Award-winning actress Busisiwe ‘Busi’ Lurayi has passed on.

The passing of the How To Ruin Christmas lead actress was announced by her family through a statement.

“We are deeply saddened to notify you of the passing of our beloved Busisiwe Lurayi. Busisiwe passed away suddenly and was pronounced dead at her residence on Sunday,” the statement reads.

According to the family the cause of death remains unknown and they are waiting for the autopsy report.

In the statement sent to Nounouche, the veteran actress’ family also asked for time and space to process the tragic news.

“We humbly request that you allow us as the family to come to terms with this tragic news. We thank you for your support given so far.”

The late actress has graced our TV screens portraying many roles but she is particularly best known for her role as Phumzile on the SABC1 sitcom City Sesla which she bagged an award for Best Supporting Actress at the SAFTs.

Besides City Sesla, Busisiwe was also a part of Netflix’s hit comedy series How to Ruin Christmas where she played the role of How to Ruin Christmas’ Tumi Sello, the family rebel and disappointment who begrudgingly joins her dysfunctional family for the first Christmas holidays in years.

She has also been a part of  SABC 1’s drama series Sokhulu and Partners where she played a backstabbing lawyer Winnie Molepo, who worked for the Sokhulu brothers.