'Actor who was able to find the truth of the moment': Veteran Jerry Mofokeng pays tribute to Presley Chweneyagae

702's John Perlman is joined by veteran South African actor Jerry Mofokeng.

South Africa and the performing arts world is mourning the death of award-winning actor Presley Chweneyagae at the age of 40.

Chweneyagae rose to international fame with his starring role in the 2005 film Tsotsi, which won South Africa’s first ever Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.

He made a lasting impression with his portrayal of young gangster who regains his humanity when he bonds with a stolen baby.

Chweneyagae's decades-long career spanned theatre, television, and film, with agency MLA highlighting his standout performances in Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom (2013) and The River (2018).

John Perlman talks to veteran actor Jerry Mofokeng, himself a star himself of Tsotsi.

Mofokeng remembers how the late casting agent Moonyeenn Lee went off the books to find young talent for the film.

"She even went to youth groups and so on because she wanted a particular quality and texture of actor, and that's how she came up with Terry Pheto and Presley Chweneyagae."

Jerry Mofokeng, Veteran Actor

"Getting on to that set I found a certain freshness, but a grounded freshness, because Aubrey Sekhabi (State Theatre district director) had done a very good job in training these young actors in Mafikeng in the theatre."

Jerry Mofokeng, Veteran Actor

Mofokeng acknowledges his prejudice towards the 'young tigers' who get onto the screen without cutting their teeth in theatre 'where you're naked and no\body says cut'.

"But the simplicity of Chweneyagae's acting is what got him the fame, the accolades... because often we say as directors 'don't act, let's find the truth of the moment' and THAT is what he was able to do."

Jerry Mofokeng, Veteran Actor

"And as much as he was guite into film and television, he kept coming back into the theatre to refresh the craft. For me, that's what made him to be the quality of actor that he was."

Jerry Mofokeng, Veteran Actor

Tributes on social media have described Presley Chweneyagae as a cinematic icson and as a giant in the world of entertainment.