This year, the South African entertainment industry has suffered tremendous losses with the passing of many actors, directors, television and theatre creatives, writers and musicians.

 

Some of us might have had the privilege of seeing them in real and maybe even share a picture with them. To most of us we might have only saw them on our screens, but it makes no difference their deaths have impacted us in a way we feel like we knew them. Seeing them on our screens for all these years did make them part of our lives. That is why their deaths impacted us the way it did.

As we bid farewell to the year 2021, we remember some of the influential stars whose talent impacted many people’s lives and whose untimely deaths shook Mzansi.

Here They Are…

Shona Ferguson

Shona Ferguson was born on April 30, 1974 in Gaborone, Botswana. He was a producer and actor, known for The River (2018), The Gift (2014) and Step Up to a Start Up (2014). He was married to Connie Ferguson.

Shona sadly died from Covid-19 related complications this year

Menzi Ngubane

Menzi Ngubane was born on 28 August 1964 he was a South African actor, best known for playing the role of Sibusiso Dlomo in the soap opera Generations from 2003 to 2014. Ngubane played numerous roles on other South African TV shows, including Yizo Yizo, Ashes to Ashes, Gold Diggers, and Heist. In 2016, he joined the cast of the television drama series Isibaya, playing a taxi firm manager with a dubious past.

Ngubane died from a stroke on 13 March 2021, aged 56.bThree days after his death, his father Ndodeni Ngubane also passed away.

Lindiwe Ndlovu

Lindiwe Thembekani “Thembeka” Ndlovu (8 January 1977 – 11 January 2021) was a South African actress. She is best known for the roles in the films Little One (2013), Safari (2013) and Winnie Mandela (2011).

She died on 11 January 2021 at the age of 44. According to her longtime agent, Lynne Higgins of Gaenor Artiste Management, Ndlovu died in her sleep on the morning due to health complications such as high blood pressure.

Noxolo Maqashalala

Noxee Maqashalala was a South African actress best known for her role as Viwe in the first three seasons of the SABC1 youth drama series Tsha Tsha, from 2003 to 2005. She starred as Mandisa in the SABC1 drama series Intersexions, in 2010.

The family has also revealed that the post mortem results reaffirmed that her cause of death was natural, and nothing else.

Nokuzola Mlengana

Nokuzola Elizabeth Mlengana, popularly known as Sis Ouma, was a South African actress. She is best known for the role in the soap opera Skeem Saam.

Nokuzola Mlengana’s official cause of death has been revealed. According to the ‘Skeem Saam’ star’s family, she died from pneumonia.

Themsie Times