South African comedian and actor Ebenhaezer Dibakwane has died at age 31, with preliminary evidence suggesting he took his own life on March 7, 2025, according to his family. The award-winning performer had been struggling with depression for several years despite his public persona as someone who made others laugh.

“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 said in a statement shared with TshisaLIVE.

Born in 1994, Dibakwane rose to prominence in the entertainment industry after winning the Newcomer of the Year award at the Savanna Comics’ Choice Awards in 2016. His success continued as he claimed the Intermediate category award the following year and received a nomination for Breakthrough Comedian in 2018.

Dibakwane’s funeral service was held on March 14 in Mbombela, Nelspruit, following a memorial service at The Bioscope in Johannesburg on March 12. At 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 shared that Dibakwane had shown exceptional gifts from an early age, excelling in English and mathematics during his childhood.

Tabitha Forrest, Dibakwane’s manager, reflected on his growth as an artist: “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 would often send 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 talent extended beyond stand-up comedy into television and film. His acting portfolio 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 including “Catching Feelings” and “MTV Shuga Downsouth.” His writing abilities were 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 shared her grief on Instagram, calling Dibakwane her “first friend” in the entertainment industry. 

Dibakwane’s passing has highlighted the mental health challenges faced by those in the entertainment industry, particularly in South Africa. His death follows a concerning pattern that includes the losses of rapper Riky Rick and actors Patrick Shai and Siyabonga Zubane, pointing to an ongoing mental health crisis among creative professionals.

The struggle with depression is something many comedians contend with, often using their craft as what has been described as a defensive posture against depression. Despite the external success and recognition, these internal battles 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.