South African comedian and actor Ebenhaezer Dibakwane has passed away at the age of 31. Preliminary findings indicate he may have taken his own life on March 7, 2025, as stated by his family. Despite his public image as a source of laughter, Dibakwane had been grappling with depression for several years.
“The past few days have been excruciating for us as we battle to deal with this loss. Preliminary evidence suggests Ebby died by suicide, which we expect will be confirmed by the post-mortem examination,” his family shared in a statement with TshisaLIVE.
Born in 1994, Dibakwane achieved recognition in the entertainment world after winning the Newcomer of the Year award at the Savanna Comics’ Choice Awards in 2016. He continued his success by winning the Intermediate category in 2017 and being nominated for Breakthrough Comedian in 2018.
Dibakwane’s funeral service took place on March 14 in Mbombela, Nelspruit, South Africa, following a memorial service at The Bioscope in Johannesburg on March 12. During the funeral, a relative read a letter from his parents, Paul and Lucy Dibakwane, expressing their enduring love and memories of their son.
The family noted that Dibakwane displayed exceptional talents from a young age, excelling in English and mathematics during his childhood.
Tabitha Forrest, Dibakwane’s manager, reflected on his artistic development: “He grew so much over the years. We started working with him at the age of 22. Just to see him develop and to see the talent that came out was phenomenal.” She added that Dibakwane often sent unexpected messages of appreciation, noting, “Very often I would wake up and get like a 5 am heart from him on my WhatsApp, completely out of the blue…”
Fellow comedian Chris Forrest, who mentored Dibakwane early in his career, praised his unique comedic abilities.
Dibakwane’s talents extended beyond stand-up comedy into television and film. His acting credits included roles in South African productions such as “Ashes to Ashes,” “The Bantu Hour,” and “Thuli noThulani.” He also competed on “Dancing with the Stars South Africa” and appeared in productions like “Catching Feelings” and “MTV Shuga Downsouth.” His writing was recognized with a nomination for Best Achievement in Scriptwriting at the South African Film and Television Awards.
Throughout his career, Dibakwane collaborated with numerous comedy stars, including Trevor Noah and Marc Lottering, and international performers like Aries Spears and Hannibal Buress. His unique perspective, infectious energy, and ability to find humor in life’s complexities made his impact on South African comedy “undeniable,” according to his family.
Comedian Wazi M Kunene expressed her grief on Instagram, describing Dibakwane as her “first friend” in the entertainment industry.
Dibakwane’s death has highlighted the mental health challenges faced by those in the entertainment industry, particularly in South Africa. His passing follows a concerning pattern that includes the losses of rapper Riky Rick and actors Patrick Shai and Siyabonga Zubane, indicating an ongoing mental health crisis among creative professionals.
Many comedians contend with depression, often using their craft as a defensive posture against it. Despite external success and recognition, these internal struggles can sometimes remain hidden from the public eye.
The South African entertainment community continues to mourn the loss of a talented performer whose contributions to comedy and acting had a significant impact despite his relatively short career. The family is currently dealing with the loss and has expressed appreciation for the outpouring of love and support from the public.