Veteran South African actress and comedienne Busisiwe Lurayi whose sudden passing shocked many last Sunday is set to join etv’s biggest soapie Scandal. In spite of the actress's death earlier this week, she'll make an appearance on Scandal next week. After a brief illness that prevented her from attending to her work commitments last week, Busisiwe was found dead in her daughter's bedroom by her father.
Trusted local entertainment commentator Phil Mphela broke this casting news last night on Twitter following the actress’s passing. “Busi Lurayi joined Scandal. The late actress was cast and had shot scenes for the etv soapie before her untimely demise,” read Mphela’s announcement. It continued to read, “[There’s] No word yet from production and channel on how they will move forward with the role.” Phil also promised online users for more updates as he receives them.
CASTING NEWS:
Busi Lurayi joined Scandal
The late actress was cast and had shot scenes for the etv soapie before her untimely demise.
No word yet from production and channel on how they will move forward with the role.
Apparently, this was one of two of Busi’s latest roles and television gigs according to her close friend and manager Brian Makau. According to Makau, who is also the president of Eye Media Artists agency, he and Busi recently celebrated two roles that she had landed, but he had no idea that would be their last conversation.
“She was like a sister. We bought flowers for each other all the time. There were moments I was upset with her, and moments where I was over the moon with her, and Thursday was one of those days, but she said she wasn't feeling well,” Brian told Tshisa Live.
She sang her praises for being an amazing mother to her daughter Ayana. “As a mother, she was a mama bear. She installed so much etiquette into Ayana. She brought her to my place many times and she was like a little mini Busi. She was so hands-on with her."
“Busi told me she gave the industry everything she could. When she would go for a casting she would always get the role. She wouldn’t go to a casting she didn’t believe in. Every nomination she got in the SAFTAs she won. She was very sentimental about the projects she got involved in. She would say no to a lot of things. She knew what she was capable of. She presented an incredible performance all the time. She knew what challenged her and she went for those roles. Her performances were electrifying. She always performed as if it was her last,"
Many industry colleagues continue to flood social media timelines with condolence messages for Lurayi, these include actor and television producer Mandla N, radio broadcaster and actress Thando Thabethe, fashion designer Thula Sindi, and Thembisa Mdoda to mention a few.
The family of the SAFTA Award-winning actress is yet to announce the dates of the memorial service and funeral for Busi, for now, the family has requested that fans grant them privacy during their time of grieving. "We humbly request that you allow us as family to come to terms with this tragic news. We thank you for your support that has been given so far and will provide further information as soon as it has been made available."
