SA casting director and agent Moonyeenn Lee has died in Johannesburg due to complications caused by the coronavirus, her company announced on Sunday.

Lee, who was born in Johannesburg in 1944, died on Saturday.

“Moonyeenn helped shape the lives of many actors, directors and writers through her fierce honesty and passion. The SA film industry has lost an icon and a formidable champion of the arts. She will be sorely missed by us all,” Moonyeenn Lee Associates (MLA SA) said in a statement.

Her 47 years in the film industry earned her a formidable reputation.

MLA said Lee received the Lionel Ngakane Lifetime Achievement Award from the South African Film & Television Awards in 2017.

“A highlight in her illustrious career was when she became the first South African member of both the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which votes for the Oscars, and the Television Academy, which votes for the Emmys.”

MLA said she managed the casting of films such as The Bang Bang Club, Disgrace, the Oscar-winning Tsotsi, Fanie Fourie’s Lobola, the Oscar-nominated Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom, Hotel Rwanda and Blood Diamond; the Oscar-shortlisted Black Panther and Life, Above All.

She also managed the casting of Golden Globe nominees Machine Gun Preacher and Mandela and De Klerk; and Emmy-winning series like Homeland. Lee was nominated for two Emmy Awards for The Looming Tower and Roots.

She is survived by her daughter Cindy Lee, her son David Lee and her pets, Hitchcock, Eva and Spice.

Her mother was an actress, and her name comes from an MGM movie called Smilin’ Through which was awarded the Academy Award for best picture in 1932.

The Commercial Producers Association of South Africa said it was “very sad to learn of the passing of legendary agent agent and casting director, Moonyeenn Lee. A great loss to the South African film industry! Our condolences go to Cindy, David and family and to all at MLA SA.”

Penguin Films shared its deepest condolences to Lee’s family of Moonyeen Lee. The company’s Roberta Durrant posted on Facebook: “I got to know Moonyeen four decades ago when she first represented me as an actress and then worked closely with her ever since, as she represented the amazing talent in our industry.”

“She has launched so many careers and has been a guiding light for our industry, not only locally, but internationally as well. Moonyeen will be deeply missed by all.”

Actress Thandiwe Gaobepe shared, “Wow, so very sorry to her loved ones for this great loss. She auditioned me once upon a time and I remember how excited I was to be interviewed by such a legend in her field. She lived such a remarkable life and built such a grand legacy. May her soul rest in peace.”

Associate editor at Daily Maverick Brooks Spector said: “A major force and now a major loss”.

In an interview with the Sunday Times in 2016, she said she felt she has been lucky to work with top directors and scriptwriters.

“A standout movie for me was Oliver Schmitz’s Life, Above All. I said to Oliver, you go and find the location and I will find the children,” she said.

She was regarded as the actor’s friend and remained fiercely loyal to South African actors who she felt sometimes get a raw deal.

Lee represented some of South Africa’s best-known actors through her company MLA.

In 2003, she was nominated to the National Executive Committee of the Independent Producer’s Organisation and to the Film Board of Create South Africa. In the same year, she formed Khulisa Productions to make South African films.

The first film produced by Khulisa was Promised Land.

Her company said she would travel around the world introducing producers and directors to South African actors.

“She would always do everything in her power to convince them to rather cast local actors over foreign actors. Her dedication eventually paid off as many international productions trusted her to cast locally.”

MLA said she cared deeply for actors and was a fearless defender of their rights. It said work was central in her life.

“Her actors were her family. The directors and producers she worked with were all her friends.”

Sjava had the Twitter streets side-eying him when he posted about having enjoyed the dinner cooked by the hands of his brother’s wife. The rapper thanked the family for the meal that he enjoyed on Twitter and of course, the tweeps were ready with their questions.
The first was why was the musician tweeting about the dinner in the AMs, raising the question when did the dinner end. Sjava addressed the matter with a spicy comeback, explaining that tweeting about the dinner in the AMs does not mean the dinner ended a few minutes ago.

However, another question that did not get the attention nor the answer that it needed was where is Sjava’s wife when he is having dinner cooked by other people’s wives. We have not seen the wife since she rocked up at his concert and automatically turned Lady Zamar into side-chick.

It seems late gospel music sensation Sfiso Ncwane’s soul is possibly years away from finally resting in peace.In the latest drama around the musician’s death, his widow Ayanda Ncwane is at the centre of a legal battle concerning Sfiso’s “fraudulent” will.

Legal eagle Bongiwe Nene, who represents Sfiso’s kids Sduduzo Dlamini and Snqobile Mzelemu, told the SunTeam she was preparing a case that might see Ayanda taken to court for signing the late gospel star’s last will and testimony.

“It’s also unlikely that Ayanda’s lawyer, Nhlanhla Mnculwane, never saw this. I say this because he’s been dealing with Sfiso’s file for years, so he should have picked up this discrepancy.

“As a lawyer, he should have satisfied himself that Sfiso’s will met all requirements.“At this point, we’re confident we have a good case.”

But Ayanda’s legal representative said he wasn’t aware his client signed her husband’s will. Insisted Nhlanhla: “I don’t know what to say because I wasn’t aware of this. Actually, I never checked the signatures and didn’t know Ayanda’s signature was on the will.

“As a lawyer, I know that a person can’t sign a will where she or he is also the beneficiary.“It’s unlawful and disqualifies the person from benefitting.”

According to Nhlanhla, Ayanda asked him to help in the distribution of the late Sfiso’s estate.“At that time, the will was already drawn up and I never suspected anything wrong,” Nhlanhla said.

“I’ve been working on Sfiso’s file since 2018, but never scrutinised the signatures.

“I also know Sfiso’s lawyer, Dr Mkhuseli Vimba, prepared Sfiso’s will.

“So, it’s not true that he prepared his own will. I say this because when that lawyer [Vimba] removed himself as the executor, we (myself and Ayanda) personally fetched the will from Vimba’s house.

“This was in 2018. He said he couldn’t execute his duties anymore, as he was suddenly busy.”Asked about thenon-disclosure of Sfiso’s assets, he said: “I don’t know Sfiso’s assets. Therefore, I relied on Ayanda to be honest and truthful.

“Otherwise, I’d expected her to disclose all the assets. But if she decided to hide them, I wouldn’t know unless someone disputes our case. For now, we’ll wait for evidence to prove all these allegations.”

Asked for comment, Mkhuseli, said he never prepared Sfiso’s will.

Lasizwe Dambuza took to Twitter to share how he is getting ready to for his lockdown birthday party. The popular YouTuber is officially turning 22 years old today, and could not find a better way to spend his birthday than on social media.So far we have seen him get ready, and wish himself a happy birthday. The baby boy is currently spoiling himself with a spa date, where is he also letting everyone know that today is his birthday.His fans have also joined in on the celebrations as they flooded the timeline with well-wishes under the hashtag, #HappyBirthdayLasizwe

For many depression is taboo and many people who suffer from it rarely open up. In the same sense, miscarriages also fall under that same category and some women feel stigmatized when they open up, especially on social media

However, few courageous celebs use their platform for the greater good and talk about their struggles openly.

Detailing her healing journey, she took to Instagram and posted a picture of her husband Tall Ass Mo and their daughter.

“It’s crazy how someone’s words can wound your soul. I think about those constant insults from my in-laws and struggling to heal from previous miscarriages was the one thing that left me miserable and living because of the love my husband has shown me

Mome Mahlangu has recently talked about her struggles with her in-laws, depression and miscarriages. Through it all, her husband’s love has helped deal with all those troubles.