According to BBC, the award-winning actress and producer died at a hospital after she suffered complications during the childbirth.
“The country has lost a strong, resilient woman, an exemplary mother and, above all, an engine of our dreams,” Simela’s longtime friend and colleague Alvim Cossa told the BBC.“Hermelinda encouraged theatre people and create opportunities for actors to succeed.”
Simela scooped best supporting actress at the 2013 Africa Movie Academy Awards for her Virgin Margarida role.Her death comes a week after the funeral of Botswana-born actor and producer Shona Ferguson who died of Covid-19-related complications in SA.
