PICS: Slain ‘Matwetwe’ star remembered at service as cops hunt killers

Police are hot on the heels of the killers of Matwetwe star Sibusiso Khwinana, saying three of the men involved have been identified and will soon be arrested.

The slain 25-year-old Soshanguve actor was remembered in a sombre yet celebratory memorial service in Soshanguve yesterday. The tributes were emotional, with many remembering him as a humble, respectable and inspiring individual.

Khwinana, who played the leading role of Lefa in the popular film, lost his life last Friday when he was stabbed to death for his cellphone outside a cinema in Sunnyside. He was waiting for an Uber taxi with co-star Tebatso Mashishi when they were accosted.

Nelson and Christina Khwinana, parents of actor Sibusiso Khwinana who was stabbed to death when robbed of his cellphone, are seen during a memorial service held for him in Soshanguve, 7 March 2019, Pretoria. Picture: Jacques Nelles

The young film star and father of a four-year-old daughter was stabbed to death while wrestling with the attackers for his cellphone.

While the country at large mourned his untimely death, Gauteng MEC of community safety Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane told the hundreds of mourners the police were on the tails of the killers.

Family and friends of actor Sibusiso Khwinana who was stabbed to death when robbed of his cellphone are seen during a memorial service held for him in Soshanguve, 7 March 2019, Pretoria. Picture: Jacques Nelles

“To those who killed our hero, you have not only hurt the Khwinana family, but also South African citizens.

“I promise we won’t rest until the perpetrators are all behind bars. We are confident that the three guys involved will be arrested,” the MEC said.

Family and friends of actor Sibusiso Khwinana who was stabbed to death when robbed of his cellphone are seen during a memorial service held for him in Soshanguve, 7 March 2019, Pretoria. Picture: Jacques Nelles

Friends, family and the film industry remembered Khwinana for having established a number of film and arts production companies and as an inspiration and mentor for many youths and others in his community.

Many mourners broke down in grief trying to express their last memories of him, with one friend recalling Khwinana’s favourite words: “Do good to everyone because you don’t know when you or they are going to die.”

Family and friends of actor Sibusiso Khwinana are seen during a memorial service held for him in Soshanguve, 7 March 2019, Pretoria. Picture: Jacques Nelles

Matwetwe creator and comedian Kagiso Lediga described Khwinana as “the best in the world”.

“If given the chance to go on in the world, forget the South African Film and Television Awards, we would have seen him at the Oscars and the Emmys. If we took lessons from him [in humanity] we would have less people doing these acts [of murder],” Lediga said.

Kagiso Lediga is seen during a memorial service held for actor Sibusiso Khwinana in Soshanguve, 7 March 2019, Pretoria. Picture: Jacques Nelles

A fellow co-actor in the film, Tshepo “Bugzito” Tshabalala, said he had been so impressed by his colleague that he pushed him to get an agent. “I told him he is amazing and what he did in Matwetwe was special, and he should get an agent. My agent got an e-mail from him a few weeks ago and was ready to sign him.”

Khwinana will be laid to rest on Saturday at the Zandfontein Cemetery in Pretoria.

– rorisangk@citizen.co.za

For more news your way, download The Citizen’s app for iOS and Android.