Patrick Shai

South African actor and director (1956–2022)

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]

Died| 22 January 2022(2022-01-22) (aged 65)

Dobsonville, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa

Nationality| South African
Occupation(s)| Actor, director
Years active| 1986–2022
Spouse| Mmasechaba Shai
Children| 2

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]

## Personal life

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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.

## External links

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* Patrick Shai at IMDb