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Acting

Presley Chweneyagae

Born 19 October 1984 · Soweto, Transvaal, South Africa · Died 27 May 2025

Presley Chweneyagae (October 19, 1984 — May 27, 2025) was a South African actor best known for his breakthrough lead role in Tsotsi (2005). Chweneyagae went into acting at an early age, taking acting classes from the age of 10. His first major role proved to be a history-making one, securing the part of David, aka Tsotsi, in Gavin Hood’s searing 2005 crime drama Tsotsi. In the film, set in a Johannesburg township, Chweneyagae plays a small-time hoodlum who steals a car, only to discover a baby in the back seat that causes him to change his ways. Tsotsi was a huge hit with critics, with praise especially for Chweneyagae’s performance. The film was nominated for a Golden Globe and an Academy Award for best foreign language film, becoming the first South African film to win an Oscar. The success of Tsotsi secured Chweneyagae's place as one of the best known South African actors.

Known for

Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom
Tsotsi
iNumber Number: Jozi Gold
Africa United
Avenged
More Than Just a Game
State of Violence
The River
Menda City
Zama Zama
The Number
iNumber Number: Jozi Gold
The Number
Avenged
Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom
Zama Zama
Africa United
State of Violence
Menda City
More Than Just a Game
Tsotsi
Presley Chweneyagae · Midrow