Connie Chiume, who played Black Panther, died at the age of 72, her family said.

The South African actress who won many awards died in a hospital in Johannesburg on Tuesday afternoon.

“Medial procedure” was what Chiume’s son Nongelo told Newsroom Afrika that his mother had before she died.

A lot of South African TV shows, like Rhythm City, Zone 14, and Gomora, had Chiume as the lead.

He played Zawavari, a member of the Wakandan Tribal Council, in the 2018 movie Black Panther.

In Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, the follow-up to the movie, her character became the Elder Statesman of Wakanda.

The family wants to be left alone for now and said that more information will be sent later.

Chiume told the MacG Podcast in 2022 that she wanted people to remember her in any way they chose.

“I have touched each and every person in a different way,” the famous actress said. No matter how I’ve affected you, remember me that way.

Fans have posted a lot of tributes and messages of sadness on social media about her death.

The South African government wrote on X (which used to be Twitter), “Our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and coworkers of the legendary and multi-award winning actress Connie Chiume.”

“Her outstanding work will always be remembered.”

Chiume was born in Welkom, in the province of Free State. His father is from Malawi and his mother is Zulu.

It is said that she trained to be a nurse but became a teacher instead before becoming a famous actress.

The star has two sons and two daughters who will miss him very much.