Farewell to Presley Chweneyagae: Celebrating a life of art, passion and purpose

Akasia Community Hall in Pretoria North was a scene of both sorrow and celebration this weekend as friends, family, fans, and fellow actors gathered to bid a heartfelt farewell to veteran actor Presley Chweneyagae.

Chweneyagae, best known for his breakout role in the Oscar-winning film Tsotsi and more recently as Cobra in The River, passed away last month on May 27. He was laid to rest yesterday, June 7. The cause of death has not yet been confirmed.

The memorial was attended by scores of prominent figures in the entertainment industry, all united in honouring a man whose presence on screen and in life left an indelible mark.

A beloved colleague and friend

Zenzo Ngqobe, who starred alongside Chweneyagae in The River, paid tribute to his former co-star, describing him as a master of his craft.

“Presley didn’t just act—he became the character. He had his own vocabulary that we all picked up on set. Words like ‘bev’ for alcohol and ‘marvelous’ became part of our everyday speech because of him,” Ngqobe said.

Award-winning actor Warren Masemola also delivered an emotional message, recalling the depth of their relationship.
“We fought a lot—because I loved him. Real friendships are tested through conflict,” Masemola said. “We fought about love, work, time, and professionalism. But Masemola always stood firm on one thing: Strata le byala ga se maemo (street life and alcohol is not something to be proud of).”

A Champion of the Arts

More than an actor, Presley was a mentor, philanthropist, and activist in the arts. Through the Presley Chweneyagae Foundation, he dedicated himself to nurturing young talent and opening doors for aspiring actors from disadvantaged communities.

He was also the face of the Mysol Foundation, which helped school learners transition into tertiary education.

“He lived to give. He was passionate about creating platforms for others to shine,” said one of the foundation’s coordinators.

A born entertainer

His brother remembered Presley as a natural-born performer.
“As a child, he would enter community talent shows not to win, but simply to entertain the crowd. That’s who he was.”

Chweneyagae began performing in community theatre at the age of 10 and fell in love with storytelling. His talent led him to the lead role in Tsotsi (2005), which won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 2006. The performance catapulted him to international fame.

He later cemented his legacy in local television as Thuso “Cobra” Mokoena in The River, a role that earned him acclaim for its authenticity and humour.

Presley is survived by his wife and three sons. His father-in-law described him as a man who ran “a good race” from the dusty streets of Mahikeng to the world stage.