Soli Philander died at 65

South African actor, presenter, director, comedian and entertainment star Soli Philander has died at the age of 65.

Soli Philander at Bush Radio

The Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Gayton Mckenzie, said in a social media post that Soli played an essential role in the South African democracy. He also praised his unique ability to use humour to reflect South African society and remind citizens of their shared humanity.

‘’For decades, Soli Philander, brought laughter, insight and warmth to audiences everywhere in our country. Whether performing on stage, presenting on television, or sharing his always-ready humour through radio or public speaking, he possessed the rare gift of making people laugh by reminding us who we are,’’ said Mckenzie.

‘’Actors like Soli play a role in our democracy. They help us reflect on our society, find common ground, and remind us of our shared humanity,’’ he said.

Philander’s most famous TV role was as presenter of the Afrikaans music quiz show “Liriekeraai” for several seasons, as well as the game show “Vat ‘n Kans”.

We were lucky to have known #SoliPhilander for many years at #BushRadio - on one of his birthdays we posted this pic. He embodied the "don't curse the darkness, light a candle" philosophy. Thank you for shining bright in a sometimes dark world. RIP pic.twitter.com/30bfWMqhOH

— Bush Radio 89.5 FM (@Bushradio) March 5, 2026

 

Done By: Mitchum George