According to the family of the former Generations actor, Legendary author, actor, and praise poet Zama Batyi has passed on.

The actor died on 30 November after experiencing a short illness, which has held him down for a while now.

Speaking to Daily Sun, his sister Judy said they were still in shock.

“I don’t think we will ever heal as a family. He was our pillar of strength and what bonded the family together,” she said.

According to Judy, on the day Zama drew his last breath, she received a call from him asking her to take him to the doctor.

“That was very odd because no matter how sick he got, he would never go to the doctor.

“When I arrived, what I saw broke my heart because he was ill to the point where he could not get up or walk to the car.

“We called an ambulance, but it was too late. He collapsed soon thereafter. Paramedics pronounced him dead on arrival.”

Judy described the author, whose books are used in the school curriculum, as loving and caring.

She told the People’s Paper that he would be laid to rest in Cape Town on Saturday, 11 December.

“He was a people’s person. He would crack a lot of jokes whenever there were people around as he believed that laughter is the best medicine.

“We are going to miss him a lot and with time, we will heal,” she said.

Zama, who has been part of productions such as Rhythm City, Intsika, Egoli and Scandal!, leaves behind his family and one child.

Shortly after his death, messages of condolences poured in, with many saying he had left a gap in the industry.

Poet Mzwakhe Mbuli said: “This year has deprived us of legends. Zama was a powerful and talented poet. I’m broken. I send our deepest condolences to his family.”