Orlando Pirates Mourn Nani Chakane's Passing

Orlando Pirates are mourning the loss of one of the club’s most cherished matriarchs, following the passing of Mrs Maleshoane Elizabeth “Nani” Chakane on 23 June 2026.

Mrs Chakane was the beloved wife of Mr Franklin Chakane, a figure well known and deeply respected within the Orlando Pirates family. Her death has cast a shadow over the club, which has asked the wider football community to keep the Chakane family in their thoughts and prayers during this period of grief.

In a message of condolence, the club extended its sympathies to Mr Chakane, the entire Chakane family, their relatives, friends, and all those whose lives were touched by Nani’s presence. For a club that so often speaks of itself as a family, this is a loss felt far beyond the walls of its offices and training grounds.

Funeral Details

Details of the funeral have been confirmed. The service will take place on Thursday, 2 July 2026, at the Uniting Reformed Church of South Africa in Orlando East, Soweto, starting at 09:00. After the church service, the funeral procession is scheduled to leave at approximately 11:00 for the burial at Nasrec Cemetery.

Mourners are also being received at the family home at 1173 Jacobs Street, Protea North, Soweto, where the Chakane family has opened its doors to friends, supporters and members of the football fraternity who wish to pay their respects.

At a club defined by its history, its people and its sense of community, the passing of Nani Chakane is a stark reminder that behind the badge and the black-and-white colours stand families, lives and stories that shape Orlando Pirates far beyond the pitch.