By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The legendary actor – best known for his roles in Isidingo, Uzalo, and Shaka iLembe – Don Eric Mlangeni-Nawa was laid to rest at Westpark Cemetery in Johannesburg.
The award-winning actor passed away at the age of 65 last week.
His wife Regina revealed that he died of prostate cancer.
Regina is grateful to those who supported her husband during his battle with prostate cancer.
“I have witnessed the journey of the deformation of his health. But I wasn’t alone; I was with government officials, politicians, artists, and ordinary masses. So I’m here to say thank you! My husband had prostate cancer. The first chemo was not successful. The second one became so aggressive to his body. Chemo resulted in him generating a lot of water in his body. He was in and out of the hospital to an extent, he was discharged so he could pass on at home.”
He has being hailed as an activist who fought to transform the acting industry with a career spanning over four decades.
As family and friends gathered to pay their respects to the Soweto-born thespian, it was his children’s heartfelt words that echoed through the Alberton Civic Theatre.
Speaking at his funeral, his five children paid tribute to their father, remembering him not only as a television legend, but as their mentor, friend, and guiding light.
“What a wonderful father he was. We will all have unique experiences that we had with him. He was a great mentor, a great music buddy, a great pool guy and he was a loving father. It’s painful to see him lie in a casket because the reality is now sinking in.”
They said the many life lessons he taught them will be carried in their hearts forever.
“I’m going to miss the lessons he taught me. I’ll always be thankful that he always made sure to tell me that he loved me.”
Industry colleagues paid heartfelt tributes, with actress Keketso Semoko, who played Mlangeni’s on-screen wife, Agnes Matabane, on SABC’s long-running soapie ‘Isidingo’, describing him as someone who was “adored by everyone.”
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has announced the launch of the Don Mlangeni-Nawa Mentorship Programme in honour of Nawa.
“We want to thank him for his teachings,” Lesufi says. “To honour his memory, we will launch the Don Mlangeni Mentorship Programme to support upcoming artists. This is our way of preserving his name, showing gratitude, and ensuring his impact continues. He truly deserves this and more.”
The programme aims to nurture new talent in the arts, keeping Mlangeni’s spirit of mentorship alive.
Born in Boksburg, East of Johannesburg, Nawa’s acting career began during the tumultuous 1980s — a time when South African theatre and television were both instruments of cultural resistance and vital platforms for expression.
He rose to national fame through his portrayal of Zebedee Matabane on the SABC 3 soapie Isidingo, a role he held for more than a decade. With his deep voice, magnetic screen presence and authentic depiction of a patriarch navigating the complexities of post-apartheid South Africa, Nawa became a fixture in millions of households.
Nawa also captivated audiences in a range of other popular television series, including the classic sitcom Sgudi ‘Snaysi, the supernatural drama Hlala Kwabafileyo, the royal-family themed telenovela The Throne and the riveting series Ubambo Lwami.
In recognition of his contribution to the entertainment industry, Nawa was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2018 Royalty Soapie Awards.