South Africa’s theatre and film circuits have taken a blow following the death of Sibusiso Khwinana, lead actor in the local box office, Matwetwe.
Reports of Khwinana’s death surfaced over the weekend after he was fatally stabbed in Pretoria on Friday night, 1 March, allegedly over a cell phone.
Khwinana played the role of Lefa in the coming-of-age film which Lefa and Papi, best friends and recent high school graduates, on the hustle of their young lives. Over the course of an action-packed New Year’s Eve in the iconic township of Atteridgeville, the boys try to score a huge deal, dodge a kingpin gangster and his violent minions, get the girl and ultimately save their lives in this hilarious escapade.
Matwetwe made an impressive R980 762 within its first three days at the local box office and was then placed in the fourth position at the South African box office for the weekend 25–27 January, positioning Khwinana and the young fresh cast as new and exciting talent to look out for.
Khwinana’s untimely death has sparked widespread frustration on social media as it raised concerns on the severity of crime in South Africa and how institutions such as the justice system and police deal with the crime surge.
Tributes pour in for the slain Matwetwe actor:
What a loss!!!!
How long will it take for us to realize we have a crime problem as country,how many people must die before we do something.Who must we trust to protect us and our Families,who must we vote for?#ripsbu pic.twitter.com/461PvICnZt— Black Coffee (@RealBlackCoffee) March 2, 2019
https://twitter.com/dflwits/status/1102138110450810880
May your spirit RIP brother.#SibusisoKhwinana
— Sonndi???????? (@Sonndi_M) March 3, 2019
Deeply saddened by the fact an upcoming star #SibusisoKhwinana was murdered for a damn phone!
— JupitersCock (@glenlveafc) March 2, 2019
To say we are Angry, Hurt and Devasted would be an understatement. There are no words. Today has been a difficult day! ???? #Sibusisokhwinana #WecelebrateYOU https://t.co/9nXDYqtvKZ
— Kiri Pink Nob Arts (@KiriPinkNob) March 2, 2019