Naledi tragically died last week after a long battle with breast cancer and her passing has sent shockwaves across the country. Details of her memorial and funeral service have been released.
According to a statement released by her family, her memorial service will be held at Houghton Hotel on Wednesday, 15 Dec. Due to Covid-19 protocols, attendance is only open to family and friends.
She will then be laid to rest on the 19th of December 2021 in Botswana. Her funeral will be live streamed and links will be provided across social media platforms.
Meanwhile, fans have been paying their respects to the TV star by sharing what they remember about her. In 2019, Naledi revealed that she was diagnosed with stage 2 triple-negative breast cancer in 2019.
“If I look like I've just been through a war, it's because I have. In November 2019 I was diagnosed with stage 2 triple negative breast cancer. This was also the day I wrote the last exam of my law degree while waiting for the call bearing my results.”
“The world buckled down and braced for the impact of Covid-19 while each day I was terrified an encounter with the virus while on chemotherapy could result in my death due to my compromised immune system. In truth the lockdown also offered me shelter to go through all I have and still am going through out of the public eye. Life is what you make it and we choose how to look at things. This is how I chose to look at my reality,” she said at the time.
The industry is also mourning the passing of TV actress Themsie Times. She was well known for the role of Maria on 7 De Laan from 2003-2016. The character was a strong-willed, business savvy yet warm-hearted woman. She worked for Septimas ‘Oubaas’ van Zyl ‘s (played by Pierre van Pletzen) family for years, since he was a child. Maria then moved in with Oubaas on orders from his mother, to ensure that he was well taken care of.
In a statement 7 De Laan released, the show paid tribute to her, "Maria was known for having a guesthouse in QwaQwa, which was often referenced as her home for when she eventually retired."
We are fortunate to have had South Africans enjoy Themsie’s talent through her portrayal of this role. Our thoughts and prayers are with Themsie’s family and loved ones during this difficult time. We send our heartfelt condolences to her family, friends and fans at large," the portion of the statement reads.
