South Africa is mourning the loss of legendary actress Nandi Nyembe, who passed away at the age of 75 after a long illness. Fondly known as mam’Nandi, she was hailed as the “soul of South African storytelling,” yet her final months sparked national outrage as she was forced to appear in videos pleading for financial help while visibly ill. Her death has reignited a heated debate about the lack of structural support for actors in South Africa and the struggles many performers face once they are unable to work.
Nyembe, born in Kliptown, Soweto in 1950, rose from apartheid-era protest theatre to become one of South Africa’s most beloved television and film stars. Despite often being typecast in her early career, she broke barriers with powerful performances, including her groundbreaking role as an HIV-positive nurse in the drama Soul City, her portrayal of a nurturing mother in the acclaimed township series Yizo Yizo, and her unforgettable performance as a traditional healer in the Oscar-nominated film Yesterday (2004). She also appeared in modern productions such as Netflix’s How to Ruin Christmas, further cementing her status as a household name.
Tributes poured in from family, colleagues, and the government, who praised her as not only an actress but also a teacher and mentor who inspired generations of young performers. Her grandson, Jabulani Nyembe, remembered her as the “backbone of the family,” deeply passionate about her craft, and always committed to uplifting others in her community.
However, the circumstances surrounding her final months have cast a harsh spotlight on the precarious reality faced by South African actors. Unlike many countries where performers earn royalties for reruns and syndication, South African actors receive only initial appearance fees. Most work as freelancers, leaving them without pensions, health coverage, or long-term financial security.
Jack Devnarain, chairperson of the South African Guild of Actors (SAGA), called Nyembe’s situation heartbreaking but not surprising, warning that “every single actor who is active in this country right now is on an inevitable path to where mam’Nandi was.” He stressed that charity alone cannot solve the “structural problems within the creative sector” and criticized the government for failing artists.
SAGA has long campaigned for legal reforms to grant South African actors the right to earn royalties. Two key bills, introduced in 2017, eventually reached President Cyril Ramaphosa’s desk in 2024. But instead of signing them into law, he referred them to the Constitutional Court over constitutional concerns, leaving performers in limbo. Devnarain says this delay has left actors vulnerable: “Government has failed the entire sector, and they have failed mam’Nandi.”
Nandi Nyembe’s death is not only the loss of an extraordinary artist but also a painful reminder of the urgent need to reform South Africa’s entertainment industry. While fans celebrate her extraordinary contribution to film, television, and theatre, her final plea for dignity and financial support has become a rallying cry for systemic change to protect the artists who dedicate their lives to telling the nation’s stories.
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