NEW BOOK CHALLENGES SOUTH AFRICA’S FILM INDUSTRY

 

New book challenges South Africa’s film industry: The Unlegislated Dream Calls for Labour Protection and Legislative Reform.

 

South Africa’s creative economy is rapidly emerging as one of the country’s most significant economic and cultural forces. 

According to recent industry reporting by Business and Arts South Africa (BASA), the cultural and creative industries contribute nearly R300 billion to the country’s GDP - approximately 4% of the national economy while supporting an estimated 1.4 million jobs across multiple sectors.

From film and television to music, fashion, design, gaming, and digital storytelling, South Africa’s creative industries continue to shape global cultural conversations while driving employment, tourism, entrepreneurship, and economic participation.

Yet behind the growth of the screen sector lies a difficult question many within the industry have quietly asked for years:

Who protects the people sustaining the industry?

In his forthcoming publication, The Unlegislated Dream, South African filmmaker and cultural policy practitioner Andile Sinqoto confronts the structural realities facing creative workers in one of the country’s most influential industries.

Far more than a book release, The Unlegislated Dream enters the national conversation as a policy-driven intervention examining the absence of sector-specific legislation, labour protections, institutional safeguards, and long-term sustainability frameworks within South Africa’s film and television industry.

Drawing from nearly two decades of industry experience across filmmaking, governance, labour advocacy, and institutional leadership, Sinqoto argues that while the screen sector continues to contribute significantly to employment, culture, tourism, and international visibility, many creative workers remain vulnerable to freelance precarity, inconsistent labour standards, limited economic participation, and inadequate legal recognition.

 

The publication interrogates issues including:

-freelance labour and worker vulnerability,

-authorship rights and intellectual property,

-residuals and royalties,

-occupational safety,

-governance accountability,

-and the sustainability of African film and television industries.

At the centre of the book is a clear and urgent position:

“Legislation is not an act of intervention. It is an act of governance.”

 

Rather than approaching reform from an ideological perspective, The Unlegislated Dream frames legislative recognition as a matter of governance, economic responsibility, labour protection, and institutional accountability.

The release arrives at a critical moment for South Africa’s creative economy, as conversations surrounding labour instability, transformation, funding structures, industry sustainability, and worker protection continue to intensify across the entertainment sector.

“For too long, the creative industry has operated within systems that celebrate its cultural contribution while overlooking the structural realities faced by the people who sustain it. This book is not an attack on the industry — it is a call for governance, sustainability, and dignity for creative workers,” says Andile Sinqoto.

The Unlegislated Dream is expected to spark discussion among government institutions, labour stakeholders, broadcasters, cultural organisations, filmmakers, producers, unions, and industry professionals across South Africa and the African continent.

This is not simply a conversation about film.

It is a conversation about labour, governance, economic justice, and the future sustainability of the creative economy itself.

The Unlegislated Dream is set for release in June 2026 and will be available on Takealot, Google Play Books, Google Play, Apple Books, Amazon, and Audible.

 

 

ART MAKES A HOME MORE HUMAN - DECORATING WITH ART

 

(Steampunk Victorian filigree beetle Volkswagen by PATIO GURU SA)

 

Whoever you are, wherever you live, a painting, a print, your children’s art beautifully framed, transforms a house into a home. Art complements and elevates your décor, it tells your story

This year’s East Coast Radio House + Garden Show showcases the fine art of framing, the power of statement mirrors, how recycling can be reinvention, and of course, the wonderful work of numerous talented, established, and emerging artists. From June 27 to July 5, the Durban Exhibition Centre plays host to artists from across the spectrum, a superb opportunity for homeowners to bring their walls to life, and choose bold over beige.

The Durban Art Gallery promises a wide and wonderful diversity of work, giving visitors the opportunity to engage with contemporary art and artists. The Gallery will showcase six artists, each of whom brings different concepts and execution to the Show. It’s fresh, exciting art from this group who work in different mediums and genres, from paint to charcoal to lipstick, and self-portraits to abstracts. Each artist is exploring their personal relationship with the human and natural world. Come to the Durban Art Gallery stand, and connect with the work of Bandile Ncanana, Njabulo ‘Vezi’ Mngwengwe, Mlamuli Shozi, Ayanda Mkhize, Lindokuhle Mthembu, and Nhlanhla Shozi.

On the road again are Jodie and Ryan Loubser, travelling artists. They move around the country, painting, exhibiting and selling their art. Jodie says, “It's a good and busy life, and our studio changes constantly.”

And that’s where you, visitors to the Show, come in. The Loubsers will be there, each exhibiting their own distinctive style of art, largely in oils. Jodie paints water lily landscapes and chandelier interiors mainly, and Ryan is known for his Fractionism, Quiver Trees, landscapes and Multi Visions. They love to do commissions for homes, so find them and have a chat about your home and style.

Soekie Human of Ermelo has a very different artistic style. The past 22 years have seen her developing a very distinctive style in both oils and impasto acrylics. With warm, rich colours and loose brushwork, Soekie’s celebration of nature is evident in every painting.

Contemporary art complements or even creates contemporary homes. Sarita Gous has been painting for 15 years, creating modern ocean and cloudscape oil paintings inspired by nature, light, and atmosphere. She’s inspired by the feeling and energy of the sea and sky, and how they shift and move in subtle, powerful ways: “I aim to create a visual portal - offering spaces of calm, reflection, and reconnection within the home,” says Sarita.

A painting, drawing or artwork may be exquisite, but framing spells the difference between mediocre and magical. Thirtieth time exhibiting at the Show, Natal Art Craft Industries (NACI) has been in Durban for over 60 years. They’re renowned for their custom frames using recycled polystyrene, framed or laser-cut mirrors, framed prints, glass art, décor items, and canvas wall art. They’re offering exclusive show specials, including everything up to 60% off, and 20% off custom framing vouchers redeemable in their showroom until the end of August 2026.

Lazarus Kufakunesu is not only the Patio Guru, but a legendary soapstone sculptor and more. He produces canvas paintings, steampunk art, fine art, and patio furniture. "No scrap belongs in the scrap yard," believes recycler extraordinaire Lazarus, as he transforms old car parts, horseshoes, garden tools, and scrap drums into handcrafted masterpieces. His outdoor furniture and light pendants are well worth a trip to his outdoor stand N8.

From young, vibrant, emerging artists to those with decades of experience, there’s a canvas, a sculpture, a print or more, that’s perfect for that beckoning spot on the wall. Listen carefully … it’ll talk to you, and you’ll know it’s for you.

The East Coast Radio House + Garden Show takes place from June 27 to July 5 at the Durban Exhibition Centre.

Tickets are available online via quicket.co.za or housegardenshow.co.za or at the entrance on the day.

RISK LAB LAUNCHES BASICS COURSE

 

(Roberto Pombo. Pic supplied)

 

The Risk Lab launches 8-week Improv Basics Course for Durban’s actors and creatives.

A playful invitation to step beyond the script and rediscover joy, spontaneity, and connection

This June and July, Durban’s creative community is invited to step into the unknown—in the best way possible. The Risk Lab, a new Durban-based creative company, is launching its 8-week Improv Basics Course, designed for actors, performers, and creatives looking to expand their craft, challenge their instincts, and reconnect with the joy of performance.

While open to complete beginners, the course is also geared toward actors and creatives who want to sharpen their skills or try something completely new. Improvisation is not just about being “funny” or quick-witted—it’s about presence, playfulness and trust – allowing yourself to let go of overthinking and embracing the unexpected.

Over eight weeks, participants will be guided through the foundational principles of short-form improvisation, developing skills that are invaluable for any performer: active listening, spontaneity and ensemble awareness.

The course is facilitated by Roberto Pombo, a theatre-maker, performer, and educator who brings a process-focused approach to training—encouraging artists to take creative risks, embrace vulnerability, and move beyond perfectionism in their work.

The Risk Lab itself is rooted in the belief that meaningful, engaging theatre emerges when artists are given the space to experiment, fail, and discover. Alongside producing original performance work, the company offers training and development opportunities aimed at nurturing a more open, connected, and adventurous creative community in Durban.

This course marks the beginning of that vision in action—creating a space where artists can step out of their comfort zones, rediscover play, and build new creative muscles in a collaborative environment.

 

Course Details:

Dates: Tuesdays, 18h30–20h30

June: 2, 9, 23, 30

July: 7, 14, 21, 28

(No session on June 16)

Venue: Kloof Civic Centre

Cost: R2000 (limited reduced-fee spots available)

 

Applications and more information: www.therisklab.co.za

 

Enquiries to: risklabkzn@gmail.com

THE PRINCE OF EGYPT

 

(Ramses, the Pharaoh, played by Matthew Brown, surrounded by members of the cast. Pic by Val Adamson)

 

The Young Performers Project will be staging The Prince of Egypt, a sweeping epic of a musical, over the mid-year school holidays in the Playhouse Opera from July 10 – 19.

Journey through the wonders of Ancient Egypt as Ramses and Moses, two young men raised together as brothers in a kingdom of privilege, find themselves suddenly divided by a secret past. One must rule as Pharaoh, the other must rise up and free his true people; both face a destiny that will change history forever.

The Prince of Egypt is directed by theatrical maestro Roberto Pombo, making his YPP debut, with choreography by Evashnee Pillay, music direction by Des Govender, sound design by Ant Govender, set and prop design by Nicolene Steyn, lighting design by Evan le Roux, and costumes by Kathy Singery.

The cast features 60 senior scholars, and 74 junior scholars from 42 different schools.

The Young Performers Project has, for the past 25 years, faithfully staged an annual musical theatre production with a youthful cast (with at least one professional performer) and a professional production team to provide the next generation of theatre practitioners with valuable experience of performing in a professional context. In recent years, to provide maximum experience for the youngsters, and theatre options for audiences, YPP has staged up to three productions a year: over the Easter, July and Christmas holidays. In recent years they have staged The Little Mermaid Jr, Annie, Shrek, Elf the Musical and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

The musical is a stage adaptation of the 1998 DreamWorks film, featuring music and lyrics by Stephen Shwartz, multi-Grammy winner and the writer of Wicked, Pocahontas and The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and orchestral composition by the legendary Hanz Zimmer; book by Philip LaZebnik, and 10 new songs written by Schwartz, together with five of his songs from the DreamWorks Animation film. The production features Schwartz’s Academy Award-winning duet, When You Believe made famous by Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey.

Their first show is a special Relaxed Performance on Friday July 10 at 11h00 where theatre etiquette guidelines are relaxed and the performance is consciously calmed, where the auditorium lights are dimmed, but not dark and the audience meet the characters ahead of time. This is ideal for people with sensory issues and for children not experienced in attending theatre shows.

 

Performances:

Fri 10 – 11h00 and 14h30

Sat 11 – 11h00 and 14h30

Sun 12 – 14h30

Tues 14 – 14h30

Wed 15 – 14h30

Thurs 16 – 14h30

Fri 17 – 18h30

Sat 18 – 11h00 and 14h30

Sun 19 – 14h30 / final

 

Tickets through Webtickets.

DURBAN FILMMART STRENGTHENS GLOBAL PARTNERSHIPS

Durban FilmMart Strengthens Global Partnerships for Film Critics and Palestinian Cinema.

The Durban FilmMart Institute (DFMI) continues to expand opportunities for filmmakers, film critics and industry professionals through strategic international partnerships that support talent development, industry access and cross-border collaboration.

Announcements made during the 2026 Cannes Film Festival highlighted two significant initiatives that will further advance support for emerging African film critics and Palestinian filmmakers engaging with the international marketplace.

New Partnership Creates Opportunity for Durban Talents Press Participant

At the Egyptian Pavilion during the Cannes Film Festival, a new collaboration between the Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF), the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) and the Durban FilmMart Institute was announced during FIPRESCI's annual reception.

The partnership will see FIPRESCI select an outstanding participant from the Talents Durban Press programme at Durban FilmMart 2026 to receive an award presented by CIFF. The selected critic will be invited to attend the Cairo International Film Festival, cover the festival's activities and contribute to its English-language daily publication.

The initiative represents an important step in strengthening film criticism across the African continent and creating greater opportunities for emerging critical voices to engage with international film culture and discourse.

Managed by DFMI since 2019 the Talents Durban forms part of the global Berlinale Talents network and supports emerging African filmmakers and critics through mentorship, skills development and industry engagement. The Talent Press stream provides a dedicated platform for developing film criticism and nurturing the next generation of African film journalists and critics.

Speaking during the announcement, DFMI Director Magdalene Reddy welcomed the collaboration as a meaningful investment into film criticism, a fading art that the film industry desperately needs to revive.

 

Palestine Film Institute Returns to Durban FilmMart for the Fourth Consecutive Year

The Palestine Film Institute (PFI) has also announced the projects selected for its 2026 Showcase at Durban FilmMart, marking the fourth consecutive year of collaboration between the two organisations.

Four Palestinian feature films currently in development will be presented to international producers, festival programmers, funders and industry representatives attending Durban FilmMart 2026.

The Showcase forms part of PFI's broader mission to develop, promote and preserve Palestinian cinema while creating sustainable international opportunities for Palestinian filmmakers and producers. Through direct engagement with key industry decision-makers, participating teams are able to build partnerships, advance projects and explore pathways towards production, financing and international circulation.

PFI's international showcases remain a central component of its strategy to strengthen the visibility and sustainability of Palestinian cinema. By facilitating meaningful industry encounters, the initiative creates opportunities not only for individual projects but also for the long-term growth and recognition of Palestinian storytelling on the global stage.

The ongoing partnership between the DFMI and the PFI reflects a shared commitment to creating platforms for underrepresented voices, supporting diverse narratives and fostering meaningful industry connections across regions.

 

Selected projects for Durban FilmMart 2026

WITHIN SIGHT AND SOUND by Assia Boundaoui

What the Sand Remembers by Mahmoud Abu Ghalwa

On The Sea Road by Fitnat Waked

Echo from the Unsung by Raji Al Jaru, Sa'ed Al Jaru, Ash Moniz

 

Building Bridges Through Industry Collaboration

These announcements reinforce Durban FilmMart's role as a platform where talent development, industry access and international collaboration intersect. By connecting filmmakers and critics with global networks and opportunities, DFMI continues to contribute to the growth of a more inclusive and interconnected screen industry.

As Durban FilmMart 2026 approaches, these partnerships underscore the importance of building sustainable creative ecosystems that support storytellers, critics and industry professionals from Africa and across the Global South.

The 17th edition Durban FilmMart is funded by the Durban Film Office, eThekwini Municipality, Ford Foundation, the National Film and Video Foundation and IEFTF.

About Durban FilmMart Institute

Durban FilmMart Institute is the business hub of the African film industry in a world where African professionals and content are globally competitive and celebrated. The mission of the Durban FilmMart Institute is to provide appropriate and effective programmes and services to promote, support and facilitate investment in the African film industry. The Durban FilmMart Institute runs year-round developmental programmes and an annual market (Durban FilmMart).  The DFMI is the custodian of Filmmart.africa which is an online tool for filmmakers to connect and which we hope will enhance visibility for African content. 

About the Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF)

The Cairo International Film Festival is one of the oldest internationally accredited film festivals in Africa, the Arab world, and the Middle East. It is one of only 15 festivals globally to hold Category "A" status from the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF). The festival is held annually in Cairo during November, screening around 150 films from across the globe across nine sections, with the most prominent competing for the Golden Pyramid and Silver Pyramid awards.

 

About the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI)

The International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) is an association of national organizations of professional film critics and film journalists from around the world. Founded in June 1925 in Brussels, it currently has members in over 80 countries. The Federation aims to promote and develop film culture, safeguard the professional interests of critics, and present its awards at major international film festivals.

 

About the Palestine Film Institute (PFI)

The Palestine Film Institute (PFI) is an independent Palestinian-led non-profit organization established in 2019 by a group of Palestinian film workers to support, connect, and sustain the ecosystem of Palestinian cinema across geographies. It emerged from a shared recognition of the need for an infrastructure that strengthens collaboration, solidarity, and the collective agency of Palestinian film workers.

67 BLANKETS, EXCLUSIVE BOOKS AND COMMUNITIES ACROSS SA CELEBRATE WORLDWIDE KNIT IN PUBLIC DAY

 

The children of Malvern Children’s Home in Durban received a shower of warmth when the 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day Organisation handed over knitted blankets and beanies recently. In the shot are Wendy Theunissen, an ambassador of the organisation; Andile Ncamana, Director of Malvern’s Children’s Home, Sue Eslick (67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day Organisation ambassador) and Retinah Mugumbate, Malvern Children’s Home supervisor. Pic by Tumi Pakkies, Independent Newspapers)

What if a ball of wool could create a friendship? That is the simple but powerful idea behind a new national partnership between 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day and Exclusive Books, launching this June in the lead-up to and on Worldwide Knit in Public Day.

The initiative, titled Crocheting New Circles of Friendship, will roll out across 15 participating Exclusive Books stores in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape, creating welcoming spaces where communities can gather, learn new skills, share stories and help bring warmth to those in need.

To support the initiative, participating stores will provide venue space, refreshments, wool, crochet hooks and knitting needles, while 67 Blankets Ambassadors and KnitWits will help newcomers learn the basics of crochet and become part of the movement's growing family of #GoodWool volunteers.

Maria Varfis, CMO of Exclusive Books, explains: "We have always believed that books and stories have the power to bring people together, but communities are built through many forms of creativity and connection. So the opportunity to partner with 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day was a natural fit.

“Crocheting New Circles of Friendship is about creating welcoming spaces where people can learn, share, connect and contribute to something larger than themselves. We are delighted to open our stores to a movement that has touched so many lives and inspired such extraordinary acts of kindness.”

Carolyn Steyn, founder of 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day, says the partnership beautifully reflects the heart of the movement. "People often think we are only in the business of making blankets for others," says Steyn. "But what we are also creating are connections, friendships and communities. Every blanket begins with a stitch, but every stitch begins with a person reaching out to another person.”

Annie Robinson Grealy continues, saying: "We are deeply grateful to Exclusive Books for opening their doors to us and for helping us create new circles of friendship across South Africa. Through this partnership, we hope to welcome many new people into the 67 Blankets family, where skills can be shared, kindness can grow and every stitch can become part of a much bigger story."

The initiative forms part of Worldwide Knit in Public Day, celebrated in more than 50 countries around the globe and embraced by thousands of crafters who take their knitting and crocheting into public spaces to share their passion with others.

 

History of 67 Blankets

Since its beginnings in 2013 as a challenge to create 67 blankets in honour of Nelson Mandela's 67 years of service, 67 Blankets has grown into a global movement that has wrapped countless people in warmth while inspiring acts of kindness across communities, generations and borders.

Across South Africa, Ambassadors, KnitWits and supporters will mark the occasion with gatherings that celebrate creativity, connection and giving back to their communities.

The first Crocheting New Circles of Friendship gatherings will take place at participating Exclusive Books stores across Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape throughout June, with local 67 Blankets Ambassadors and KnitWits helping to introduce newcomers to the joy of crochet and the spirit of #GoodWool.

Participating stores include Melrose Arch, Gateway, Eastgate, Cresta, Mall of Africa, V&A Waterfront, Pavilion, Fourways Mall, Cavendish, Ballito Junction, Sandton, Paarl, The Grove, Clearwater Mall and Canal Walk.

 

June 6, 2026

Melrose Arch (Gauteng) – 11h00

Gateway (KwaZulu-Natal) – 11h00

Eastgate (Gauteng) – 11h00

Cresta (Gauteng) – 12 noon

 

June 12, 2026

Mall of Africa (Gauteng) – 11h00

 

June 13, 2026 – Worldwide Knit in Public Day

V&A Waterfront (Western Cape) – 11h00

Pavilion (KwaZulu-Natal) – 11h00

Fourways Mall (Gauteng) – 11h00

Cavendish (Western Cape) – 11h00

Constantia (Western Cape – 11h00

 

June 19, 2026

Ballito Junction (KwaZulu-Natal) – 11h00

 

June 20, 2026

Sandton (Gauteng) – 11h00

Clearwater (Gauteng) – 11h00

The Grove, Pretoria (Gauteng) – 11h00

Canal Walk (Western Cape) – 11h00

Paarl (Western Cape) – 11h00

 

June 27, 2026

Clearwater Mall (Gauteng) – 11h00

Canal Walk Shopping Centre (Western Cape) – 11h00

 

More Retailers Help to Celebrate Worldwide Knit in Public Day

In addition to the Exclusive Books activations, other retailers and community partners are also opening their doors on Worldwide Knit in Public Day, helping to grow the circle of friendship, creativity and kindness that sits at the heart of the 67 Blankets movement.

 

George, Western Cape

The George KnitWits will gather on June 13 at Outeniqua Lifestyle Centre from 10h00, welcoming experienced crafters and first-timers alike. Needles, hooks and wool will be available, together with refreshments and plenty of encouragement.

 

Hermanus, Western Cape

On Saturday, June 13, Ocean Basket Hermanus will host a community knit-in from 12noon to 16h00, with participants aiming to complete 67 squares for future blanket projects.

 

Irene, Gauteng

Irene Village Mall, in partnership with the Broll Foundation and The Wool Shoppe, will host a public knitting and crochet event featuring prizes, refreshments, wool and crafting demonstrations on June 13 from 09h00 to 13h00

 

Fourways, Johannesburg

Supporters will gather at Spur Fourways Crossing on June 13 from 09h00 to 13h00 for another celebration of knitting, crocheting and community spirit.

 

Cape Town

Join KnitWits on June 13 from 10h00 to 14h00 at The Blue Route Mall.

 

Makro

On July 11, Makro will partner with 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day to host scarf-making activations at its Amanzimtoti, Montague Gardens and Carnival City stores. Makro has generously supplied the wool for the initiative, while 67 Blankets KnitWits will help members of the public learn to knit and crochet scarves that will ultimately be donated through the movement's ongoing warmth projects. 

 

The initiative reflects the growing number of organisations embracing the spirit of #GoodWool and helping to spread warmth, friendship and hope across South Africa.

The spirit of the 67 Blankets movement extends well beyond this single day. Volunteers are already hard at work creating 388 scarves for Grade 6 and 7 learners at Sundown High School in Sandton, ensuring every learner receives a handmade gift of warmth during Mandela Month. "When people sit together with yarn in their hands, something remarkable happens," says Steyn. "Conversations begin, friendships form and barriers disappear. Whether you've been knitting for 50 years or have never picked up a crochet hook before, there is a place for you at the table. That is what Worldwide Knit in Public Day is all about.”

So bring your enthusiasm, your curiosity and your #GoodWool spirit.

To link to the 67 Blankets website, click on the logo advert alongside this article.

 

DEPARTURE(S): REVIEW

 

Easy to read, thought-provoking and immensely pleasurable. (Book review by Margaret von Klemperer, courtesy of The Witness)

 

According to the blurb, “Departure(s) is a work of fiction – but that doesn’t mean it’s not true”.

It is certainly a book that is almost impossible to classify. It’s not exactly a novel, though there is a novel-ish story inside it. It is not quite a memoir either. It has elements of both, along with meditations on memory, ageing and the prospect of death. And, famously, it is the author’s farewell. Julian Barnes has said publicly as well as in the text that this is his last book, and that, for his many fans, is a great sadness.

Barnes has long been a leading light in his generation of writers. And he has always played with his readers to a certain extent, blurring boundaries, so perhaps the structure of Departure(s) should come as no surprise. The book opens with his musings on memory – what it is, how it works, and what are the possibilities of it changing. He tells us that somewhere in here there will be a story, but it will be a story with a beginning and end, but no middle.

When we get to this story, Barnes is the narrator, and the two characters – who may or may not be fictional – are his friends, Stephen and Jean. Thus the story comes from the narrator’s memory which we have already come to understand may be unreliable.

The trio were friends at university, and, introduced by Barnes, Stephen and Jean became at item, but not one which survived their university days. Then, again through the narrator’s agency, they meet once more, much later in their lives. We read about their subsequent relationship, and the narrator’s role in it, along with many digressions into his own life and his health, his future and his past. And a third major character emerges – Jimmy the Jack Russell dog.

If Stephen and Jean are real people and not a pure fiction - and reading the book it felt to me as if they are, though Barnes could be playing with us again – we are told how they asked him to promise that he would never write about them. He promised, but that is exactly what he does, reporting their conversations with him, Jean about Stephen and Stephen about Jean. I have to admit that this made me slightly uneasy, but then again, what is true?

One of the greatest charms of Barnes as a writer is his dry, often ironic humour, which is on full display here, not least in his digressions into memory as revealed by the writings of Proust and his famous madeleine moment – described by Barnes as a “morsel of soggy cake”. Departure(s) is a short book, only 150 or so pages long, and to this reader at least, it was pure delight. Easy to read, thought-provoking and immensely pleasurable. – Margaret von Klemperer

Julian Barnes’ novel Departure(s) is published by Jonathan Cape - ISBN 978-1-787-33572-1

POSITIVE STROKES

Get ready to laugh till your sides hurt with Alfred Adriaan's brand new show, Positive Strokes! 

This South African comedy sensation, known for selling-out shows across Mzansi and beyond, is back to tickle your funny bone with his unique take on life.

You've heard the buzz! Critics have raved about Alfred's "unapologetically hilarious" (IOL) performances and "sharp wit" (The Citizen). He's been praised for his "relatable comedy that hits home" (Cape Town Magazine), proving why he's a comedic force to be reckoned with.

Positive Strokes runs at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre from June 5 to 7

Ticket price: R200

Age Restriction: PG13

 

No refunds are permitted for this event. Bookings are through Webtickets at https://www.webtickets.co.za/v2/event.aspx?itemid=1590476550

KZN PHILHARMONIC WINTER SEASON 2026

 

The KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra’s two-concert 2026 Winter Season runs in The Playhouse Opera on Thursdays 11 and 18 June, starting at 19h00.

Message from Bongani Tembe, KZN Philharmonic’s Chief Executive and Artistic Director: “A warm welcome to our music lovers in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal and beyond. Our World Symphony Series has been an emblem of musical excellence for more than 30 years. This year’s two-concert Winter Season will continue to carry the flag high.”

 

FIRST CONCERT

KZN Philharmonic concertgoers will welcome the return of resident conductor, Daniel Boico to open the Winter Season with music by Beethoven, Dvořák and Mendelssohn.

Beethoven’s Egmont Overture was the opening item to incidental music for an 1810 revival of Goethe’s drama about the 16th-century Count Egmont’s campaign to liberate the Netherlands from Spanish oppression. Beethoven’s mighty overture, embraced by posterity as a symbol of defiance against oppression, swiftly took its place in the international concert repertoire.

Written in 1879, Antonín Dvořák’s Violin Concerto in A minor, Op. 53, is considered one of the masterpieces of Dvořák’s Slavic period, celebrated for its integration of soloist and orchestra, sweeping melodies, and demanding, rhapsodic passages. The piece is one of Dvořák’s most popular and most frequently performed works and is today an essential part of the international violin repertoire. Soloist for the evening is Turkish born concert violinist Elvin Hoxha Ganiyev.

The swift gestation of Brahms’ Third Symphony took place in the idyllic Rhine valley. Composed in the Summer of 1883, it is widely regarded as a masterpiece of late Romantic music. It is admired for its distilled clarity, intense melodic beauty, and its seamless melding of personal reflection with classical structure.

 

SECOND CONCERT

The second and final concert opens with a curtain raiser by the KZN Youth Orchestra under the baton of maestro Lykele Temmingh. First up is James Curnow’s spectacular Fanfare and Flourishes; Mozart’s ‘Little G Minor Symphony’ First Movement which was the opening music in Miloš Forman’s 1984 film Amadeus; Brahms’s exhilarating Hungarian Dance No 5; and Mark Lortz’s A Matador’s Tale conjures the teaming energy of a bullfight.

Fabulous Brazilian-born maestra Alexandra Arrieche then takes the podium with mainstream repertoire by Schumann and Mendelssohn. Schumann’s A Minor Piano Concerto is the perfect blending of solo instrument and orchestra. This principle of fusion gives the concerto a decidedly symphonic character. Soloist is Italian classical pianist Federico Colli.

The 20-year old Mendelssohn visited Scotland in 1829, and was deeply moved by the wild landscapes, romantic ruins, and dramatic history. While his travels heavily inspire the work, it is not a literal musical travelogue, but rather, a piece of absolute music that evokes the atmosphere of the North, a ‘sombre and moody’ recollection of his Scottish journey.

Season Tickets available through the KZNPO office on 031 369 9438 or info@kznphil.org.za and individual tickets through Quicket.

 

PARK AND BUS RIDE SERVICE

For those preferring not to self-drive to the concerts, there is a park-and-ride bus service offered from major arterial points: Upper Highway (St Agnes Church, dep 17h50) North Coast (Grace Family Church, dep 18h10); Westville (Westville Senior Primary, dep 18h10) and Berea (Caister Lodge, dep 18h20). Bus tickets though 031 369 9438 or info@kznphil.org.za and individual tickets through Quicket.

 

GOOD TO KNOW:

Date: Thursday, June 11, 2026 at 19h00

Venue: Playhouse Opera Theatre, 231 Anton Lembede Street, Durban

Conductor: Daniel Boico 

Soloist: Elvin Ganiyev – Violin

-Beethoven: Egmont Overture Dvořák: Violin Concerto, Op. 53 in a minor

-Brahms: Symphony No. 3, Op. 90 in F Major

 

 

Date: Thursday, June 18, 2026, at 19h00

Venue: Playhouse Opera Theatre, 231 Anton Lembede Street, Durban

Conductor: KZNYO - Lykele Temmingh.

Conductor: KZN Phil - Alexandra Arrieche

Soloist: Federico Colli – Piano

-KZNYO - Curnow: Fanfare and Flourishes; Mozart: Symphony No 25 1st Movement; Brahms: Hungarian Dances No. 5; Lortz. A Matador’s Tale

-Schumann: Piano Concerto in A minor

-Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 3 Scottish

 

 

NB: To link direct to the KZNPO website, click on the advert at the top right hand side of this page.

THE MITH TEAM

The music you love in the place you love – join in for a very special MiTH – the Midlands’ beloved Music in The Hills hosted at The Knoll Historic Guest Farm. For just R50, you get access to the perfect blend of great music, and there’s good food, familiar faces, and drinks on sale. Every MiTH night is its own unique little treasure chest.

 

Date: June 3, 2026

Venue: The Knoll Historic Guest Farm

Entrance: R50 (cash or Zapper at the door)

Info: 082 331 7271

 

20h20 – Time In A Bottle (a Jim Croce tribute show preview)

Jim Croce rose from South Philadelphia’s working‑class grit with a gift for turning ordinary lives into unforgettable songs. Years of small gigs and odd jobs finally broke open with You Don’t Mess Around with Jim in 1972. Hits like Operator, Bad, Bad Leroy Brown, and Time in a Bottle made him a national voice almost overnight, but a 1973 plane crash cut his life short at 30. His songs endure for their tenderness, humour, and the way they make everyday stories feel luminous.

Continuing the established tradition of local musical collaborations: Mark Manley, Brian Bedingfield, Roly Struckmeyer and Rudi Engelbrecht are planning a show on the life and music of the legendary Jim Croce. They are bringing a preview of the show to MiTH, with a selection of his favourite songs.

 

19h20 – Padlangs

Padlangs brings together Korné and François in an acoustic collaboration built on songwriting, harmony and a shared passion for live music. Performing originals and selected covers in Afrikaans and English, their sound draws from country, folk, rock and alternative influences. Korné has performed since childhood, played in numerous bands and enjoyed success including a Battle of the Bands win and airplay on 5FM, while François adds energy, tasteful touches and musical sensitivity. Together, Padlangs creates performances where feelings are communicated through the language of music.

 

19h00 – The Jingles

The Jingles are a four-piece amateur band featuring Sharon, Erlo and Simon on acoustic guitar and vocals, with Oliver on bass. The group meets weekly to play many of their favourite songs from the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, spanning rock ’n’ roll, folk and country. Their repertoire includes classics by Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR) and Elvis Presley. The Jingles made their first public appearance on Valentine’s Day this year and have since performed at a 50th birthday celebration.

 

ABOUT MiTH

Food and cash bar available on site. The KZN Midlands’ favourite live music venue, MiTH is a platform for beginners, professionals and music lovers to celebrate the joy of live performance. Hosted every second Wednesday at The Knoll Historic Guest Farm, Hilton.

 

DIRECTIONS TO MiTH

Take the N3 to Hilton. Turn into Hilton Village and drive 5.2 km along Hilton Avenue, which becomes Dennis Shepstone Drive. Look for Knoll Drive on your right – the entrance to MiTH is the second left into The Knoll Historic Guest Farm. Info: 082 331 7271, www.mith.co.za or mithbookings@gmail.com

PJ SABBAGHA NAMED 2026 JOMBA! LEGACY ARTIST

 

(Above: PJ Sabbagha- pic by Christo Doherty)

The 28th annual JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience, hosted by UKZN’s Centre for Creative Arts, has announced that it will honour South African choreographer and arts activist PJ Sabbagha as the 2026 JOMBA! Legacy Artist.

PJ Sabbagha, whose name has become synonymous with issue-based dance theatre, is the founding member and Managing and Artistic Director of The Forgotten Angle Theatre Collaborative (FATC - now in its 31st year), the Ebhudlweni Arts Center (in its 11th year) and the annual My Body My Space Rural Public Arts Festival (in its 11th year).

Sabbagha was the recipient of the 2005 Standard Bank Young Artist Award for Dance and the 2006 FNB Dance Umbrella award for Best Choreography for his work, Still Here. He was also awarded the 2005 and 2009 awards for Most Outstanding presentation of a new work for The Double Room and Macbeth respectively. In 2005, he was voted top South African Artist and was also placed in the top 10 of The Star Tonight’s annual top 100 South Africans.

He has travelled across the USA as a guest of the US State Department as part of the 2007 International Visitors Leadership Program investigating HIV and AIDS and other communicable diseases. In 2017, Sabbagha visited France as a guest of the French Ministry of Culture and Communications as part of a Seminar Focusing Arts and Culture in Service of Community and Territorial Development. Sabbagha’s choreographic work has been shown at festivals and theatres in countries that include Russia, Mexico, France, Holland, Tanzania, Mali, Mozambique and Taiwan.

Currently PJ leads FATC in its delivery and work as appointed implementing agency on behalf of the Mpumalanga Provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Recreation’s Community Arts Center Support and Development Programme funded by the National Department of Sports, Arts and Culture

JOMBA!’s artist director, Dr Lliane Loots says: “Deeply significant to the JOMBA! Legacy award is PJ’s lifelong commitment to not just his choreographic excellence, but a deep-seated care for community and his pioneering work that has shifted South African dance out of urban spaces. His curation and vision have shifted our dance landscape and we are deeply humbled that we get to honour PJ in this way.

“The JOMBA! festival’s 2026 overall curatorial theme and provocation is Choreographies of Activism: Moving Bodies as Disruptive Presenting and we can think of no other South African artist who has exemplified this moving across physical, economic and access borders in his dance work, whether this has been training and teaching, choreography, or curation”.

PJ and FATC will open JOMBA! on August 25 and 26 in Durban with a re-visit and re-boot of an earlier work NOAH - a multi-media dance work exploring the notions of loss, love and letting go. It uses the frame of irreversible climate change as an immersion in the moment of crisis, from which there is no return. NOAH will be performed by Nicholas Aphane, Athena Mazarakis and Shawn Mothupi, and is a layered conversation between live performing bodies, video projection and shadows that surfaces the personal and collective response to this (personal and geopolitical) moment of crisis.

JOMBA! takes place at The Sneddon Theatre in Durban from August 25 to September 6, and the satellite festival takes place at The Market Theatre in Johannesburg from September 9 to 12, 2026.

For more information, go to https://jomba.ukzn.ac.za/

FESTIVAL CONFERS LIFETIME AWARD ON NJABULO NDEBELE

 

(Above: Professor Njabulo Ndebele)

 

The 29th edition of the renowned Time of the Writer festival presented by the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Centre for Creative Arts has conferred a prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award on Professor Njabulo Ndebele, in recognition of his extraordinary and enduring contribution to South African literature and intellectual life.

Shafinaaz Hassim, the curator of the 2026 Time of the Writer festival, says: “Professor Ndebele stands as one of the country’s most influential literary figures—an author, scholar, and public intellectual whose work has shaped not only how South African stories are told, but how they are understood. From his seminal collection of essays, which called for a turn toward “the ordinary” in South African narrative, to his acclaimed novel The Cry of Winnie Mandela, his writing has consistently challenged dominant modes of representation while opening new imaginative and ethical possibilities.”

Across decades, Professor Ndebele’s influence has extended beyond the page. As an academic leader and cultural thinker, Professor Ndebele has played a pivotal role in nurturing generations of writers, scholars, and readers, helping to build a literary culture grounded in critical reflection, historical awareness, and creative courage.

Ismail Mahomed, the Director of the Centre for Creative Arts, says: “The Lifetime Achievement Award acknowledges both the depth of his literary achievements and the breadth of his impact on South Africa’s cultural and intellectual landscape. It honours a body of work marked by intellectual clarity, narrative innovation, and a sustained commitment to exploring the complexities of human experience in a society shaped by profound change.”

Speaking on behalf of the Centre for Creative Arts, he noted that honouring Professor Ndebele affirms the festival’s ongoing commitment to recognising voices that have not only defined South African literature, but have also expanded its horizons for future generations.

The 29th edition of the Time of the Writer festival which was presented in Durban between March 23 – 28, 2026, continued its tradition as a vital platform for literary exchange, bringing together 100 writers from across South Africa to engage in dialogue, performance, and reflection. Participants also included writers from Norway, Ivory Coast, Ukraine and Palestine. The 30th edition of the Time of the Writer festival will take from March 16 to 21 2027.

The Time of the Writer festival took place from March 23 to 28, 2026. The complete festival schedule including the Children’s Festival programme can be viewed at https://tow.ukzn.ac.za/29th-online/

All events to the festival were free. The 29th edition of the Time of the Writer festival was supported by the University of KwaZulu-Natal, National Arts Council of South Africa and the KZN Department of Sport, Arts & Culture. Festival partners include the Wits Writing Centre, DALRO, KZNSA Gallery, the Alliance Française (Durban) and the ATKV.

The 30-year Centre for Creative Arts is a multi-disciplinary cultural hub in the School of Arts at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. The Centre is renowned for presenting 5 of South Africa’s leading arts festivals – the Time of the Writer festival (29 years), JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Festival (28 years), Durban International film Festival (46 years), Poetry Africa (30 years) and the Artfluence Human Rights Festival (5 years). The Centre for Creative Arts is also host of the 5th World Slam Poetry Competition which will present 40 slam poets from forty nations competing for the global title in Durban during October 2026.

 

ABOUT THE CURATOR:

Shafinaaz Hassim is an multi award-winning author and sociologist. Her more than 18 titles have received international and local acclaim. In 2014, she was listed by UNESCO as one of the top 39 writers in Africa under the age of 40. Her novels have been commended by the SALA and NIHSS awards and the UJ Prize for Creative Writing. She is also the author of the five-book Nisa Qamar series for young adults, which has been shortlisted twice for the Minara Aziz Hassim Literary Awards and the prestigious Sanlam Prize for Youth Literature 2019. Her novel Darlings of Durban received noteworthy accolade. Kimya Writes is her latest series. Hassim presents a popular book review show called BookBytes, showcasing cutting edge writing from local and international authors. She brings her varied industry expertise to the curation of Time of the Writer Festival.

 

NB: To link directly to the Centre for Creative Arts website, click on the logo advert to the right of this page.