Television presenter Ian von Memerty, who rose to fame as the host of Strictly Come Dancing South Africa and SA’s Got Talent, has died at the age of 61.
According to reports, he took his own life at a hotel in Johannesburg.
The entertainer’s family confirmed his death through an announcement on his Facebook page on Sunday 1 March, stating that he passed away in Johannesburg a week before.
“We are sad to announce that our beloved Ian von Memerty passed away at the age of 61 in Johannesburg in the early hours of 23 February 2026,” the family statement read.
“As a family we have done everything we can to love and respect him on his journey. We ask for privacy and respect as we deal with our own pain, having lost someone we’ve loved very much.”
Controversial video series
Von Memerty had ignited public debate with his controversial video series, “Dying for a Better Life” in which the Zimbabwean-born entertainer, who lived in Gqeberha, made his decision to end his own life known through a series of videos and blogs posted on his official Facebook page and on YouTube.
Von Memerty’s death marks the end of a career that saw him become a household name in South African entertainment, particularly through his work on popular television programmes that brought international formats to local audiences.
