SA: National Arts Festival announces new board appointments

Both Mahala and Ngesi are natives of Makhanda and longstanding supporters of the festival, whose cultural roots run deep in the community. Their appointments signal a renewed commitment to fostering local leadership and preserving the festival’s legacy as a platform for creativity and social impact.

“I am looking forward to shaping new pathways with the Festival team as we enter a new decade,” Mahala said. “The Festival has been around for more than fifty years, and it is our ambition to see it thriving for another fifty. It offers not only a dynamic arts programme and creative platforms for both emerging and established artists but also plays a vital role in employment creation and economic development for the people of Makhanda and the broader Eastern Cape.”

Professor Mahala, a respected author, playwright and academic, steps into the role of chairperson following his tenure as deputy chair since 2023. He succeeds Sikkie Kajee, who served as chair during a pivotal period of the festival’s growth.

He added that ongoing collaboration with stakeholders, from the arts community to the private sector and government, is essential to ensuring the festival’s continued success.

Reflecting on the festival, Ngesi said: “I am deeply honoured and excited to be appointed as a board member of the National Arts Festival. As someone born and bred in Makhanda, this moment is especially meaningful. The Festival has always been a beacon of creativity, cultural expression and community spirit, values that resonate deeply with me. I look forward to making a meaningful contribution, ensuring the Festival continues to grow, inspire, and remain a powerful platform for artists and audiences alike.”

Ngesi joins a growing number of Makhanda-based leaders on the NAF board, including Rhodes University vice-chancellor Dr Sizwe Mabizela, Professor Kenneth Ngcoza and Ms Nomkhitha Gysman. The board also features prominent arts advocates and business professionals, including Sikkie Kajee, Michelle Constant, Annabell Lebethe, Robert Grace, Advocate Tembinkosi Bonakele, Dr Hleze Kunju, theatre director Mandla Mbothwe, and former NAF CEO Tony Lankester.

NAF CEO Monica Newton said: “I’m delighted to welcome and congratulate our two new board members. As individuals who grew up alongside the Festival and hold it close to their hearts, they bring valuable insight and perspective. Our deepest gratitude goes to Sikkie Kajee for his dedicated service as Chair. We look forward to working with Professor Mahala, Mr Ngesi and the entire board as we prepare for the 2025 Festival edition.”

The 2025 National Arts Festival will take place in Makhanda from 26 June to 6 July.