Presley Chweneyagae
South African actor (1984–2025)
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Presley Oageng Chweneyagae (19 October 1984 – 27 May 2025) was a South African actor.[2] He rose to prominence for his starring role in Tsotsi, which won the Academy Award for Foreign Language Film at the 78th Academy Awards.[3]
19 October 1984[1]
Presley Chweneyagae | |
|---|---|
| |
| Born | Presley Oageng Chweneyagae 19 October 1984[1] Mafikeng, Bophuthatswana (now North West Province) |
| Died | 27 May 2025 (aged 40) Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 2004 –2025 |
| Notable work | |
Life and career
Chweneyagae was named after his mother's favourite singer, Elvis Presley.[citation needed] Following Chweneyagae's debut feature film role in Tsotsi, he continued to work on both stage and screen. His latest films include More Than Just a Game, State of Violence, and Africa United. He also performed in a play about Solomon Mahlangu, a former MK cadre who was hanged at the age of 22.
On 27 May 2025, Chweneyagae died after experiencing breathing problems. He was 40.[4][5] The government of South Africa and the South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTA) paid tribute to him via social media after his death was announced, with SAFTA calling him a "legend of South African cinema" and the government saying that he was a "gifted storyteller whose talent lit up our screens and hearts".[6]
National lottery scandal
In 2023, Chweneyagae was implicated in the National Lottery scandal that was investigated by the Special Investigations Unit (SIU).[7] It was reported that over R67.5 million was paid to the Southern African Youth Movement (SAYM) which he was said to be the ambassador of.[8][9] The money was meant to uplift poor women in Marikana and surrounding areas in the North West province on a chicken farming project. Other stars that were implicated included kwaito singer Arthur Mafokate and actress Terry Pheto.[10][11] In December 2025,the SIU obtained a preservation order to freeze Chweneyagae's home and assets.[12]
Selected filmography
- Tsotsi (2005)
- iNumber Number (2013)
- Zama Zama (2013)
- The Number (2017)
- The River (2018)
