Chiume died on Tuesday at Garden City Hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa, The Hollywood Reporter reported. Her family shared the news in a statement posted on Chiume’s official Instagram account.

“The Chiume family saddens to inform you of the passing of internationally acclaimed and award-winning actress Connie Chiume,” the statement said. “The family requests privacy during this difficult time. The family will share further details.”

On Wednesday, the family released a follow-up post with more details about Chiume’s death. The update said she died “after a period of illness” and the family expressed gratitude and appreciation to the nurses and doctors who helped her.

“Funeral and burial details will be announced on Connie’s social media platforms in due course as the family needs time to make the necessary arrangements,” the follow-up post said.

Chiume was born on June 5, 1952, in Welkom, South Africa. She trained as a nurse and graduated as a teacher in 1976, the Independent reported. The following year, her acting career began when she moved to Greece and joined the cast of a music show called Sola-Sola.

She became a well-known personality in South Africa after playing the role of Thembi in the popular television series Inkom’ Edla Yodwa 1989, THR reported. After winning several awards for her performances in television series in the early 2000s, she later portrayed Mamokete Khuse in the soap opera Rhythm City in 2015.

Three years later, she played Zawavari, the elder of the mining tribe, in Black Panther. In the sequel to 2022 Black Panther: Wakanda ForeverAccording to the Independent, she succeeded Zuri (played by Forest Whitaker) as Wakanda’s elder statesman.

Chiume was also part of the cast for the Netflix series Queen SonoIt was the first African original series produced by the streaming company.

In addition to her roles in South African productions, she appeared in Beyoncé’s Disney musical film Black is kinga project inspired by The Lion Kingin which Chiume played Sarabi, Simba’s mother.