South African actor Rapulana Seiphemo has shared emotional memories of his late friend Presley Chweneyagae, one year after his passing.
Speaking on Metro FM on Monday morning, 25 May 2026, Seiphemo reflected on the deep loss felt by the South African entertainment industry.
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Rapulana revealed that he first met Chweneyagae while filming Tsotsi, the Oscar-winning film that introduced Presley to global audiences.
“He was a young man and at the time I was established in the business that we do and funny enough, there was a project that I was running in Mahikeng and I spoke to him on a Thursday because he called me and then I called him back and we started speaking,” he said.
Their relationship eventually became much more than professional.
“He was a friend and when I say a friend I mean he was a brother. He was someone that we had great times together,” he said.
Rapulana had invited Presley to join him for an acting initiative training young people in Mahikeng and surrounding areas.
Presley passed away on 27 May 2025 at the age of 40 after reportedly experiencing breathing complications.
The actor was best known for his leading role in Tsotsi, which won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 2006. He also became a household name through his role as Cobra in The River.
Over the years, he appeared in numerous local productions including Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, iNumber Number, The Throne, and several theatre productions.
Reflecting on the moment he heard the news of Presley’s passing, Rapulana admitted he was left heartbroken.
ALSO READ | Presley Chweneyagae Biography: Net Worth, Age, Qualifications, Wife, Children, Car and Career
“When I heard the news, I thought man. It was tragic and it was a loss for the entire entertainment industry because he was still going to give us some more, I know,” he said.
Presley continues to be remembered as one of Mzansi’s most gifted actors.
