The funeral service of veteran actor, Patrick Shai, will be held on Saturday morning at the Soweto theatre, south of Johannesburg. Shai died last Saturday at his Soweto home at the age of 65.
His career included performances in some of the SABC’s best dramas – such as Yizo Yizo, Soul City, Bophelo ke Semphego and Generations.
He was also an activist against gender-based violence and one of the founding members of Free Film Makers of South Africa.
Shai’s son, Lekgetho says “The service will be at Soweto theatre from 8 o’clock to 11:30 and we have so many speakers on the list and I know that we are expecting the Deputy Minister (Nocawe Mafu) and we are expecting the MEC of Arts and Culture and Recreation and we are also expecting the whole industry that he worked with.”
VIDEO: Patrick Shai’s family trying to come to terms with his passing:
Entertainment enthusiasts, members of the public, friends and close family members converged on the Market Theatre in Johannesburg’s CBD on Thursday, to honour Shai at a memorial service.
Former Generations actress Sophie Ndaba was amongst those who attended the memorial service. She called on South Africans to preserve Shai’s legacy.
“I think to continue, the young men of South Africa and the entertainment industry must take up the baton and continue with it if it’s something within their vision as well. They must learn from him that as an elder he was fighting for things young people should be fighting for. Especially when it’s for job creation, GBV etc. So I think let’s remember him on that,” says Ndaba.
