Veteran playwright and cultural colossal Sol Rachilo dies

The legend leaves behind a rich archive of his contribution to the evolution of South African culture over the years, starting from as early as the 1950s to date.

By Edward Tsumele, CITYLIFE/ARTS Editor
Main Pic: Ken Gampu, Hugh Masekela, Sol and Ziegfried Mynhardt
Pictures Courtesy of Niki’Oasis

Veteran actor and cultural colossal Sol Rachilo has died. Rachilo died at hospital on Friday, August 14, 2026. Circumstances surrounding his death are not clear at this stage. But a source close to the situation, told CITYLIFE/ARTS that he was taken to hospital after he suffered a tragic incident at his Mapetla, Soweto, family home, where he was living in a backroom. The source however, did not give details surrounding the incident, except adding that, it was tragic.

Rachillo has had a colourful career as an actor, who made his name while in Sophiatown of the 1950s and 1960s, and Soweto. He appeared in a number of stage productions, including in Sponono, that toured the UK, among other destinations. He also wrote plays.

He was educated at the famous Madibane High School, counting among high teachers, the late legendary Drum journalist Can Themba, who taught him English. This is a fact, that Bra Sol proudly told everyone who cared to listen, even in his old age.
Later on in life, Rachilo ran a school of theatre called Children of Soweto, based in Newtown and later in Yeoville he passed on acting skills to the youth, his passion for a long time, before hard times set in. The school was finally closed in the early 2000s.
However, in his old age, Rachilo faced challenges, including serial of homelessness, which caused recurring concerns among the cultural and creative sector, worried about his deteriorating health of the cultural legend. Especially, in recent months, when he was admitted at Helen Charlotte Maxeke Hospital for a hip operation. When he passed on, he was recuperating at home from that operation.

Rachilo loved the arts completely his whole life. This after turning to acting after leaving behind a promising acareer in social work that he had trained for at the then famous The Jan H. Hofmeyr School of Social Work started operating on January 15, 1941 in Eloff Street, Johannesburg. It is the same school that the late Winnie Madikizela-Mandela went to, to train as a social worker. A common figure in especially cultural spaces, such as Niki’s Oasis Jazz restaurant, where from time to time, he would go to be served food, as well as Market Theatre in Newtown, Rachilo died at the age of 95.
But for his age, he was so strong that he walked with a spring around the city, shaming people half his age, with regards to his state of fitness. In fact if there is such a thing as one person owning the city, Bra Sol did.

Whether across Mandela Bridge, Braamfontein, or the streets of Yeoville, Bra Sol walked like someone who actually owned the city.
And of course there were those who knew and respected Bra Sol’s contribution to South African culture, and recognised him for that, the last accolade having come from the Siphiwe Msimango Foundation with the ceremony taking place at MuseumAfrica in 2023, well attended by those who valued his contribution to culture.

At the time of his death, a group of concerned artists led by acting veteran Sello Maake ka Ncube, worried about Rachilo financial state, had embarked on a fundraising campaign for the ailing playwright.
But who is Sol Rachilo really and why he matters in the history of South African arts and culture landscape over the years. To understand the important role that Rachilo played in the cultural evolution of South Africa, one does not need to look further than reading former arts journalist and academic Andile Xaba’s Unpublished PHD Thesis.

A veteran performer from Union Artists. At Dorkay House he worked with Zakes Mokae, Bess Finney Ricky, Norah Taylor, and Cecil Williams.He made his professional stage debut in No-Good Friday in 1958. He was one of the actors in the cast of Sponono in 1962.Helped shape and acted in Maishe Maponya’s Gangsters (1984), playing “Jonathan”. He starred in the film Game for Vultures and in the SABC 1 drama series Lisenethini (It’s in the net} as Capone.He wrote The Township Housewife (1972) and Grounded in Mshenguville (1989).

Source: Andile Xaba. 2021. ‘Collective memory and the construction of a historical narrative, analysis and interpretation of selected Soweto-based community plays (1984–1994)’. Unpublished PhD thesis.
Bara Sol’s passing has definitely left many people hurting, particularly in the creative and cultural space, who knew his contribution to South Africa’s arts and cultural heritage.

“We are going to mkiss Bra Sol dearly. He was a true cultural veteran with a generous heart and unwavering commitment to preserving our heritage. Newtown was his home away from home, and I had the privilege to knowing him form the time Niki’s Oasis opened in 1995. For more than three decades, I saw him almost everyday. He was very special to us. He was a walking encyclopedia, with a sharp mind and an extraordinary memory –he knew and remembered everyone’s name, and carried countless stories of our people, our music, our theatre and our history. His immense contribution to South African art and culture, particularly his commitment to nurturing and preserving our heritage, will live on forever will live on forever. His passing leaves a great void in our Newtown family and in the broader arts and culture community.

We extend our heartfelt and deepest condolences to his family, friends and the entire arts and culture fraternity. Lala ngoxolo Bra Sol. Your legacy will live on,” said Simnikiwe Sondlo, the owner of Niki’s Oasis Jazz restaurant in Newtown, where Bra Sol regularly hanged out.
And she added: “Bra Sol was a remarkable older brother to me and Zak, and Tatomkhuku to Boyza, and all the staff at Niki’s Oasis. He was very special to us.”

Memorial services and funeral arrangements have not yet been made by the female, and as soon as they are announced, CITYLIFE/ARTS, will update the story.