Shaleen Surtie-Richards finished her last scenes in "good spirits"
Icon Shaleen Surtie-Richards' final 'Arendsvlei' episodes will air from September.
The iconic actress, Shaleen Surtie-Richards, unexpectedly died during her sleep on Monday while in Cape Town.
Surtie-Richards finished filming her last scenes as the retired nurse 'Muriel Foster' in 'Arendsvlei' last week Thursday.
READ: Die 'Egoli'-oomblik toe 'Nenna' en 'Elsa' perongeluk daggakoekies eet
Surtie-Richards first made her appearance in the kykNET telenovela in 2019 as the mother of 'Lionel Foster', played by Jody Abrahams.
"Shaleen has completed filming her part as 'Muriel Foster' with us on Thursday in good spirits," Tarryn Josephs, 'Arendsvlei' publicist told Jacaranda FM.
"Shaleen tackled her role as 'Muriel' with the same enthusiasm, generosity, and talent that she has tackled all of her roles."
Dit is met groot hartseer dat ons die nuus van Shaleen Surtie-Richards se afsterwe bevestig. Ons treur oor die verlies van ’n legende van die verhoog sowel as die skerm. Sy sal verewig onthou word. Ons innige meegevoel is met haar familie en vriende 🖤 🖤 pic.twitter.com/8Mmutkj40c
— kykNET TV (@kykNETtv) June 7, 2021
Despite her status as a legend in the South African television, theatre, and film industry, the actress died without being able to afford private hospital treatment.
Fellow actor and friend Lizz Meiring said the COVID-19 pandemic forced Surtie-Richards to cancel her medical aid.
READ: Shaleen Surtie-Richards died ‘without money for hospital’
“Millions of South Africans had to let go of their medical funds during the COVID-19 pandemic and Shaleen was also affected. She was a professional, so she was in Cape Town, and our mutual friend took her to the hospital as she was ill. The doctor wanted to book her into the hospital immediately but she couldn’t get help because she had no money."
Surtie-Richards is only one of a long list of prominent South Africans to die without much money to their name.
READ: Shaleen Surtie-Richards word vereer met eksklusiewe dokumentêr: 'I Am Who I Am'
Meiring believes the situation could have been avoided if the amendment of the Performers Protection Amendment Bill was signed into law. “She passed away like many other people in the industry with a traumatised budget. She suffered from financial difficulties because even today the Performers Protection Amendment Bill is not amended."
Tune in to the 'Scenic Drive with Rian', weekdays from 16:00-19:00. Stream the show live here or download our mobile app here.
Image Credit: Supplied/ Arendsvlei/ Tarryn Josephs