By Heather Dugmore

‘For me, things are going exactly as they are meant to – I do what I love every day and grow through it.’

An inspiring comment from dancer Marang Gwatyu, the 2022 winner of the Arts & Culture Trust (ACT) Nyoloha Scholarship Programme in the performing arts category, funded by Nedbank. Each year 2 outstanding young artists, 1 from the performing arts and 1 from the visual or digital arts, are awarded a scholarship worth R300 000 to study at an accredited South African arts institution of their choice.

Gwatyu completed her first year of studies in 2023 at the Luitingh Alexander Musical Theatre Academy (LAMTA) in Cape Town, before moving to Jazzart Dance Theatre, also in Cape Town, for her second and final year to focus on dance full-time.

This year she joined the Figure of 8 Dance Theatre in Rondebosch, Cape Town, led by South African dancers and choreographers Grant van Ster and Shaun Oelf. ‘It’s my bridge between training and a professional dance company, and I’m thriving here. I am 1 of only 10 dancers selected to join Figure of 8, so it’s a huge opportunity,’ says Gwatyu, who lives in Observatory, shares a house with students and catches the train to and from Figure of 8.

‘We do everything from African contemporary dance to ballet, and I’m gaining a huge amount of professional experience in productions. It’s a rigorous schedule, as we rehearse from 09:00 to 17:00 every day – a combination of dance, acting and improvisation.’

Between February and May she performs with Figure of 8 in several productions, including appearances at the Meraki Dance Festival, Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees (KKNK), Suidoosterfees and Cape Town Opera. ‘We do completely different productions for each of them,’ she says.

In February and March they performed at Jazzart’s Meraki Dance Festival at Artscape Theatre from 26 February to 7 March. ‘Our performances, Ember and Flight, are about resilience, connection and the journey of continuation despite life’s challenges – knowing there is light at the end of the tunnel and constantly reaching for it.’

In March she was part of 2 Figure of 8 productions at the 30th KKNK in Oudtshoorn, from 28 March to 4 April. One of the productions, The Reservation, explored the drama that unfolds in a restaurant – a place where strangers meet, lovers quarrel and families reunite. The other production, Wings of Light, focused on grace, vulnerability, and finding the light in a chaotic world.

From 19 to 31 May she will be part of Figure of 8’s performance in the Cape Town Opera production of Carmen at the Artscape Opera House.

Asked whether she ever has any time off, she laughs. ‘When there are productions, it’s all about rehearsing, but we do get time off. I enjoy socialising, and there are so many places in Cape Town to discover. I also enjoy hiking the nature trails and sightseeing, but right now my priority is to improve my skills.’

Marang says she has experienced ‘huge growth’, starting with the mentorship through the ACT Nyoloha Scholarship Programme and continuing to now. ‘My physical and mental strength, dance ability, technique, rhythm and use of stage space are at a completely new level. I’m so appreciative of the journey with Nyoloha and the investment that was poured into me. It gave me the opportunity to live a life that I could not have imagined, and it is hard to believe I’m the same person who arrived in Cape Town in 2023.’

Poovi Pillay, Executive Head of the Social Impact Unit at Nedbank, says: ‘While there can be only 1 winner in each category annually, the beauty of the ACT Nyoloha Scholarship Programme is that over 60 of our country’s young performing and visual and digital artists participate in the mentorship component. This prepares them for their careers and the world of work, including on how to manage themselves, network and advance. Marang is a fine example of this.’

The power of mentorship

 

There can be only 2 ACT Nyoloha Scholarship Programme winners annually – 1 for performing arts and 1 for visual or digital arts – but more than 60 participants from across South Africa take part in 3 months of mentorship to develop their skills and confidence.

Phiwe Kobeni participated in the 2025 Nyoloha mentorship and was mentored by actor and musical theatre practitioner Grant Towers. ‘I gained so much confidence through the mentorship and learnt a lot from Mr Towers, including how to overcome stage fright and how to carry on when you make a mistake on stage so that the audience isn’t aware of it,’ she explains. ‘I also learnt how to work in groups, be open to other people’s ideas, and take photos and videos with the right light and mood.’

Phiwe was selected to participate in the mentorship and training programme of the ACT Nyoloha Scholarship Programme after matriculating from the Lady Grey Arts Academy in the Eastern Cape, where she learnt about the programme from her drama teacher, Mr Bunch Sekhobo.

‘I have always had this hunger for drama,’ she says. ‘It developed from watching movies on TV. I wanted people to one day see me on TV and say “Oh look, that’s Phiwe.”‘

Her family is from Sterkspruit in the Eastern Cape, but she now lives in Welkom with her mother, who works as a receptionist at Mediclinic.

‘I decided I had the talent to apply for study opportunities in the United Kingdom, and I was accepted into Norwich University of the Arts,’ Phiwe continues. ‘It is very expensive, so I need to work and raise the money to get there. They have partial scholarships, but these don’t cover what you need to be there. I also need to do the IELTS English language test for a UK visa.

‘I am currently doing marketing surveys to raise money and am constantly applying for all sorts of jobs. One thing about me is I dream big, and I am determined to get to Norwich. In the meantime, I am practising monologues and choreography and learning from sites on the internet and social media.’

Ends.

Celebrating 32 years of arts excellence – Arts & Culture Trust

The ACT is South Africa’s premier independent development and art investment organisation. The primary aim of ACT is to increase the capacity for arts and culture initiatives to create sustainable futures through development and investment in innovative, sustainable projects that make a meaningful contribution to society. Through structured development programmes, ACT provides support to all expressions of arts and culture, including literature, music, visual art, theatre, and dance. This support extends to festivals, community arts initiatives, as well as arts management, education, and administration.

Over the past 32 years, ACT has supported more than 830+ arts, culture, and heritage development projects countrywide, including small businesses. For more information, visit the ACT website, follow them on X, or like their Facebook page.

About Nedbank

In partnership with ACT, the Nedbank Arts Affinity has donated more than R32 million over 32 years to support 830+ arts, culture, and heritage development projects countrywide. If you would like to make a difference in the lives of talented young artists in South Africa, simply link your Nedbank Greenbacks to the Arts Affinity and Nedbank will donate money to ACT, at no cost to you. The Arts Affinity currently supports the ACT Nyoloha Scholarship Programme, the ACT Thuthukisani Programme, and the ACT Tlholo Project. For more information, visit any Nedbank branch, call 0860 555 111 or go to nedbankarts.co.za.

About Sun International

Sun International is a leading South African gaming, hospitality and entertainment group, with a portfolio of 15 hotels, 2 premier resorts, 11 casinos and online betting through its SunBet platform. Known for iconic destinations such as Sun City and the Wild Coast Sun, the group delivers premium leisure and conferencing experiences to local and international guests. Beyond its core operations, Sun International is committed to sustainability and socio-economic development, supporting initiatives that create meaningful impact in communities across South Africa. This includes more than 30 years of support for the Arts & Culture Trust, contributing to the development of arts and culture projects nationwide.

About MTN South Africa

Launched in 1994, MTN South Africa is a subsidiary of MTN Group, a leading emerging-market operator with a clear vision to lead the delivery of a bold new digital world to its customers. They are inspired by their belief that everyone deserves the benefits of modern connected life. The MTN Group is listed on the JSE Securities Exchange in South Africa under the share code ‘MTN’. Their strategy is Ambition 2026: Leading digital solutions for Africa’s progress.

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