PICTURE: INSTAGRAM/ THEMBI MTSHALI-JONES
Veteran actress Thembi Mtshali-Jones has honoured the late legendary actress and first black woman to represent South Africa at Miss World, Cynthia Shange.
Also see: Actress Cynthia Shange passes away at 76
The former Imbewu- The Seed actress took to her Instagram page to remember her fellow thespian. She shared a picture of them that was captured in 2017 at Diepkloof Community Hall in Soweto.
Captioning her post, Thembi wrote a heartfelt tribute remembering the former Muvhango actress: “Thando Cynthia, my Queen, my hometown sister. It’s been hard to accept your passing. Born in the same year, we called each other twins, we were. I was at the YMCA in Durban when you were crowned Miss Durban. And due to racial segregation in our country then, you were not permitted to enter the main Miss South Africa competition and instead, the parallel ‘Miss Africa South’ title that had been created qualified you to compete for Miss World 1972 in London.
“It was a significant moment for all of us black girls in our South African history. Your beauty, grace, and courage under restrictive apartheid laws was a big triumph for all of us. After that we watched you representing us, gracing our television screens for many years. Rest in power my Queen. Uyibekile induku ebandla Dumakude. Peace and comfort to your loved ones,” she penned.
Also see: Cynthia Shange’s Timeless Beauty Has South Africa in Awe
Cynthia passed away on the 20th of April. Her daughter, TV presenter Nonhle Thema, shared a statement confirming her passing. According to the statement, Cynthia passed away in the early hours at a hospital in KwaZulu-Natal after battling an illness.
“Shange was a trailblazer in the South African entertainment industry, rising to prominence in the 1970s when she was crowned Miss South Africa. Her achievement was historic, as she excelled during the era of segregated pageantry, and went on to represent South Africa at Miss World in 1972, in London,” read the statement.
Actress Siphesihle Ndaba also took to her Instagram page to share her heartfelt condolences.
Also see: Cynthia Shange speaks up about her health scare
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