Western Cape Premier Alan Winde has written to President Cyril Ramaphosa to request a Special Provincial Funeral for Shaleen Surtie-Richards.
The 66-year-old Surtie-Richards was found dead at a guest house in Cape Town on Monday morning.
She was in the city shooting scenes for the series Arendsvlei. Winde says the nation has lost a giant who will be remembered for her immense talent and contributions to the creative industry.
Video: Remembering Shaleen Surtie-Richards
Winde says should Ramaphosa assent to the request, support will be made available for the funeral service which will take place in Cape Town on Sunday.
“Someone who was born in Upington and raised in Cape Town, someone who was a champion of the arts. During her career, she won more than 40 awards and acted in numerous movies and festivals in South Africa and London. A beloved actress will always be known for her starring role in Egoli, and for the role she played in Fiela Se kind. Shaleen also brought her versatility to the stage, and she performed in various plays, including Hallo en Koebaai and Shirley Valentine,” says Winde.
RIP Shaleen Surtie-Richards | Condolences pour in for the veteran actress
