Speculation mounts on Presley Chweneyagae cause of death

Following the sudden passing of actor Presley Chweneyagae, online rumours claim he was poisoned, but his family has cleared the air on his cause of death.

The sudden death of celebrated actor Presley Chweneyagae has sparked widespread speculation online, with some unverified claims suggesting he was poisoned.

Rumour mill runs wild with claims Presley Chweneyagae was poisoned

Chweneyagae, best known for his role in the Oscar-winning film Tsotsi, died on Tuesday, 27 May 2025, at the age of 40.

Posts on social media and statements by individuals claiming to be close to the family have spread claims that Chweneyagae may have been intentionally poisoned.

An anonymous source from his village told a local publication that the nature of his death seemed suspicious.

Others have linked the speculation to his controversial past, including his 2020 arrest related to gender-based violence and a recent surge in his acting career, which some believe may have caused jealousy.

However, these rumours have not been backed by any formal evidence.

What we know about his cause of death

In response to the growing speculation, the Chweneyagae family has come forward to clarify the circumstances of his death.

Family spokesperson Mzwakhe Sigudla told the media on Wednesday that Chweneyagae died from natural causes.

According to Sigudla, the actor had been experiencing breathing difficulties, and paramedics were called to his home. Despite their efforts to resuscitate him, he passed away.

“We want to put the record straight that it was a natural death as far as we are concerned. He had a complication in relation to breathing. Paramedics were called at home and he was attended to. We appreciate the professional nature of the paramedics,” Sigudla said.

At this stage, no official cause of death has been publicly released by medical professionals or authorities.

Chweneyagae’s death has left a void in the South African entertainment industry.

Born in Mafikeng on 19 October 1984, he rose to fame after starring in Tsotsi, a film that brought global attention to South African cinema. Over the years, he appeared in a range of productions including iNumber NumberZama ZamaThe Number, and more recently, Cobrizi.

Despite his professional success, Chweneyagae’s life was not without controversy.

He was involved in a child support dispute which played out publicly in 2023, and at the time of his death, he was reportedly under investigation by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) over alleged involvement in a R15 million lottery fraud case.

While online speculation continues, the official word from his family is that his death was due to natural causes, specifically a respiratory issue.