South African veteran actress, Mary Twala, has passed on at the age of 80. She passed on in the morning of 4 July 2020 at Netcare Parklane Hospital in Johannesburg. Her son Somizi Mhlongo confirmed it through social media platforms when he communicated his mother’s passing saying,
“ Today’s my late father’s birthday….and my mom decided to respond to his call to join him in heaven…. THE TREE HAS FALLEN…I’m shattered to the core…but I’d be selfish if I don’t release her…my mom lived life to the fullest…achieved beyond her dreams… It hurts like hell. I won’t lie…a day without her calling to either say I love you or give me money….thank u South Africa for loving the phenomenal superstar that is my mother…she left us peacefully around 11 am at Parklane Pvt Hospital as I was on my way to drop off her gown and a few minutes earlier the Dr called to say come she’s up and jolly now….I arrived a few mins late…..LALA MA…”
Twala was born in Orlando East, being the eldest of her siblings. She attended school but never got to finish her matric due to unforeseen circumstances. Starting small as a factory worker that sewed pinafores, Twala soon paved her way into the acting industry when she was cast in a leading role in one of Gobson Kente’s plays. This was round about the time where she met and married her late husband Ndaba Mhlongo.
She continued her acting career in multiple facets and was introduced to film in 1974 where she played a warehouse worker in the film Ikati Elimnyama. Twala also starred in countless other films thereafter including Udeliwe by Simon Sabela in 1975, Stoney: The One and Only in 1984, Taxi to Soweto in 1991, and the award-winning film Sarafina where she played the role of Sarafina’s grandmother.
She came onto South African television screens when she made an appearance on the award-winning soapie Generations as a guest star. Twala has also embodied many other memorable television roles including one in Home Affairs as Nandi’s granny, Ma Dolly on Hopeville, Makhambule on Skwizwa’s, Alice on Yizo-Yizo and she appeared as Herself on her son’s reality TV show Living the Dream with Somizi.
Her love for film continued even at her prime age with her last film, This is Not a Burial, It’s Resurrection, which was shot in Lesotho in 2019. In an interview with the SABC about this film she said, “…give me a 16-year-old character I’ll do it, why not? I am Mary”, clearly showing endurance and an unwavering commitment to the craft of acting.
Twala won countless awards with the recent being the Order of Ikamanga which was awarded to her in silver in April 2019. This award comes as an addition to her other triumphs which include: The Golden horn for Best Actress in a TV comedy-Skwizas; Best Actress in Comedy- Undenzani and Best Supporting actress- Taxi to Soweto, only to mention a few. She was later awarded the Lifetime Achiever Award by the Mbokodo Awards and Naledi Awards. Twala was also honored at the Living Legend Awards, in July 2005 by The United Theatre Practitioners of South Africa.
Her most recent of all her recognitions was done by Actor Spaces where they did a photo exhibition of Twala which was shot by Mlungisi Mlungwana. The exhibition portrays visuals of Twala holding the actor spaces cube. The exhibition was titled The Mary Twala Exhibition and was celebrated with a birthday dinner that commemorated Mama Twala’s 80th birthday.
Many celebrities, friends, family, and fellow industry colleagues took to their social media platforms to wish the family of Mary Twala their condolences. Some which included fans and also President Cyril Ramaphosa who tweeted, “ Like many South Africans, I am saddened by the passing of a great icon in our nation’s creative community; someone who was a household name and face to all of us and brought home the joys, the struggles and the humor under pressure that characterizes our national life.”
Bahumi, the granddaughter of Mary Twala also thanked the country, captioning her post, “ thank you for honoring her”. Twala shared with actor spaces on how she dealt with the loss of her loved ones saying, “…the pain visits, you just have to tell yourself that it is God’s will. Just to free yourself so you’re able to live”. South Africans can adopt her words in healing the loss of this giant. Yes, the tree has fallen but her legacy lives on. Rest in peace Mama Mary Twala.
INSTAGRAM|@somizi
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