Cape Town – According to online reports, beloved South African actress Christine Basson has died.
Christine was best known for her role as Nora Naudé in the M-Net soapie, Egoli. She was a resident at the Ekklesia Park retirement village at the time of her death and celebrated her 78th birthday on Sunday, 9 June.
Netwerk24 reports that Christine died at 04:45 on Monday morning.
Writer and close friend Reinet Louw Kemp, wrote on Facebook: "Our beloved friend Christine Basson - for many the strong motherly figure Nora Naudé from Egoli - peacefully went home this morning. She will be missed."
Local actress Lizz Meiring tweeted: "Legendary actress Christine Basson has died. She was a true legend and icon. I learnt a lot from her as a mentor when I was a young actress." Lizz also told Jacaranda FM that Christine "was in the high care unit and was struggling to breath and swallow" shortly before her death.
Danie Pienaar, a friend of Christine, told Netwerk24 the actress' health deteriorated rapidly over the lasts few months after she fractured her coccyx and was in a lot of pain due to osteoporosis.