Celeb Twitter Round-Up: South Africans Mourn Passing of Nandi Nyembe

When it comes to South African celebs, they’re like the stars in the sky: you never truly appreciate their glowing presence until they fade away. That’s the general mood right now after Mzansi lost one of its beloved acting icons, Nandi Nyembe.

For decades, Nyembe has graced our television screens in a variety of roles, most famously as Sister Lizzie in “Soul City”, Lily in “Yizo Yizo” and Gogo Mkhithi in “Isibaya.” She most recently starred as Gogo Twala in the 2020 Netflix series, “How to Ruin Christmas.”

On Saturday, 23 August, a joint statement was released by Nyembe’s family and the National Department of Sport, Arts and Culture:

“It is with profound sorrow that the Nyembe family, together with the National Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, announce the passing of one of South Africa’s most treasured icons of the arts, Mam’ Nandi Nyembe.

“Mam’ Nandi was far more than an actress; she was the very soul of South African storytelling. A teacher, a guide and a mother to this nation, she carried our struggles, our laughter and our victories through every performance with truth, dignity and heart. Through her life and work, she gave our people pride and our stories, a purpose.”

Nyembe had just celebrated her 75th birthday four days before her passing. Although the cause of death has yet to be revealed, she had been battling poor health for quite some time, to the point that she needed a wheelchair.

Additionally, she had been struggling with her personal finances – including paying for her medical bills – as a result of exhausting her savings on her son’s medical treatments. This prompted an outpouring of donations from the public, despite Nyembe’s insistence that she was willing to work for a paycheck.

Once the news of her passing reached their ears, heartbroken fans took to Twitter/X to pay tribute to Nyembe:

Details regarding Nyembe’s funeral or memorial service have yet to be disclosed.

In the meantime, Nyembe’s death has certainly filled us with sadness, as well as opened our eyes to the unfortunate circumstances in which she – as well as other iconic thespians who have dedicated themselves to the art of acting – found herself. It serves as a grim reminder that SA’s entertainment industry has a long way to go in providing for local artists, and that we, as fans, ought to show love and appreciation for our faves wherever we can, not just when their time runs out.

May you rest in peace and power, Mam’ Nandi Nyembe!

Image Credit: Source