RIP: Actor Papi Lethoba dies in a car accident

An accident claimed the life of a well-known theatre and television actor, Papi Lethoba, in the early hours of Sunday morning, 30 June.

His brother, Isack Lethoba, told the publication they had lost a rock.

“Our family pillar is no more, and we are saddened by his unexplainable death that will stay in our minds all the time,” he said.

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Isack said that his father had asked the family to come to terms with the death of his son.

He said Papi visited and enjoyed Saturday together, not realizing it would be their last time with him.

Isack said his brother stayed in Sebokeng, and on Saturday morning, he visited his father at Koppies in the Free State and left after 11 pm, returning to Sebokeng.

He said they wondered why he didn’t report his arrival at his house.

“We received a call from the police in the early hours of Sunday morning (1 July) telling us to go to Sasolburg, and as we arrived, we found my brother’s car badly damaged on the side of the road, and police told us that he lost control,” he said.

Isack said it was hard for them to believe.

“My brother was a responsible driver who has never driven a car very fast, as his speed was always below 100 km/h, so to find his car so badly damaged and killed him while he was driving on a smooth road with no potholes, left us with many questions that no one will answer,” he said.

Papi appeared in multiple television shows, including Scandal!, Generations: The Legacy, City Ses’la, Majakathata, Stokvel, Emzini Wezinsizwa, and many others.

Free State police spokesman Sergeant Peter said: “On Sunday morning at R57 road near the R59 off-ramp, a vehicle lost control, and a 47-year-old male deceased was found next to the vehicle. Sasolburg police are investigating a culpable homicide case,” he said.