Mail & Guardian
Mail & Guardian
Rolland Simpi Motaung

Creator

Rolland Simpi Motaung

Prize-winner: Variations on a Theme was cast entirely from the local community. Photos: Supplied

Directors Jason Jacobs and Devon Delmar push creative boundaries with Variations on a Theme

A poetic, genre-blurring film, Variations on a Theme excavates ancestral grief, memory and forgotten histories in a Northern Cape community still waiting for justice

Bestselling author:
Moshitadi Lehlomela.
Photo: Supplied

When Home Hurts: Moshitadi Lehlomela on Healing Maternal Trauma

Author Moshitadi Lehlomela confronts childhood trauma in Healing the Mother Wound

Keen eye: Bulelwa Jordan-Tati, the founder of Urban Blend Interiors, a Cape Town studio, offering design services that transform interiors into personal retreats for their clients. Photos: Urban Blend Interiors

Designing with soul: How Bulelwa Jordan-Tati shapes spaces that Feel

Bulelwa Jordan-Tati reflects on crafting meaningful spaces and shares her views on interior design trends for 2026

Homecoming: Celebrations scenes from Mgidi Moms. Photo: Mzansi Magic

Inside ‘Mgidi Moms’: Where tradition, love and celebration meet

From initiation to homecoming, Mzansi Magic’s bold new reality show explores family, identity and Xhosa heritage

Bookworms: Happy book lovers at Exclusive Books in Centurion Mall, Pretoria. Photos: Siyafunda Sonke

Silence is golden for South Africa’s book lovers

Organisers Griffin Shea and Ntokozo Ndlovu speak about how silent reading clubs are transforming South Africa’s book culture

Award-winning model scout, pageant coach, fashion producer and media entrepreneur,
Kgomotso Seboko. Photo: Supplied

Kgomotso Seboko: The man finding Africa’s next top models

From launching a modelling academy to discovering global talent, Seboko’s journey reaches new heights at Paris Fashion Week

Reclaiming heritage: Koketso Mohlala crafts and walks with her Pedi heritage unapologetically intact, shining
a light on Africa’s pride and beauty through Ditsala Designs. Photos: Supplied

Bold. African. Unapologetic.

Koketso Mohlala challenges Western beauty standards and shines a global spotlight on authentic African craftsmanship

Mainstreaming the IsiXhosa language: The cast Loyiso MacDonald (Lazarus), Lunathi Mampofu (Zoleka), Ayakha Ntunja (Qhawe), Sisa Hewana
(Hlathi) and Zenande Mfenyana (Thumeka) Photo: MzansiMagic

The Bold and the Xhosa

Executive producer, Siphosethu Tshapu strikes gold with high-stakes telenovela Inimba

Barbara Adair’s unconventional journey

More than a chronicle of Namibia, Barbara Adair’s book experiments with language and structure

In To Health With It!, Tebogo ‘ProVerb’ Thekisho combines relatable
stories with expert guidance on health and wellness

From hip-hop to holistic health

In To Health With It!, Tebogo ‘ProVerb’ Thekisho combines relatable stories with expert guidance on health and wellness

Will they/won’t they: Will Zoleka (Sivenathi Mabuya-Bukani) and Kagiso (Bohang Moeko) make it down the aisle in one piece. Photo: Netflix

Netflix reimagining December viewing

The streaming giant and local filmmakers are reshaping festive storytelling with relatable, binge-worthy South African stories

Social media sensation: The documentary Masaka Kids, A Rhythm Within tells the story of Masaka Kids Africana, a bustling home for more than 30
orphaned children. Picture: Supplied

Top binge entertainment picks

From transformative books to binge-worthy series, these South African titles will keep you entertained this holiday season

Strumming: Pops Mohamed playing the kora. The globally renowned South African musician died on 4
December 2025, just days before his 76th birthday. Photo: Siphiwe Mhlambi

Remembering Pops Mohamed

Tributes pour in for the multi-instrumentalist who blended African traditions with modern sounds

Scenes from Alice Childress’s 1955 classic play Trouble in Mind. Photo: Supplied

Designing Her Destiny: SA set designer takes New York by stage

From a rural Limpopo village to the home of Broadway, Shilongane Nkoana’s journey is a story of grit, ambition, and the artistry behind world-class stage design

The protagonist Mkhondwana, portrayed by Thembekile Komani.
Photo: Mzansi Magic

A love letter to AmaMpondo

Mpondoland brings the rich history, spirituality and resilience of AmaPondo to screen, exploring identity, community and the fight for economic freedom

Before the move to the South African State Theatre in 2023, Black Labone events were hosted down the road from the theatre at African Beer
Emporium. Photo: Black Labone

Pretoria’s creative renaissance

Black Labone continues the legacy of the city’s iconic arts sessions, blending nostalgia, collaboration and resilience

Blockbuster films: John Kani says Africa should make Box Office movies.
Photo: Supplied

Inside the New Creative Academies Shaping South Africa’s Next Generation of Storytellers

South Africa’s creative sector is evolving as John Kani and Maumela Mahuwa launch academies designed to upskill performers, empower filmmakers and reshape African storytelling

Felabration: Commemorative 76th birthday anniversary poster print
of Nigerian nationalist and Godfather of afrobeat, Fela Anikulapo Kuti.
Photo: Sindiso Nyoni

Drawing Change: How David Tshabalala and Sindiso Nyoni Turn Design into social power

From classrooms in Bloemfontein and Bulawayo to global exhibitions, David Tshabalala and Sindiso Nyoni turn creativity into social impact

Poet and healer: vangile gantsho, says the G20 Women’s National Shutdown campaign is essential due to the
lack of safety of women in South Africa. Photo: Gerard Nartey Photography

This is an emergency: The G20 women’s shutdown and the crisis SA can’t ignore

A nationwide shutdown on 21 November demands GBVF be declared a National Disaster, confronting government inaction as the world’s leaders arrive

Thapelo Motloung, the founder of the Soweto Film Market and CEO of the Soweto International Film Festival. Photo: Supplied

The bioscope is back: Soweto film Market & film festival are reclaiming township cinema culture

Thapelo Motloung breaks down building a filmmaking ecosystem in Soweto through SIFF and Soweto Film Marke