South Africa is mourning the loss of a true icon, Presley Chweneyagae. DStv and Showmax are celebrating his life and legacy this week with a special lineup, featuring the Oscar-winning film Tsotsi, available on Showmax, M-Net, and Mzansi Magic. The tribute also includes the season finale of Cobrizi and a curated collection of his most unforgettable performances.
A Star Is Born: From Tsotsi to International Acclaim
The world first met a 20-year-old Presley Chweneyagae in 2006, when Tsotsi won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. Based on Athol Fugard’s novel, the film tells the story of a young boy struggling to survive alone in the Johannesburg townships. His life takes an unexpected turn when he discovers a baby in the back seat of a car he’s stolen.
Directed by Gavin Hood and produced by Peter Fudakowski, Tsotsi starred Presley alongside Terry Pheto, Kenneth Nkosi, Jerry Mofokeng, and Rapulana Seiphemo. The film’s journey to Oscar glory began with wins at the Edinburgh Film Festival and continued with the People’s Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival, often seen as a strong predictor for the Academy Awards.
At the 2006 Oscars, Will Smith announced Tsotsi as the winner. Presley’s powerful performance earned him international acclaim and the Black Movie Award for Outstanding Actor in a Leading Role, where he stood out in a category that included Denzel Washington, Cuba Gooding Jr., Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Tyrese Gibson.
A Legacy of Storytelling: Theatre, Television, and Film
Despite his international success, Presley felt most connected to the stories he wanted to tell in Mzansi (South Africa). His diverse career spanned theatre classics like Hamlet, Julius Caesar, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. He also co-authored the acclaimed play Relativity and directed the award-winning Cell No. 4, showcasing his depth and versatility as a storyteller.
His star turn as Thuso ‘Cobra’ Mokoena on the International Emmy-nominated The River brought him back to the forefront of national consciousness. His character made an indelible imprint on the national pop culture psyche with his unique style, swagger, and language, earning Presley two Golden Horns at the SAFTAs for ‘Best Actor – Telenovela’ in both 2019 and 2024. The spin-off series, Cobrizi, was a vehicle for Presley to express himself both as its star and as the show’s Executive Producer.
Honoring a Legend: Special Broadcasts
Barely two decades after that career-defining moment at the Academy Awards, Presley passed away at the age of just 40. This weekend, DStv and Showmax are proud to honor his life and work with special screenings of Tsotsi, the finale of his final performance, Cobrizi, and a special broadcast of some of his finest films on Mzansi Bioscope.
Tsotsi will be broadcast on M-Net (DStv Channel 101) at 9 PM on June 6 and will be available to stream on Showmax and DStv Stream. It will also air on Mzansi Magic on Saturday, June 7 at 8 PM and M-Net Movies Channel 4 on June 15 at 8 PM.
Mzansi Bioskop will be honoring his work with broadcasts of a series of his films, all at 9 PM:
Zama Zama (June 9)
State of Violence (June 10)
iNumber Number (June 11)
Tsotsi (June 11)
In Cobrizi, Presley captivated audiences in a spin-off series named for his character’s nickname from The River. This gritty, heart-wrenching, and ultimately hopeful tale of survival, love, and redemption showcased Presley’s heart, soul, and inventiveness. The series concludes on June 8 at 8 PM on Mzansi Magic.
Robala Ka Kagiso, Presley Chweneyagae, Cobrizi Wa Le Easy.