President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed his sadness following the sudden death of veteran stage and screen actress Shaleen Surtie-Richards on Monday, June 7.
Surtie-Richards passed away in Cape Town at the age of 66. She was in the city to film the popular KykNet series Arendsvlei.
In a statement via the Presidency’s official Twitter account, Ramaphosa paid tribute to the educator-turned-actress, describing Surtie-Richards as a household performer whose distinctive energy, artistic versatility and humility touched generations of South Africans for more than three decades.
“On stage and screen, Shaleen Surtie-Richards held a mirror to our unjust past and gave us hope for our future as a nation.
“May her soul rest in peace,” Ramaphosa said.
President @CyrilRamaphosa mourns passing of veteran performer Shaleen Surtie-Richards https://t.co/qWMWoqlUdR pic.twitter.com/Fx4jENvAki
— Presidency | South Africa ?? (@PresidencyZA) June 7, 2021
Meanwhile, family spokesperson, Alister Izobel said while Surtie-Richards’ passing was sad, the industry also now had the opportunity to celebrate her work, according to ECR.
“All those she had encountered or just had a conversation with her, actors, musicals, writers, directors, producers, channels of networks television networks all salute her work and hold her dear in our memories for the contribution in the South African acting industry,” Izobel said.
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Picture: Twitter