CAPE TOWN, April 29 (Xinhua) -- South Africans on Sunday mourned the passing of three artists who died in a traffic accident.
"The ruling African National Congress (ANC) joins the nation in mourning the tragic and untimely loss of producer, presenter and actor Akhumzi Jezile, musician and actor Siyasanga Kobese and actor Thobani Mseleni," ANC national spokesperson Pule Mabe said.
The three artists were among the five people who lost their lives in a fatal car accident on Saturday near Queenstown in Eastern Cape Province when they were on their way to a family funeral.
Jezile started out as a young TV presenter where he honed his skills and grew to become a producer and director of some of the country's most popular TV shows. Kobese was widely known as the lead singer for popular group Joyous Celebration, but had displayed further talent as an actor in local production "Zabalaza". Mseleni was an actor whose most recent notable work was a role in the award winning movie "Inxeba: The Wound".
Their deaths sent a wave of grief through the country.
The names of the other two deceased persons will be released once their families have been informed, police said.
Also on Sunday, Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa described the three artists as "lodestars" guiding South African arts.
"Death has robbed our nation of three of its versatile and glittering lodestars," Mthethwa said.
Communications Minister Nomvula Mokonyane called the three artists "gems that proved that South Africa is alive with possibilities."
