Patrick Molefe Shai (9 December 1956[1] – 22 January 2022) was a South African actor and director.[2] He was best known for the roles in the television series and shows Soul City, Generations, Zone 14, Ashes to Ashes, and Zero Tolerance. He was one of the founding members of Free Film Makers of South Africa.[3]

Patrick Shai
Born
Patrick Molefe Shai

(1956-12-09)9 December 1956
Triomf, Johannesburg, Transvaal, South Africa (modern-day Sophiatown, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa)[1]
Died22 January 2022(2022-01-22) (aged 65)
Dobsonville, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
NationalitySouth African
Occupation(s)Actor, director
Years active1986–2022
SpouseMmasechaba Shai
Children2

Personal life

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During a protest in Dobsonville due to electricity cuts, he was wounded by 11 rubber bullets and rushed to Tshepo Themba Hospital.[4][5] He was shot in the neck, back, leg, and arms. After the incident, he opened a complaint against police with the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) for the brutal activity of the police.[6][7][8][9]

Shai was married to Mmasechaba Shai, and together they had two children.[3] He committed suicide in Dobsonville on 22 January 2022.[10][11]

Career

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He started career as a dancer at Safari Ranch with Mzumba African Drama and Ballet.[12] In 1994, he joined with the cast of drama serial Soul City, for which he won the Avanti Trophy for Best Actor at the NTVA Avanti Awards in 2000. In 1995, he wrote and acted in the film Hearts & Minds by playing the role "Mathews Kage". He later won the Silver Dolphin Award for Best Screenplay at the Festróia - Tróia International Film Festival.[13] In 1996, he also played the role of "Christmas" in the 1996 BBC mini-series Rhodes.[3]

For his role as "Enoch Molope" in the 2004 television serial Zero Tolerance, he was nominated for the SAFTA Golden Horn Award for Best Actor in TV Drama category at the South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTA). In 2005, he joined with the SABC2 mini-series Noah's Arc and nominated for the SAFTA Golden Horn for Best Actor at 2010 SAFTA. In 2008, he acted in the SABC2 sitcom Moferefere Lenyalon and played the lead role of "Kgosi Matlakala". After that, in 2010, he played the role "Bra Sporo" in the SABC2 drama series Hola Mpinji and as "Tiger Sibiya" for the third season of the SABC1 drama series Zone 14.[3] At the 2014 SAFTA, he was nominated for the Best Supporting Actor Award for his role in the serial Skeem Saam. In 2017, Shai joined with the cast of popular SABC2 soap opera 7de Laan and played the role "Jacob Moloi". For his role, he was again nominated for the SAFTA Golden Horn Award for Best Supporting Actor at the SAFTA 2018.[13]

Filmography

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Year Film Role Genre Ref.
1986 A Place for Weeping Lucky Film
1988 Red Scorpion African Soldier Film
1988 Blind Justice Samson Snhlova Film
1988 Diamond in the Rough Connors' Thug Film
1990 The Last Samurai Wild man Film
1990 Screenplay Joseph Mnwana TV series
1990 Schweitzer Joseph Film
1991 The Sheltering Desert Constable Film
1991 Taxi to Soweto Richard Film
1994 MMG Engineers Ray Ghanya TV series
1995 Hearts & Minds Mathews Kage, Writer Film
1995 Cry, the Beloved Country Robert Ndela Film
1995 Mission Top Secret Thabo TV series
1996 Danger Zone Madumo Film
1996 Inside Bhambo TV movie
1996 Rhodes Christmas TV mini series
1996 Stray Bullet Director TV movie
1996 La ferme du crocodile Ibrahim TV movie
1997 Fools Zamani Film
1997 The Principal Ben Moloi TV mini series
1997 The Place of Lions Bruno TV movie
1999 Yizo yizo Edwin Thapelo TV series
2000 The Gates of Cleveland Road Joe Mabaso, Co-producer TV movie
2000 Generations Patrick Tlaole TV series
2002 Behind the Badge Carlos Gwala TV series
2003 The Bone Snatcher Titus Film
2004 Zero Tolerance Enoch Molope TV series
2004 Critical Assignment Charles Ojuka Film
2004 Zulu Love Letter Khubeka Film
2006 Hillside Dr. Kagiso Montshiwa TV series
2007 Life Is Wild Umkhulu TV series
2008 Discreet Boss Film
2010 Hola Mpinji Bra Sporo TV mini series
2010 Life, Above All Dr. Charles Chilume Film
2010 The Bang Bang Club Pegleg Film
2012 Chandies Paddido TV series
2012 Gog' Helen Hobo Film
2016 Ashes to Ashes Selo Namanne TV series
2017 7de Laan Jacob Moloi TV series

References

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  1. ^ a b Spector, J. Brooks (24 January 2022). "AN APPRECIATION: Patrick Shai: Actor, activist and a natural on stage — but a man not always at peace with himself". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 2 February 2022. [C]ritic and cultural historian Sam Mathe wrote of Shai that he had been born "in Sophiatown on 9 December 1956..."
  2. ^ Mueni, Priscillah (12 November 2019). "Actor Patrick Shai gets caught up in a crossfire and is shot 11 times!". Briefly. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d "Patrick Shai: TVSA". www.tvsa.co.za. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  4. ^ Ntshidi, Edwin (12 November 2019). "Eskom to restore power in Dobsonville, warns of cuts over non-payment". ewn.co.za. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  5. ^ Coetzee, Nikita (11 November 2019). "Actor Patrick Shai wounded during Dobsonville protests: 'I was shot 11 times with rubber bullets'". Channel. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  6. ^ Dlamini, Penwell (11 November 2019). "Actor Patrick Shai shot 11 times by cops during Soweto protest over disconnected electricity". SowetanLIVE. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  7. ^ Lindeque, Mia (1 November 2019). "Patrick Shai to lay complaint against police after being shot in Soweto protest". ewn.co.za. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  8. ^ "Police brutality can't be justified, says actor Patrick Shai after being shot 11 times". www.iol.co.za. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  9. ^ "Veteran actor Patrick Shai plans to open a case against police". ZambiaNews365.com. 12 November 2019. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  10. ^ "Legendary actor Patrick Shai has died". news24. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  11. ^ Mahlangu, Isaac (22 January 2022). "Veteran actor Patrick Shai dies". The Sowetan. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  12. ^ "Biography of Patrick Shai". South Africa Portal. 9 March 2021. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  13. ^ a b "Patrick Shai | Awards". IMDb. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
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