Skeem Saam actor Warren Masemola, addressing the funeral service of fellow-star Presley Chweneyagae in Pretoria on Saturday, pulled no punches in describing the Tsotsi actor’s alcohol problem.
Known as “Cobrizi” by friends and fans, Chweneyagae, 40, died on May 27 of natural causes.
“The problem is people put alcohol first before anything else,” Masemola said at the service at the Akasia Community Hall.
“I ask myself why people who used to hang around with Presley didn’t tell him to go home to his family...
“Society perpetuates that alcohol is the best thing that ever happened to mankind — it’s wrong. We found alcohol on this earth, and we’ll leave it here,” Masemola said.
“Presley and I used to fight a lot about everything — whether family, professionalism, or social stuff — but it’s painful that he’s no longer with us.”
A video clip of funeral-goers nodding their heads in agreement, while others applauded, quickly went viral on social media.
The packed service was led by actress Rami Chuene, who anchored a programme filled with memories, laughter, tears and a shared sense of loss.
Among the showbiz figures in attendance were Sindi Dlathu, Jerry Mofokeng, S’dumo Mtshali, Meshack Mavuso and Wright Ngubeni.
Actor Neo Ntlatleng shared his fondest memory of Chweneyagae on the set of the 2010 short film State of Violence.
“It was just an honour to be on a set with him,” he said. “I watched Tsotsi and its success a few years before. On the same set, Vusi Kunene and Fana Mokoena were there as well — it was a great experience, and Presley did his thing because he was the moral and emotional compass of the film. It was just an honour working with him. Sadly, he’s gone — we’ll miss him a lot.”
For many, Chweneyagae’s name is forever linked to his unforgettable portrayal of Tsotsi in the eponymous Oscar-winning film 20 years ago.
It was a performance that catapulted him onto the world stage and showcased the depth of his talent.
Ngubeni, in the Scandal! cast, said: “I met Presley 17 years ago — we were working on a production called More Than Just the Game. It was a movie commemorating fallen soldiers from the struggle in Robben Island, who happened to play by Fifa rules and who had a tournament inside the prison.
“Myself, Presley, and Tshepo Maseko spent about a month in that production. Presley even took me to Mahikeng in 2005.
“We had so many moments ... I don’t know what to say — I’m dumbstruck, I’m shocked. Right now, I’m thinking about our plans and God’s plans.”
Smoke & Mirrors actor Meshack Mavuso said: “Presley was my boy. I’ve known him even before the fame, when he was doing the stop crime festival in Mahikeng.”
Mavuso said he had last seen Chweneyagae at a concert by rapper Sjava at the State Theatre in Pretoria.
“I called him and told him to come through and join us at the concert, but he said he couldn’t because he was going to watch Mamelodi Sundowns at Loftus.
“He said we’d meet after the match, but he ended up coming to the concert, in a hoodie. When he arrived, he realised it was a formal and intimate event, so he asked me to lend him a jacket, which I did. We had fun there, and I didn’t think that would be my last time being with him. It’s really sad. I ask myself why it happened.”
Tsotsi executive producer Gavin Hood said at the memorial service on Thursday in Pretoria: “I feel a sickening emptiness. How is Presley gone?”
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