The new national platform aims to turn creative voices into collective representation, sector resolutions and the building blocks of a national plan.

The Poetry, Comedy and Storytelling Council (PoeComSto Council) will host the inaugural Poetry, Comedy and Storytelling Indaba from 23 to 25 November 2026 in Gauteng, bringing practitioners, industry leaders, policymakers and funders together to shape the future of three disciplines at the heart of South Africa’s cultural identity and creative economy. The national launch will take place during the three-day Indaba, held under the theme:

“One House. Three Disciplines. One National Voice.”

Legendary South African comedian David Kau will deliver the keynote address at the opening night event on 23 November 2026, bringing his wealth of experience and industry insight to the national conversation on the recognition, growth and sustainability of the creative sector.

PoeComSto Council represents the Poetry, Storytelling and Comedy cluster, one of the 17 Cultural and Creative Industry (CCI) Sector Clusters established by the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) to address fragmentation in the creative sector and strengthen coordination, representation, professionalisation and access to markets.

For generations, poetry, comedy and storytelling have been the heartbeat of the nation, preserving histories, challenging injustice, healing communities and giving voice to the silenced. Yet the very artists who carry South Africa’s collective memory have too often remained invisible in the country’s economic and policy structures. The Indaba sets out to change that.

“We cannot continue to celebrate the power of these voices while neglecting the livelihoods behind them,” says PoeComSto Chairperson MoAfrika wa Mokgathi. “This Indaba is a declaration that our stories have value, our voices deserve protection and our creativity must translate into sustainable livelihoods.”

From fragmented voices to a national sector plan

Poetry, comedy and storytelling contribute to cultural identity, social cohesion, education and heritage preservation and create economic opportunities across performance, publishing, broadcasting, festivals and digital platforms. Yet practitioners continue to face challenges around recognition and professionalisation, funding, intellectual property and royalties, infrastructure, market access, skills, media visibility and governance, all of which are on the Indaba’s agenda.

The Indaba starts from a simple premise: an industry cannot be built on the exceptional success of a few while thousands of talented practitioners remain without opportunities, protection or sustainable livelihoods. The task is not only to celebrate those who have made it onto the stage, but to build the systems that make it possible for the next generation of poets, comedians and storytellers to thrive. “Talent should never have to survive where an industry ought to exist,” says Mokgathi.

Three disciplines. One national organising process.

After opening in a common forum, the programme moves into dedicated Poetry, Comedy and Storytelling Chambers, where participants will assess the state of each discipline and formulate sector-specific resolutions that will feed into the development of a national plan. Each discipline will elect four representatives, forming a 12-member structure to carry those resolutions forward.

The process will culminate in the first draft of the National Poetry, Comedy and Storytelling Sector Plan, covering governance and representation, funding and investment, professionalisation and skills, intellectual property and royalties, infrastructure, market development, digital technology, education, internationalisation and sustainability.

The measure of the Indaba will not be how many people sit in the room, but what is built from the conversations: resolutions, representatives, priorities and a clear national roadmap to take forward with DSAC, Parliament, funders and private-sector partners.

Building an annual platform

The Indaba will bring together poets, comedians, storytellers, writers, producers, curators, festivals, venues, publishers, government, funders, technology partners, academic institutions, media and sponsors, recognising that sustainable creative careers depend not only on talent, but on finance, intellectual property protection, markets, infrastructure, training and representation.

PoeComSto intends the Indaba to become an annual national gathering, and its ambition reaches well beyond November 2026. The Council is building a mechanism that listens to practitioners throughout the year, tracks progress and keeps the sector in the national conversation. Its planned legacy includes the three discipline chambers and 12 elected representatives, a National Sector Plan, a practitioner database, a digital consultation platform, annual sector reporting and ongoing engagement with DSAC and private-sector investors.

“We have always had the talent, the stories and the audiences. What we now need is the infrastructure, organisation and collective determination to turn that talent into sustainable careers and viable industries,” Mokgathi concludes. “This is our moment to move from being heard individually to being represented collectively.”

About PoeComSto

The Poetry, Comedy and Storytelling Council (PoeComSto) is the sector structure representing the Spoken Word, Poetry, Storytelling and Stand-up Comedy cluster within South Africa’s 17 Cultural and Creative Industry Sector Clusters established under the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture. PoeComSto seeks to support the development, representation, professionalisation and sustainability of practitioners across the three disciplines while contributing to South Africa’s broader cultural and creative economy.

More than 10,000 students across South Africa have been equipped with practical career-readiness skills as the University Kick Start Roadshow concludes its first national campus tour, reaching 17 institutions across five provinces and bringing workplace preparation directly to students before they graduate.

Launched on 3 August 2026 by entrepreneur and multi-award-winning professional Boitumelo Motsepe, the two-month national roadshow delivered practical career-readiness conversations designed to help students navigate the transition from university into the workplace.

The tour reached students at some of South Africa’s leading varsities, including the University of the Witwatersrand, University of Johannesburg, University of Cape Town, University of Pretoria, Nelson Mandela University, University of the Western Cape and North-West University, as well as Emeris, alongside other higher education institutions across the country.

Throughout the national tour, students engaged with practical topics aimed at strengthening their preparedness for the world of work. These included CV development, personal branding, portfolio building, networking, job applications, professional communication, workplace etiquette and the responsible use of AI-powered career tools.

Beyond the presentations, the roadshow created spaces for students to engage directly with a professional, ask questions about entering the workplace and gain insight into what employers look for when assessing emerging talent. At Eduvos, the programme was further expanded through a career fair, panel discussion and campus talk, providing students with additional opportunities to connect with professionals and explore potential career pathways.

For many students, the conversations addressed a critical stage in their development the gap between being academically qualified and being prepared to navigate the realities of the workplace. By taking these conversations directly onto campuses, Kick Start placed greater emphasis on the practical skills, professional behaviours and personal positioning that can support students as they move from education into employment.

For Boitumelo Motsepe, Founder of the Kick Start Roadshow, the scale of the national rollout reinforced the importance of starting career-readiness conversations before students reach graduation.

“For me, this is about giving young people a better chance at their future. With so many young people struggling to find employment, I want students to leave this programme feeling more prepared for the workplace but also empowered to create opportunities for themselves through entrepreneurship. Ultimately, the vision is to help build a more empowered and economically active generation, one ambitious student at a time.” says Boitumelo.

The national rollout was made possible through the support and collaboration of a number of partners who contributed to bringing the roadshow experience to campuses across the country. Volkswagen (VW) South Africa, Reboost, Canderel, Rhodes Juice, Motsepe Advertising, and Content Factory supported the initiative through production, mobility and activation support, helping create an engaging and accessible experience for students throughout the tour.

The 2026 tour marks the first national rollout of University Kick Start, expanding the initiative from individual campus engagements into a nationwide platform focused on preparing students for the transition from education to the workplace.

As the 2026 campus tour concludes, the roadshow leaves behind more than a series of campus engagements. It has contributed to a broader conversation around the importance of preparing students for the workplace before graduation, encouraging them to build relevant skills, develop professional networks, understand employer expectations and take greater ownership of their career journeys.

 The Sweet Taste of South African Heritage

In South Africa, heritage is something we can taste. It lives in the aroma of cinnamon rising from a freshly baked milk tart, in the sticky syrup coating a koeksister, in the warm spices of a Cape Malay koesister and in the comforting sweetness of malva pudding served after a long Sunday lunch.

Our food tells the story of who we are: a country shaped by many cultures, communities, histories and traditions, each contributing flavours and recipes that have found a place around our collective table.

And perhaps nowhere is that diversity more deliciously expressed than in our desserts. As a dietitian, I see daily how food serves as both physical nourishment and an anchor for emotional well-being, connecting us deeply to our roots, our families, and our sense of comfort.

More than just something sweet

Many f South Africa's best-loved treats carry stories that reach across generations. Take milk tart, or ‘melktert’. With influences from South Africa's Dutch colonial history and generations of local adaptation, it has evolved into a dessert that feels distinctly South African. Its delicate custard, pastry base and generous dusting of cinnamon have made it a familiar favourite in homes across the country.

Then there are the koeksister and koesister, similar in name, but distinctly different in character.

The classic plaited koeksister is fried and soaked in syrup, while the Cape Malay koesister is traditionally fragrant with spices such as cinnamon, cardamom and ginger and finished with coconut. Their differences are a delicious reminder that our heritage isn't one story. There are many stories woven together.

Malva pudding tells another story of comfort and celebration. Served warm and drenched in its characteristic sauce, it has become a fixture at family gatherings and Sunday lunches. For many South Africans, these desserts are inseparable from memories of home and enjoying them mindfully is a wonderful example of how cultural appreciation and emotional satisfaction fit naturally into a balanced lifestyle.

When tradition meets today

But Heritage isn't about keeping everything exactly as it was. Recipes change. Families adapt to them. Ingredients are substituted. New generations put their own stamp on dishes handed down to them. In that sense, evolution is part of culinary heritage itself.

Today's cooks are increasingly looking for ways to enjoy traditional favourites while being more conscious of what goes into them. This is where simple ingredient swaps can give familiar recipes a contemporary touch.

For those looking to reduce the amount of added sugar used in some recipes, a suitable Canderel product can be one option. The result will depend on the product and the recipe, so home cooks should follow the relevant usage guidance when adapting much-loved desserts while preserving the character of the dish.

The goal isn't to change what makes a milk tart a milk tart, or to take the comfort out of malva pudding. It's about exploring how recipes can move with the times, just as our families and food traditions have always done.

Managing blood sugar doesn't mean leaving our culinary roots behind; rather, it's about finding smart ways to balance health and wellness with the rich flavours and shared memories we cherish.

A table big enough for everyone

Perhaps the most beautiful thing about South African food heritage is that it doesn't demand that we choose one tradition over another.

Our dessert tables can hold milk tart alongside koeksisters, Cape Malay koeksisters alongside malva pudding, and old family recipes alongside new interpretations.

Because food heritage isn't simply about where a recipe began. It's about how it was shared, remembered and made part of someone's life.

This Heritage Month, let us celebrate South Africa's culinary diversity in the simplest way possible: gather around a table, share the stories behind our favourite foods and give those traditions space to evolve for the next generation.

After all, some of our most treasured memories begin with something sweet.

      TrevTober Turns 5: Five Years of Music, Movement and Memories

Five years on, TrevTober has firmly established itself as more than a fixture on Johannesburg’s entertainment calendar. What began as a celebration of music has evolved into a distinctive experience shaped by sound, culture, connection and the anticipation of discovering what happens when the right people come together in the right space.

On 24 October 2026, that journey reaches a milestone as the festival takes over Mea Culpa in Sandton. Marking five years of creating memorable music experiences, this year’s edition brings together an international line-up, leading South African selectors and live performances, setting the stage for a celebration that promises to be among the city’s most anticipated music and lifestyle experiences of 2026.

For its fifth edition, TrevTober will transform Mea Culpa into a three-part musical journey. Guests can expect to move from the greenery and relaxed energy of the garden, to the rooftop and, eventually, the unmistakable pulse of the main stage. Each space will offer its own mood and energy, creating an experience that unfolds throughout the day and into the night.

Leading the international line-up are Omar (UK), Frances Jaye (USA) and Marcelo Tavares (Brazil), three internationally celebrated artists whose sounds have travelled across borders and dance floors. Their presence adds an exciting global dimension to a festival that remains deeply connected to Johannesburg's music and creative culture.

They will be joined by Thabo Smol, who will take to the stage with a live band to perform music from his recent album, Dithupa Tsa Smol. Kitchen Mess will also bring their live sound to the festival, adding another dynamic performance to an already eclectic programme.

The fifth edition continues that tradition with a carefully curated line-up of selectors and musicians from across South Africa, including Trev The Japanese, T-Bose, Nicky B, Vinny Da Vinci, Bubbles, Thabo Phalatse, Brian Blaq, Thami 537, MR. 55, Simmy,  Juss Banks, Chainz, S-Girl, Kabelo Phalatse, Daddy Twist, Owza, David Soulmarti, Smoothie-T, Syrin, Subman, Mister X, Les da Groove, Magic Prince, Kalawa, Mr. Spike, Marco D’Mel, Gordz, Danny The Jazz, TeddyPeace, KZBL, Tibza (SZW), Floyd Mash and St. Jones, among others.

For founder, Trev the Japanese, reaching the five-year milestone is a celebration not only of TrevTober’s growth, but also of the community of people who have helped shape the experience along the way.

“Five years feels special because we’ve built this together with the people who have continued to show up, support us and make TrevTober what it is,” he says. “The music is at the heart of everything, but it’s also about the feeling, the conversations, the unexpected moments, the people you meet and the memories you leave with. With our TrevTober Turns 5 message, we want to celebrate that journey while giving people something new to experience.”

That spirit will come to life through a fifth edition designed as an immersive experience, where the music and atmosphere unfold throughout the day. From the laid-back energy of the garden and the elevated rooftop setting to the anticipation of the main stage, guests can expect a seamless journey through different sounds, spaces and moments that capture the essence of TrevTober.

While the international line-up adds a global dimension to the celebration, TrevTober remains firmly rooted in Johannesburg, always prioritising its people, its sounds and its vibrant creative culture.  Powered by SAMPRA, the festival reflects the ability to bring diverse influences together to create experiences that feel distinctly local yet resonate far beyond its borders.

Tickets are available at www.trevtober.com.