South African actor Presley Chweneyagae passed away in the early hours of Tuesday morning, according to close friends who confirmed his death. He was 40 years old.

Chweneyagae gained international recognition for his breakthrough performance in the Academy Award-winning South African film “Tsotsi.” His portrayal in the critically acclaimed movie earned him a Golden Horn Award at the inaugural South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAs) in 2006.

Beyond his film work, the actor was well known to television audiences for his role as Cobra on the popular local soap opera “The River,” and later appeared in a spin-off series centered around the same character.

This story is developing and will be updated as more information becomes available.