Veteran actor Soli Philander dies at 65

Veteran South African actor Soli Philander has died at 65 years old.

Philander was best known for work on television shows including Let's Fix It, Vat n Kans and Liriekeraai.

His close friend, Brian Torien, said Philander was terminally ill and was discharged from Groote Schuur hospital on Tuesday.
 
He died surrounded by loved ones at home on Wednesday night.

"Soli was passion, pure passion, and his passion was mostly for people. And even though in the last phase, let's not mince words, in the last phase of his life, he wasn't as well off as when he was very well known on TV, he still found ways to give to those who needed it the most."

Torien remembers the beloved entertainer as a fearless champion with a desire to help others.

"What people don't realise is that a lot of doors were closed to him because he took on the establishment. And he did that to his own detriment, but he did it because he was a champion for the people who needed him the most. But he wasn't afraid to call things out the way he saw it."