Zwelinzima Vavi expresses shock at Patrick Shai’s passing

Legendary actor and activist Patrick Shai is an example of a person who displayed that human beings are not perfect but can be transformed.

These are the sentiments of the South African Federation of Trade Union (SAFTC) General-Secretary Zwelinzima Vavi.

Shai’s family confirmed that he passed away on Saturday morning and has asked for space. He was known for playing the role of “Nkosheng” in the popular early drama “Bophelo ke Semphekgo” on SABC, along with Nakedi Ribane, Lydia Mogokoloshi and Rinkie Tleane.

Vavi has expressed shock.

“We are in utter shock to have learned of the untimely passing of Patrick Shai who is known in the country as an example of how human beings can never be perfect, but every human being can be transformed, can be a subject, an object of change. From somebody who himself confesses to being a woman abuser to somebody who championed the struggle against gender-based violence more than no one else has done in South Africa. And to somebody who would have committed other mistakes in life and his passing away like a typical fallible human being would have committed an error through his words, he has come out to apologise and we have accepted his apology. We want to stand with his family at the moment and we want to on behalf of SAFTU send our deepest messages of our solidarity of love and we wish that family strength in the untimely of his passing.”

Veteran actor Patrick Shai has passed away: