South Africa has been thrown into mourning again after news broke that veteran Actor Joe Mafela died when the car he was driving was involved in a crash on a Johannesburg highway.
The metro police department spokesperson Superintendent Edna Mamonyane said he was travelling alone at the time and was confirmed dead at the accident scene on Saturday night.
She said the accident happened at around 9.45pm on the M1 between Houghton Drive and Oxford Road.
Mamonyane explained that Mafela collided with an Isuzu bakkie which hit his Ford Figo on the left side. “The bakkie then hit the barricade and damaged a rear tyre,” she added.
President Jacob Zuma has joined the nation in mourning saying, “We have learned with sadness of the passing of one of the pioneers of the television comedy loved by all South Africans young and old. Mr Mafela also affectionately known as Sdumo was also a television producer and songwriter. The arts and culture industry has been robbed of a bigger than life figure. We wish to extend our heartfelt condolences to Mafela Family and May his soul rest in peace.”
