RIP Presley Chweneyagae: ‘Cobrizi’ Fans Stunned as Life Imitates Art Following Actor’s Sudden Death
Award-Winning Actor Presley Chweneyagae Passes Away at 40
South Africa mourns the sudden death of beloved actor Presley Chweneyagae, best known for his role as Thuso “Cobra” Mokoena in The River and its spin-off Cobrizi. The award-winning star passed away on Tuesday, 27 May, at the age of 40—coincidentally fulfilling his earlier statement about retiring from acting at that age.
Art Imitates Life in Tragic Twist
Days before his passing, a Cobrizi episode aired where Chweneyagae’s character emotionally declared he would “soon join his parents in heaven.” Fans shared the poignant clip online, with many noting the eerie parallel to real life.
Entertainment commentator Jabulani MacDonald paid tribute on X, highlighting that Chweneyagae’s death came shortly after his on-screen father, Don Mlangeni Nawa (who played Thato Mokoena), passed away in April.
Fans React to Heartbreaking Coincidence
Social media erupted with tributes, as viewers reflected on the tragic foreshadowing:
Don Mlangeni Nawa and Presley Chweneyagae passed away within a short space of time. 💔😔 They also portrayed father and son on The River.
— Jabulani Macdonald ⚡️ (@Jabu_Macdonald) May 27, 2025
This is a huge loss for the film and television industry 💔🙏🏽 Rest in Peace to the legends. #RIPPresleyCheweneyaage pic.twitter.com/r0uiew0Fzj
- “On Sunday’s episode, he said he wanted to join his parents… now this 😢” – @bautecarlosbau1
- “Art imitates life—stranger than fiction.” – @alista_mapa
- “He was just at their grave in the show… this is heartbreaking.” – @Daystar1447509
Controversies & Legacy
While Chweneyagae’s career was celebrated, he faced scandals, including a 2023 child maintenance case and alleged involvement in a R15 million SIU investigation. Despite these, fans remembered him for his iconic roles and contributions to South African television.
Source: Briefly News