Sol Rachilo Laid to Rest With State Funeral in Soweto at Age 94
- South African theatre icon Sol Rachilo received a state funeral on Wednesday, 26 August 2026, following his passing on 16 August
- President Cyril Ramaphosa approved the official state funeral after actor Sello Maake-kaNcube wrote to the Presidency on Rachilo's behalf
- Rachilo spent over six decades shaping South African arts, youth development and cultural activism, particularly in Soweto
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Source: Instagram
South Africa has bid farewell to one of its most enduring cultural figures. Sol Rachilo, a celebrated actor, playwright, poet and drama educator whose career spanned more than six decades, was laid to rest on Wednesday, 26 August 2026, following a state funeral at the Soweto Theatre befitting his extraordinary life.
Rachilo passed away on 16 August 2026 at the age of 94. The Presidency granted him an official state funeral, and the South African flag flew at half-mast across Gauteng as a mark of national respect.
Sol Rachilo buried in state funeral
Actor Sello Maake-kaNcube, who blasted the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture over Rachilo, wrote directly to the Presidency requesting official recognition for Rachilo, describing him not merely as a performer but as a teacher, social worker, institution builder and community activist. Maake-kaNcube asked that Rachilo receive a Special Provincial Official Funeral and be laid to rest at the Heroes Acre. President Cyril Ramaphosa accepted the request on 19 August 2026.
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Much of Rachilo's most meaningful work happened away from the spotlight. Following the trauma of the 16 June 1976 uprising, he committed himself to using the arts as a tool for youth healing and development in Soweto. That commitment led to the founding of the Children of Soweto Action Centre Drama Academy, which offered training in drama, music, photography and fine arts. Critically, the academy was a Black-owned drama school operating during apartheid, creating rare opportunities for young people at a time when such access was heavily restricted.
His literary contributions were equally significant. His work Nostalgic Waves documented experiences tied to the 1976 uprising, preserving a cultural record of one of the most defining chapters in South African history.
Through performing, teaching, writing and activism, Sol Rachilo built a legacy that stretched far beyond any stage. Generations of South African artists owe a part of their journeys to a man who believed art could heal, educate and transform communities.
Source: Instagram
Sello Maake-Ncube's history of activism
Maake kaNcube’s advocacy for fellow actors has become a recurring part of his public work.
In July 2026, he defended the late Seputla Sebogodi after a viral photo fuelled unfounded claims that the veteran actor had fallen on hard times, as reported by Briefly News.
Sebogodi died on 15 July from diabetes-related complications, just days after Maake kaNcube publicly came to his defence.
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Source: Briefly News
