By Bonile Ngqiyaza
Zakes Zulu Mokae, one of South Africa's distinguished thespians and accomplished character actors on celluloid has died at age 74.
He leaves behind his wife Mandy and two sons.
Family spokesperson, Dr Gomolemo Mokae, said on Sunday his cousin had passed away on Friday in his home in Las Vegas.
"He has been ill for a while," said Mokae, a medical practitioner.
He said the family was working out details relating to a commemoration service and his burial arrangements and the likely venues these would be held in would be announced in due course.
"We are very much alive to the fact that he has spent a better part of his life in exile and that he's got a whole lot of people who have become like family to him and who would like to pay homage," Mokae said.
He said the family was highly appreciative of the fact that Mokae had been awarded the Order of Ikhamanga: Category II Silver, for his "excellent contribution to South African theatre and achievement in the field of acting".
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