South Africans will soon have an opportunity to say their final goodbye to veteran entertainer Soli Philander, whose funeral arrangements have now been officially announced following his death earlier this week.
Philander’s funeral service will take place on Saturday, March 14, 2026, at 11am at the New Apostolic Church Silvertown Congregation on Durant Road in Athlone, Cape Town.
The service will be followed by a private cremation.
For those unable to attend in person, the ceremony will also be live-streamed online, allowing fans and admirers from across the country to pay their respects to the much-loved performer.
Philander died on Wednesday, March 4, at the age of 65, prompting an outpouring of tributes from across the South African entertainment industry and beyond.
The veteran actor, comedian, radio and television presenter was widely regarded as one of the country’s most distinctive voices in comedy and storytelling.
His death was confirmed by Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie, who described Philander as a cultural figure whose work resonated deeply with ordinary South Africans.
“I learnt with deep sadness tonight of the passing of Soli Philander, one of South Africa’s most beloved entertainers, storytellers and cultural voices,” McKenzie said. “For decades, Soli Philander brought laughter, insight and warmth to audiences everywhere in our country.”
Philander, who hailed from Elsies River in Cape Town, built a career that spanned theatre, television, radio and film.
His humour, often rooted in the everyday experiences of communities on the Cape Flats, resonated with audiences and made him a familiar face on both English and Afrikaans platforms.
Award-winning comedian Marc Lottering said seeing Philander perform early in his life left a lasting impression.
“I was still a law student when I remember seeing Soli on stage. Soli had created a character called Rosie September,” Lottering recalled.
“I was blown away to witness such skill, such intellect, such authenticity and such an ability to make a packed theatre roar with laughter.”
Actress Lizz Meiring also reflected on Philander’s gift as a performer, describing him simply as “a very talented man with good comedy timing and a gift for characterisation”.
For actress Vinette Ebrahim, who worked alongside Philander in the industry for years, his fearless personality stood out as much as his talent.
“Soli was an amazing person, intelligent, fiery and fearless. He took on the world and the authorities without fear. I will miss him because he was just an extraordinary person.”
Singer Bianca Le Grange said Philander’s warmth and generosity left a lasting impression on those who encountered him.
“He welcomed me with open arms, sharing his humour and inspiration,” she said, adding that his wit and unmistakable Cape spirit would be deeply missed.
Over the years, Philander became a household name through programmes such as “Liriekeraai”, “Off the Record”, and the South African version of “Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?”.
Many South Africans also fondly remember him from children’s television, where he appeared as the character Timothy Traddle on the educational series “Kideo”.
Born and raised in Elsies River, Philander’s career spanned decades and included appearances in productions such as “Arendsvlei” and films like “The Umbrella Men: Escape from Robben Island”.
He is survived by his sons Caleb and Ethan, and daughters Danya and Kyla.
Those wishing to watch the funeral service can do so via the livestream below:
https://www.youtube.com/live/UXAstEoMqrg?si=Y9iikj5gWi07xM8x
