Mzansi's most popular TV matriarch Vho-Makhadzi has left the building forever, but veteran actress Candy Moloi has left a legacy that will last long after the closing credits have rolled up.
Moloi died at a Pretoria hospital on Tuesday afternoon, aged 67, after a long illness.
She became a household name when Venda soapie Muvhango premiered in 1997 playing Vho-Makhadzi - with her multi-coloured striped cloths hanging on her shoulders and lutomola tsie (traditional Venda head accessory) topping her natural Afro.
But to her family that include her actress daughter Lerato and son Tshepo, she was "Queen-daughter".
"When we remember Candy, we will remember the love. She had a big heart and so much love for people around her - her late parents, her siblings, children, nephews and nieces on both sides of the Moloi and Ramunenyiwa families; her grandchildren and friends alike," the family said in a joint statement to Sowetan.
"We will remember her love for beautiful music which she shared with her late husband, Vincent Seate Moloi. She loved her children and protected them all the time.
"Her father, SSS "Vevisa" Ramunenyiwa, used to call her 'Queen-daughter', because she was the first-born in the family and she used to brag about it - that she was royal.
"Candy was very strict and would remind people that she was instilling discipline that was instilled in her by her late mother Violet."
Her pop culture influence extended to all corners of SA so much that Matorokisi hit-maker Makhadzi based her stage name on her famous character.
"My first performance... the audience was unable to pronounce my birth name (Ndivhudzannyi Ralivhona), but because they watched Muvhango, all they could say was 'Makhadzi' and that just stuck with me," Makhadzi told Sowetan last month.
Leading man Gabriel Temudzani joined Muvhango as Vhafuwi (chief) Azwinndini in 2000, and he recalls how Moloi welcomed him on the show with warm arms.
Over the years playing opposite each other, they developed a strong personal friendship, especially after they found out that they shared a birthday - February 10. As a result, Temudzani and Moloi often called each other "twin".
"We will compete year-after-year on who will wish who happy birthday first. She will always beat me to it because she will surprise me so early in the morning with a call.
"She will be like: 'hi twin, God still protected us and we must be grateful with the blessing of life'. That will always be very close to my heart.
"She also introduced me to voice-over work because she had her own production house and we worked perfectly well together. I will remember her as a mother and colleague that embraced all regardless of their class or social background."
Her role as Vho-Makhadzi won her a SA Film and Television Award (Safta) in 2009.
Moloi also starred in TV shows such as Death of a Queen, Thola, Ring of Lies, Giyani: Land of Blood and Stokvel. She was the founder of advertising agency Candymol Productions.
"Candy Moloi was both a stellar linguist and a phenomenal storyteller, in a league of her own. Through her work, she taught us the Tshivenda language," minister of sports, arts and culture Nathi Mthethwa said.
"She was a true embodiment of African culture and heritage. A proud Venda Queen who created a path for so many others to enter the media space."
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