Presley Chweneyagae, the South African actor known for starring in Tsotsi, which won the Academy Award for Foreign Language Film at the 78th Academy Awards has died. He was 40 years old.

His uncle, Mzwakhe Sigudla told SABC News he was having difficulty breathing when he passed away. He says, “There has been speculation and we want to clarify that there has been no foul play with what happened to Presley and unfortunately, it is what you call natural death. He had a bit of complication related to breathing and paramedics were called to attend the scene, but unfortunately, he did not make it and there is nothing we know other than that, and we want to put it to the nation that it is a natural death.”

Chweneyagae rose to international fame in 2005 for his performance in Tsotsi, a gritty drama about a young gang leader in Johannesburg who undergoes a dramatic transformation after he accidentally kidnaps a baby during a carjacking. The film, directed by Gavin Hood, won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film at the 78th Academy Awards.

Born in 1984 in Mafikeng, North West province of South Africa, Chweneyagae began acting in stage plays before making his film debut. Over the years, he built a solid career in film, television, and theater, with roles in productions such as The River, Zama Zama, and iNumber Number. He was also known for his work in youth development and social justice in South Africa.