The South African State Theatre (Pretoria) embarked on an ambitious, yet profound commemoration of this year’s Mandela Day (18 July). The vibrant team, which saw the organization turn 67 minutes into three full days of total transformation of a North West school. Management and employees, spent the 3 days at Mmakaunyana Secondary School. A rural school that has been celebrating matric pass rates between 80 and (recently) 97.7 percent for the past 6 years.
According to State Theatre Human Resources head, Millicent Mopayi, the selection of the school to be recipients of this CSI make over, came as a result of the school excelling in participation at its schools set-work programme. The programme is designed to assist learners with bringing literature to life on stage helping the learners with overall matric preparation. Ms Mopayi highlighted are another feather to their unique criteria and approach, which encompassed a team building rooted in wellness, though the project.
“The aim was to revamp the matric block of classrooms along with the office block, but the state of the remainder of classrooms, led us to taking on the entire school revamp”, says Ms Mopayi. The state theatre management, staff and maintenance department spent 3 full days, painting, welding classroom burglar gates, fixing lights and tree planting at the school.
The chairman of the SGB, Simon Mararela lamented how the school was in dire need of revitalization and resorted to pleading with parents on certain revamps and them finally calling on parents to contribute with their hands, which was not making much of a difference because most parents couldn’t pitch for one reason or another.
The principal, Mr Hamlet Poo lauded the contribution by the State Theatre as greatly assisting and a morale booster for his students. When asked about the school’s secret to the pass rate, he stressed both the challenges and outcomes of instilling discipline, having the scholar adapt to extra classes and panctuality.
The day of the handover, was a real treat for students and parents and was graced by State Theatre’s energetic and visionary CEO, Shane Maja as well as television and theatre actor, Terence Ngwila. It was a real surprise for the Maths and Science students, arriving from a study camp on Friday, to find these festivities and revitalized classrooms to go back to.
During his speech, Mr Maja announced that the State Theatre will be adopting the school for further assistance, including assigning the state theatre maintenance department, being on standby to assist with any plumbing, electrical and other maintenance challenges that the school might suffer. This was a real take away, after having covered initiatives that created no lasting legacy programme at these Corporate Social Investment events. They respond to nothing beyond a tick on their box, cheque for their tax breaks. The South African State theatre, went above and beyond, to create a pleasant learning environment and a lasting legacy.
P.S. Please make sure you don’t miss The Slyso TV Podcast on the 27 July for our Season 2 finale which will include an insert on this initiative by the South African State Theare.
Do visit their website as well as their exciting theatre subscription service, SAST TV: https://www.statetheatre.co.za/tvchannel/
Written by: Sizwe Saliso – 22 July 2026
The album opens with a spiritual ode to uMvelingqangi with “Tarhu Hallelujah” is such a hybrid for a song, blending traditional gospel with African spiritual praise. The project is highly spiritual and draws deeper from ancestral rhythms and harmonies. “Nyanga” and “Bayandibiza”, are powerful testimonies of my assertion about the album’s African spiritual journey.
Kapi’s consistency and music maturity is witnessed in his sophomore, Nomatile. Ubomi Bobakho is a perfect example of his range… he once sang female alto lead and a member of a gospel group) but on this song and project, Kapi successfully pushes his vocal ability to rival some of the most soulful yet eclectic South African male vocalists. I will once again not spoil your personal exploration of his respective projects. They are both on all digital platforms.
The evening was hosted by iGqunukhwebe ngokwalo, a man whose bite-sized wisdom has me calling him King Nugget. He is Radio 2000’s afternoon drive co-host, comedian and lover of culture, Isaac Gampu. There is nothing surprisingly far more pleasing than a well prepared Master of Ceremonies, or host. King Nugget, ticked all the boxes while his humour certainly burst a few tight shirt buttons from the crowd.
With people as diverse as Prince, Frank Ocean, TKZee, Pink Floyd, Outcast and someone he describes as his “greatest musical influence”, Kanye West for inspiration, Stephen Of Kent is clearly no ordinary singer- songwriter and rapper. Stephen, who is also a producer and multi-instrumentalist is not shy about stating how much the late Linda Mkhize popularly known as ProKid inspired him on his records.
Stephen, doesn’t only live it to audio representation of his craft to claim his moment in music. Major League Gardens, Trace Roots Festival, DSTV I Rock Festival, Pop Bottles Johannesburg and 5FM live at Sun City and more, are some of the stages he has taken music lovers on but has become a revered live performer while at it.
An outstanding register, a stage presence other artists can only dream of, a versatility almost unheard of in South Africa as she often spans genres in a single performance with such ease. She is one of those artists it simply is impossible to pin to a single genre. A voice that can be intense like her life depended on it and yet free as the breeze from the shores of the Friendly City, where she hails from. Asanda Mqiki is simply a marvel.
Asanda performed regularly with acapella group The Soil, she was a lead vocalist for Take Note, with whom she released two albums and wowed the South African Joy Of Jazz festival. Mqiki’s first solo album was released to international acclaims, in September 2018. With that body of work, she would be recipient of invitations to more prestigious stages sharing them with the likes of Sibongile Khumalo, Freshly Ground, Khaya Mahlangu Bongeziwe Mabandla and more.
Slyso caught a snippet of one of the singles from the upcoming album and insisted that Asanda features on his Umhlobo Wenene FM radio show, Iqonga Labatsha (#IQL) As carefree as she always is, Asa indulged Slyso and joins him for a chat and that snippet of the single. Catch the interview, tonight on 88-106 Nationwide at 20h15 and news about her upcoming performances, which include the Vocal Explosion Vol.3 at @The One Room, on Westbourne Road, Nelson Mandela Bay on the 11th of December.
The name Lungiswa Harmaans is synonymous with radio and it was only expected for it to venture into the communications space.
Lulu was flanked by her Umhlobo Wenene FM former colleagues, Mafa Bavuma, Dr Tebelele, Bulelani Koyo, Sizwe “Slyso” Saliso as well as talented musician and friend, Dumza Maswana who delivered equally exceptional.
She promised that a book that details her journey and place in female radio royalty and challenges “is in the works”.
My Pond Hotel’s elegant catering abilities and service and after party at nearby Bathurst’s recently renovated Emzini Lounge might have been the last item for the evening, but one thing for sure, a lesson on living your truth, being of sincere through your pain and cementing a future not only for yourself but a legacy through caring for women and children who have walked her far from rosy life rang as loud as her hunger for a new chapter in her life.