South African actor Nico Liebenberg has passed away. He was 59 years old.
Liebenberg’s body was found hanging from a tree on Sunday, close to his home in Pretoria North. His partner Riana Jacobsz had reported him missing on Thursday when he failed to return home from a bike ride.
“Nothing was amiss,” Jacobsz told Afrikaans newspaper Volksblad. “He waved at me and rode off as he was fond of doing, to get some exercise or to quickly go buy something at the shop. I started suspecting something was wrong when he still wasn't home at 19:00 and reported him missing to the police.”
According to the Volksblad report, Liebenberg suffered from severe depression, and both he and his partner had been declared medically unfit. Jacobsz added that their financial plight deeply troubled Liebenberg.
“Our financial affairs worried him a lot. Our house is paid for and we live off various disability pensions, but I just recently lost my medical aid because I couldn't afford the payments.
“This upset him a lot.”
Police informed Jacobsz on Sunday that a passer-by walking his dog had spotted Liebenberg’s body.
The late actor is survived by his 12-year-old son, Frikkie, with Jacobsz, and his two daughters from his relationship with actress Trudie Taljaard.
Liebenberg is best known for his role in the local drama series Konings. He also had roles in Meester and Die Glaskasteel. - Tonight Reporter