’s recognise each other while we are still alive. Let’s change rules, let’s change the game,” he ended.
In another heartfelt tribute, Friend and former Generations actor Rantebeng Makapan was one of the speakers on the day.
Referring to Chweneyagae by his local nickname, Tobetsa, Makapan said the late actor was a people’s person.
“Tobetsa was able to gather people. Tobetsa was a people’s person. There are many people who wanted to get this opportunity to speak about their experience with Tobetsa, but did not have the opportunity to come here.
“It’s not that you were undermined [or] ignored…it’s just that the programme was set the way it was. I wasn’t even supposed to be standing here, the person who was meant to stand here was unable to attend,” said Makapan.
Chenweyagae’s next memorial service will be held on Thursday, June 5, at the State Theatre in Tshwane at 11am.His funeral will take place on Saturday, June 7, at Akasia Community Hall, Gauteng.