In an emotional, heartwarming, and deeply candid interview, iconic actress and television producer Connie Ferguson recently joined Thando Thabethe on 947 with Thando. She took listeners down memory lane, reflecting on the whimsical, movie-like moment she met her late husband, Shona Ferguson, and sharing how she navigates her world five years after his tragic passing.
Connie and Shona’s union remains one of South African entertainment’s most enduring and beautiful love stories. Here is how it all began—and how his memory continues to shape her life.
A Meet-Cute Straight Out of a Script
It was July 2001, and Connie was in her bedroom when her life changed forever. Surprisingly, Shona hadn’t even come to see her.
- The Intruder in the Kitchen: Shona was simply dropping off friends of Connie’s sister at her house.
- The Voice and the Laugh: “I was way back in my bedroom when I just heard this male voice in my kitchen,” Connie smiled, recalling the romantic memory. “I heard his laugh. You know that laugh that makes you laugh and you don’t know what people are laughing about?”
- The Turnaround: Intrigued, she walked down the hallway to find a man in a sharp suit standing with his back to her. When he turned around with his signature bright smile, he introduced himself: “Hi, I’m Shona.”
Connie was immediately charmed, especially when Shona began speaking fluent Setswana. By the next evening, they were out on a group dinner date. By October of that very same year—just three months later—Shona had already paid lobola (bride price).
Intertwined Lives and the Reality of Loss
From that whirlwind beginning, the dynamic duo built an empire. Together, they raised their daughters, Lesedi and Alicia, and founded Ferguson Films, producing massive Mzansi television hits like Rockville, The Queen, and Kings of Jo’Burg.
When Shona tragically passed away in July 2021, Connie’s world was shattered. She described his death as an unexpected shock that forced her into a jarring new reality.
“It wasn’t just losing my husband for me, it was losing my best friend, it was losing my partner. Our lives were intertwined completely. For the longest time, I didn’t know how to process it.”
Even the simplest domestic acts—like making the bed in the morning, a ritual they always did together, or preparing breakfast—became painful reminders of his physical absence.
Now, five years on, Connie finds peace and joy in keeping his spirit alive. “Even now, five years later, I talk about him like it was yesterday. I love talking about him,” she shared, showing that true love never fades.
