THE Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC) is set to hostthe 2026edition of the three-day flagship hybrid Eastern Cape Film Expo,celebrating film, television,storytelling and creative industry development in the Eastern Cape.
Senior Manager for the Eastern Cape DevelopmentCorporation, Vuyokazi Gwebani, said the 2026 instalment of this film industry extravaganza,which willfeature more than 200delegates, willbe heldfrom 1to3July at the 1820 Settlers Monument in Makhanda, EasternCape, during the iconicNational Arts Festival.
She said the Eastern Cape Film Expo continues to position the province as acompellingfilm and television destination while creating opportunities foremerging and established creativeswithinthe sector.
“Eastern Cape Film Expo 2026 promises an excitingline-up of film screenings, paneldiscussions,presentations, testimonialsand masterclasses to adiverse audienceofestablished and aspiring filmmakers, policymakers and funders.
“The expo willbring together filmmakers, producers, broadcasters, investors, students, creatives and industry stakeholders forthree days of networking, learning, collaboration and industry engagement,”Gwebani said Sheadded that the hybrid expo is aspace for filmmakers, creatives and industry professionals to connect, collaborate and grow the Eastern Cape into afilm destination of choice.
The Eastern CapeFilm Expo is hosted by the ECDC in partnership with the National Film and Video Foundation, the Eastern Cape Provincial Arts andCultureCouncil, the National Arts Festivaland Nelson MandelaBay Metropolitan Mu-
AmatolaactingCEOnamedAfrica’sLeaderoftheYear
ZAVELA MAKWABE
AMATOLA Water Board staff filled the head officewith cheer, song and pride to welcome home acting CEOLinda Nzoyiafter she won Leader of the Year at the 2026 Africa Career Summit &Gala Awards.
Presented under the theme 'Learn, Lead, Legacy', the award honours Nzoyi'spurposeful leadership, resilience and drive fortransformation, goodgovernance and improved servicedelivery
It also reflects the broader institutional renewal andcommunity impact Amatola Water is building.
The warmreception marked aproud and uplifting momentfor the organisation,showcasingemployees' appreciation, confidence
and collective supportfor Nzoyi's leadership during apivotalperiodoftransformation and performance improvement. Theoccasion embodied unity,pride andshared purpose, celebrating not only individualexcellence but also the growing confidence and positive direction of Amatola Water. It was apowerful moment forwomen in leadership and atestament to alegacy of service, with Nzoyirecognised as one of the continent's visionaries driving excellence andtransformation.
Nzoyistepped into the acting CEO role during aturbulentperiodfor the utility, which had faced worker strikes over fraud and corruption allegations, rifts amongexecutives and intervention by Water andSanitationMinister Pemmy Majodina. Anew boardhas since been appointed to restore
stability
Speaking on behalfofstaff, NomondeMamba thankedthe acting CEO for'continuingto place Amatola Water on the map.' Sheadded thatemployeescould notremain silent when witnessingpositive developments that affirmedthe organisation's progressand growing visibility. Held at TheCapital On TheParkinJohannesburgon30May 2026, the AfricaCareer Summit &Gala Awardsserved as aconvergencepoint forinvestmentconversations andleadershipbenchmarkingacrossAfrica.The programme featured insights from distinguishedspeakers,including South Africandiplomat andglobal genderequality advocate Dr Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, and SithoMdlalose,Chief Creative Officer at Vodacom
MthathaactresswinstopAfricanhonour
ZAVELA MAKWABE
MTHATHA-bornactress Zikhona Sodlaka washonoured with the Outstanding Actress Awardatthe 2026 Icons of AfricaAwards on 30 Mayatthe Sandton Hotel in Johannesburg.
The glamorous ceremony,which brought together leaders, visionaries and changemakers from 19 African countries, celebrated those shaping the continent's future acrossindustries and communities.
With acareer spanning nearly two decades, Sodlaka has captivated audiences with emotionallylayered, honest performances. Herstandout roles include Mandisa in the popular Showmax telenovela The Wife,Bulelwa “Bullet” Mxenge in Gqeberha: The Empire,and her portrayal of Nosekeni, NelsonMandela'smother,inthe internationally acclaimed film Mandela: Long Walk toFreedom.She is widely regarded as one of SouthAfrica's finest dramatictalents.
Off-screen,Sodlaka is celebrated forchampioning authentic African storytelling,elevatingwomen'srepresentation in the arts andbringing narratives to lifethat reflect the realities of Africancommunities. Her work embodies excellence, resilience and artistic integrity.
CreativeDirectorofthe event, Brian Tupana,described the awards as more than an event; itis“apowerful celebrationof excellence, influence and legacy.” He added that they proudly celebrated Sodlakafor her outstanding contributiontoAfricanarts,
eration throughthe power of storytelling “Zikhona embodies what it meanstobean Icon of Africa.
“She is awomanwhose voice, talent and influence transcend borders whileuplifting
ZikhonaSodlaka.
PHOTO: SUPPLIED
al stage.Thatiswhy Africaisproud to honourher. Every honouree represents astory worth celebrating.”
HopeFCclinchplay-offgloryinMthatha
HOSEYAJUBASE
SAFA says it has no regrets about hosting the nationalABC Motsepe League play-offsinMthatha, Eastern Cape. This follows the successful seven-daytournament, which was attended by football stakeholders from acrossthe country at MthathaStadium.
The play-offs were won by Hope FC from the Western Cape, who defeated North West University FC on penalties on Sunday,7June 2026.
The tournamentwas also attended by top scouts, including TeraMaliwafrom KaizerChiefs, AmaZuluFChead coach Arthur Zwane, and Morgan Mamila from LerumoFC, as well as representatives fromRichards Bay FC, Golden Arrows FC and Orlando Pirates.
SAFA TechnicalDirector,Molefi Tseki,
praised the peopleofMthatha forturning out in large numberstosupport the teams. Tseki said it wasagood decision to bring theplay-offs to Mthatha, and that they were aresounding success. Hope FC and NorthWest University FC have both been promoted to the Motsepe Foundation Championship(NFD)
The champions, HopeFC, won R1.25 million, while runners-up North West University FC receivedR750,000.
Speaking after winning the play-offs, Hope FC head coach Dylan Dean said he was very happy to secure victoryinthe final against adifficult North West Universityside:
“We started well, dominated the first half, and scored an early goal.Ijust want to thank everyone in Mthatha for the fantastic week we had here. The support from the fans was incredible from day one, and thankyou to SAFA for hosting
such asuccessful play-off.I wishNorth West University afantastic seasoninthe NFD.
“They havealot of young,talented players. Iknew they weregoing to come at us, and we wanted to catchthemonthe counter,” said Dean.
Meanwhile, NorthWest UniversityFC head coach Nkululeko "Nkush"Malgas said he was happy with theteam's promotion to the NFD butdisappointed with their performance in the finalafter missing clear chances:
“We had so many opportunities to score butdid not take them in thefinal. It was alearning curvefor my players. We were not supposed to go to penalties; we were supposed to win it. Football sometimes needsluck. We will reinforce the team ahead of the NFD. We'renot going to sign many players, justafew experienced ones,” said Malgas.
EasternCapesidesgearupforSuperLeaguereturn
ANELE
RAZIYA
HOLLYWOODBETS Super League teams have beguntheirpreparations for the resumption of leaguefixtures next week after athree-week FIFA break.
Since the start of theHollywoodbetsSuper League season last month, all teams in the division have played one fixture. In those fixtures, played on 23–24 May, Eastern Cape-based teams City Lads FC from Gqeberhaand University of Fort Hare FC from Alice bothfailed tocollect maximum points.
In their opening fixture in the Super Rise stream, University of Fort Hare FC played agoalless draw (0-0)against First Touch FC Ladies.
Meanwhile, City Lads FC from Gqeber-
Qumbu left-back Gwelelands PSLdeal
HOSEYAJUBASE
FC RAVENS left-back Siphamandla Nombiza Gwele has signed atwo-year PSL contract with Richards Bay Football Club, based in KwaZulu-Natal.
Gwele, from the dusty rural area of Mvumelwanoin Qumbu,was spotted during the ABC Motsepe League play-offs in Mthatha last week.
AlthoughFCRavens played only two games and were eliminatedinthe play-offs, scouts were very impressedwith how the left-back performed during the tournament.
Gweleisamong the first players from Qumbu to sign for aPSL team.
He attracted interest from anumber of scouts during the play-offsbut chose Richards BayFC. In astatement released by Richards BayFC, the club said: “We arepleased to announce our new signing, Siphamandla Gwele, a left-back from FC Ravens. He joinsthe club on atwoyeardeal with atwo-year option.
ha opened theirleague campaign with a 2-0defeat away to TUT FC
Lastseason, the Gqeberha sidestruggled throughout the campaign, finishing just above the bottom teams in the standings. University of Fort Hare FC, however, did well,finishing in the top six.
This season, EasternCape teams areexpected to work hard to improve on last season'sperformances.
The South African Football Association (SAFA) hasalso made the division more manageable by reducing long-distance travel.
Prior tothe start of the season, SAFA created two streams in the Hollywoodbets Super League, currently named Super Riseand Super Era.
Each stream comprises eight teams,
“The club welcomes him to the Natal Rich Boyz family, and we wish him all thebest in the coming seasons,” thestatement read. Left back SiphamandlaNombiza Gwele. PHOTO: FACEBOOK
meaning sides arenolonger requiredto travel the long distances that were necessary in the previousseason
Thesechanges will give teams more time to prepare their training sessions and planeffectively against theiropponents.
Eastern Cape sides areexpected to be among the better performers in the Super Rise stream thisseason.
Currently,University of Fort HareFCis fourth in the Super Rise standingswith one point, while City Lads FC is seventh.
Nextweek, bothteams resume their league programmes when City Lads FC hosts log leaders JVW FC in Gqeberha on 20 June, and University of Fort HareFC entertains the University of Johannesburg FC in Aliceon21June.
CentaneClubtohost YouthDaytournament
ANELE RAZIYA
AMATEUR footballteam Hungry Lions FC from Centane has invited all local teams around Mnquma and surrounding areas to participateina three-day Youth Day tournament, which willbehosted at Nontshinga villagestarting this weekend.
Hungry Lions FC saidthe tournament will run from Saturday,13June, until Youth Day on 16 June, explaining that their intention in hosting the event was to celebrateYouth Day through sport.The club has also saidthat, in hosting the event, they wanted to contribute to the development of sport, particularly in rural areas.
One of the organisers, Anathi Potwana, told thispublication that the event is going ahead thisweekend and that teams interested in participating need to pay aR450 joining fee. Potwana saidthey were expectingtoregister morethan ten teams and highlighted that top prizes await teams that performedwell throughout the competition.
Firstprize is expected to be asheep, atrophy and gold medals, whilesecond prizewill be asheep and silver medals.Third prizeis expected to be R450 and bronze medals.All interested teamsare requested to register as soon as possible, beforeSaturday.
For moreinformation, Potwana requested teams to call 078 746 1513 or 076 731 7119, wherethey can be guidedonwhere to deposit theirjoining feeand ask questions about the competition.
While the footballtournament takes place at the HungryLionsFCsportsgrounds in Nontshingavillage, netball teams will also be competing at the same venue. The netballgames arealso expected to run from Saturday untilYouth Day, with ajoining feeofR100 perteam.
Netballwinnersare expected to go home with atrophy, goldmedals and aball, while second prizewillbesilver medals, a trophy and aball
Netball teams interested in participatingcan enquirebyusing thesame contact numberslisted above.
NovaNewslaunches SchoolsZoneon YouthDay
NovaNews is launching the Schools Zone, adynamicdigitalhome for school news, sport, achievement, and community stories across South AfricaonYouth Day, June 16, aday which celebrates young people as powerful agents of change.
The Schools Zone will have adedicated site for school sportinthe School Sports Zone. Central to this launch is the incorporation of the beloved Schools That Rock website into the NovaNews Schools Zone. For morethan 11 years, Schools That Rock has been South Africa's trusted platformfor celebrating school achievements, cultural milestones, sporting excellence and extraordinarylearner stories— giving schools a powerful national voice.
Founded by Christo du Randt in 2009 with the community newspaper KRANT in Bloemfontein, followed by the Schools That Rock website in 2015, the platformhas grown into one of South Africa's largest school newsdestinations.
“Over thepast eleven years, Schools That Rock haspublished thousands of articles and photos —a true digital archive of pride and achievement,”saidDuRandt. “Every story, everysmile, and everyvictory has reinforced the vision; everychild has asuccess storyworth sharingwith the world. I am proud to continue with this legacy on the NovaNews platform.”
By joiningthe NovaNews ecosystem, Schools That Rock now reaches asignificantly larger national audience through NovaNews's 389,000+ active users, 1million+ Facebook followers, and distribution across 21 community newspaper titles
“The launch of the Schools Zone and School Sports Zone on YouthDay is deeply intentional,” saidBettie Giliomee-Rossouw, NovaNews Head of Digital and Editorial Commissioning. “We believe that every school has astory worth telling, everylearner has an achievement worth celebrating, and everycommunity deserves to seetheir young people recognised on anational platform. By bringing Schools That Rock into our ecosystem, we arehonouringeleven years of extraordinaryworkand taking it to an entirely new level. This is our contribution to YouthDay —givingeverySouth African school alouder,stronger voice.” At the heartofthe School Sports Zone is TheRugby Factory —NovaNews's weekly schools rugby vodcast hosted by Andy Daniel, with 10,000+ subscribersinjust two monthsand episodes exceeding 54,000 views. Proudly sponsored by BossaRestaurant Group, the 33-episode seriesbroadcasts across YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and all NovaNews channels
“Together,let's celebrate everyschool, everyachievement, and everycommunity that makes South Africaextraordinary,” said Giliomee-Rossouw.
Send stories, achievements, photos and videos to DustinWetdewich, National Digital Sports Editor: dustin.wetdewich@novusmedia.co.za
