BREAKING: Veteran actress Mary Twala passes away
Veteran actress and mother of Somizi Mhlongo, Mary Twala has passed away at the age of 80.
The news of her passing were shared by her son, Somizi Mhlongo on social media.
Somizi wrote on Instagram: “Today’s my late father’s birthday…..and my mom decided to respond to his call to join him in heaven…..THE TREE HAS FALLEN…
I’m shattered to the core…..but I’d be very selfish if I dont release her….my mom lived to the fullest….achieved beyond her dreams….its hurts like hell…..I wont lie…..a day without her calling to either say I love u or give me money…….thank u south africa for loving the phenomenal super star that is my mother…….she left us peacefully around 11am at parklane pvt hospital as I was on my way to drop off her gown and a few minutes earlier the dr called to say come shes up and jolly now…..I arrived a few mon late……LALA MA……”
My tree has fallen……..lala Ma pic.twitter.com/CjojR7k2uX
— somizi somGAGA (@somizi) July 4, 2020
Ms Mary Twala was born on 14 September 1939. She was one of the leading veteran South African actresses.
She had an extensive career as an actress, performing in roles in film, television (TV) and theatre. Her film career included international films such as Mapantsula; Sarafina!; A Love in Africa; Malunde; Dr Lucille; Nyaka-Nyaka; Ngaka; Deliwe; Friends; Game for Vultures; Taxi to Soweto (for which she won a Best Supporting Actress award); Waati; Science Classic and Score.
Her TV career included performances in many South African productions, including Undenzani Melwane; Iqhawe; Die SonKriel; Hlala Kwabafileyo; Soul Buddyz, Child of Soweto, Khululeka, Yizo-Yizo, SOS and Muvhango. She won best Comedy Performer awards for her performances in Hlala Kwabafileyo and Molo Fish. In 2007 she appeared in the supernatural mini-series Ubizo (The Calling), for SABC1.
She played the role of ‘MaDolly’ in the SABC2 miniseries Hopeville, from March to April 2009, which earned her best supporting actress nomination at the 6th Africa Movie Academy Awards. In 2010 she starred as ‘MaKhambu’ in the SABC2 sitcom Skwizas, which she reprised in later seasons.
Mhlongo had featured in several South African local productions. She was a guest cast-member in the first season of Generations. After undergoing a medical procedure that kept her out of filming for months, Mhlongo made a comeback in the film, Vaya in 2015. In 2016, she was one of the ensemble cast in Comatose, a film that featured top actors across Africa, including Bimbo Akintola and Hakeem Kae-Kazim.
