Centre for Creative Arts – Creating an enabling environment for the flourishing of artistic and cultural expression, development and exchange.

Home
About
Festivals
Emerging Arts Managers Programme
The Eye
- Volume 1
Subscription

Home
About
Festivals
Emerging Arts Managers Programme
The Eye
- Volume 1
Subscription

The Centre for Creative Arts at the University of KwaZulu-Natal is an interdisciplinary hub hosting five festivals that advance artistic excellence, innovation and experimentation to celebrate social justice and a culture of human rights

More About Us

The ANNUAL

Festivals

Time of the Writer

18 - 23 March 2025

Artfluence Human Rights Festival

3 - 8 May 2025

Durban International Film Festival

17 - 27 July 2025

JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Festival

26 August - 13 September 2025

Poetry Africa

2 - 11 October 2025

Discover More

What's happening?

Latest News

Call for Applications: Emerging Arts Management Internships 2024

Resident Curator (intern) at the Centre for Creative Arts (UKZN)

Eight Month Internship at the Centre for Creative Arts at the University of KwaZulu-Natal for a Graduate in Literature Studies

Values of the Centre

Teamwork

Integrity

Trust

Deadline Driven

Diversity

Leadership

Discover More

Our Creative

Team

Ismail Mahomed

Director

Ismail Mahomed

Director

With more than 35 years in cultural leadership Ismail Mahomed is a multi-award winning arts administrator and published playwright. His previous roles include serving as the Chief Executive Officer of the Market Theatre Foundation, Artistic Director of the National Arts Festival and as Senior Cultural Specialist of the US Embassy (South Africa). Working collaboratively with the Centre’s team and University leadership he provides strategic and visionary leadership for the Centre for Creative Arts and oversees its governance, management and administration.

Siphindile Hlongwa

Senior Administrator

Siphindile Hlongwa

Senior Administrator

Siphindile Hlongwa works as the Senior Administrator and Curator for the Time of the Writer Festival and Poetry Africa Festival. She attained her Bachelor of Technology degree in business administration and holds a diploma in drama studies obtained from the Durban University of Technology. She joined the Centre for Creative Arts in 2011, after working for the Siwela Sonke Dance theatre company and Eager Artists productions as a performing artist and an art administrator. Siphindile oversees the general office administration for the CCA as well undertaking responsibilities as the Centre’s Safety & Health Officer and Covid-19 compliance administrator.

Philisiwe Manqele

Finance Administrator

Philisiwe Manqele

Finance Administrator

Philisiwe Manqele is an experienced professional with a B.Tech degree in Office Management and Technology, which she obtained from Durban University of Technology. In addition to her degree, she has also acquired several short course certificates to further enhance her skills and knowledge. With a wealth of experience, Philisiwe has spent the past nine years working for the University of KwaZulu-Natal, and she currently holds the position of Finance Officer for the Centre for Creative Arts. She began her role in February of 2023. Despite her professional commitments, Philisiwe cherishes her role as a parent to four children and enjoys spending quality time with her family outside of her work. Known for her outgoing nature, she identifies as an extrovert.

Sakhile Gumede

Special Projects & Community Engagement Officer

Sakhile Gumede

Special Projects & Community Engagement Officer

Previously worked as a peer educator under HIVAN at the UKZN and previous roles including programming the shorts section for the DIFF. His role includes talent search, community events organising, schools programme as well as the prison programme for the literature festivals. He is currently heading Isiphethu which is the industry programme for the Durban International Film Festival.

Andrea Voges

DIFF Manager

Andrea Voges

DIFF Manager

Andrea Voges is the Festival Manager & Head of Programming of the Durban International Film Festival. Over the last eighteen years, she has worked for various international projects including the South African-United Kingdom Seasons - an intergovernmental initiative to promote arts and culture between these two nations. In 2020, she was a Project Manager for the Presidential Employment Stimulus Package that sought to support artists during the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2021, Andrea joined the Realness Institute and Urucu Media as Programmes Manager and Sales & Distribution Manager respectively. In 2022, Andrea joined the Mzansi National Philharmonic Orchestra’s project management team and coordinated festival distribution for documentary production company, STEPS. Andrea holds a Bachelor of Arts degree and is a Southern Africa-Locarno Industry Academy alumnus. For the second time in 5 years, Screen International listed the 25 Future Leaders: Programmers and Curators to Watch - “profiling the people who are already influential in their fields and destined to rule the business in years to come” - Andrea was one of the 25 named.

Helene Naicker

DIFF Programme Co-ordinator

Helene Naicker

DIFF Programme Co-ordinator

Helene is a passionate programme coordinator, with a background in motion picture medium and filmmaking. She has been working as the Programme Co-ordinator for the Durban International Film Festival (DIFF), which has deepened her appreciation for the art of behind-the-scenes work that goes into bringing film festival events to life. Helene has also enjoyed working as a facilitator teaching filmmaking and production design at KZN Film and Tourism, where she supported and inspired up-and-coming young filmmakers. She is dedicated to continue growing in this industry, contributing to DIFF’s mission of supporting diverse voices in cinema, and cultivating creativity within the film industry.

Lliane Loots

Curator - Jomba!

Lliane Loots

Curator - Jomba!

Lliane Loots hold the founding position of Artistic Director for UKZN’s Centre for Creative Arts’s annual international JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience – a festival that turns 23 in 2021. She combines her curatorial work for JOMBA! and the CCA with simultaneous holding of the positions of Dance Lecturer in the Drama and Performance Studies Programme at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (Howard College Campus). She has a Master’s degree in Gender Studies and completed her PhD in 2018 looking at contemporary dance/performance histories on the African continent. Loots founded her FLATFOOT DANCE COMPANY as a professional dance company in 2003 when it grew out of a dance training programme that originally began in 1994. As the artistic director and resident choreographer for FLATFOOT DANCE COMPANY, she has won numerous national choreographic awards and has travelled extensively in Europe, America and within the African continent with her dance work. Loots was awarded the Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres (Knight in the Order of Arts and Letters) by the French government in 2017 for her work (both artistic and curatorial) in the South African dance sector.

Thobile Maphanga

JOMBA! Curator Mentee

Thobile Maphanga

JOMBA! Curator Mentee

Thobile is a Durban based dance practitioner, creative collaborator and emerging writer with a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Information Systems and Drama from Rhodes University. She is currently reading for her post graduate degrees at the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal. She has worked both in corporate and artistic sectors and is interested in how these two worlds can interact and prove beneficial for all involved. Her recent work has been site specific and film based as she interrogates how we define and make purposeful the arts and the industry it sits in. She is passionate about engaging the public in dialogue around topical societal issues to find solutions for better living. And she is deeply interested in the various expressions of individual voices. Her dance career has spanned two decades, working with various South African Companies and choreographers. She has collaborated with local and international artists to produce independent work. She was a co-founder of The Rickshaw Collective, sits on the board of the Flatfoot Dance Company and is a part of the steering committee for the KZN branch of the I'm4theArts movement.

Bash Siddiqi

Digital Communication

Bash Siddiqi

Digital Communication

Bash Siddiqi maintains the Centre’s web-pages by working with the CCA’s festival curators, marketing team and CCA director. He also participates in the planning of the Centre’s online festivals and events by providing strategic and technical support for the festivals. He also has a direct functional relationship with the Centre’s marketing service provider and works closely with the Centre’s Director to maintain the website as engaging for audiences, artists, stakeholders and attractive for potential new funders and partners.

Nomthandazo Shandu

Emerging Arts Manager

Nomthandazo Shandu

Emerging Arts Manager

Nomthandazo Shandu is an ambitious and enthusiastic individual with immense love for the arts and education. She graduated from the University of KwaZulu-Natal with a Bachelor's degree in Drama and Performance Studies and Political Science, and an Honours degree in Drama and Performance Studies. As a motivated stage actor, she prides herself in telling stories truthfully through theatre and has toured across KZN and other provinces performing for Menzi Mkhwane Creations. Nomthandazo will oversee the Centre’s outreach programmes to schools for all of the Centre’s festivals. She will also work on drawing on the festival's archives to develop resources for school teachers. By striving to have clear goals and to be remembered for the contributions that she wishes to make, Nomthandazo draws her inspiration from US lawmaker Ruth Bader Ginsburg, “I would love to be remembered as someone who used whatever talent she had to do her work to the very best of her ability".

Mvunga Mtetwa

Emerging Arts Manager

Mvunga Mtetwa

Emerging Arts Manager

Mvunga Mbaliyama Nyambose Mtetwa is a graduate with a B.Com in strategic management. Assigned to the Centre’s finance office, she will work with the Centre’s management team to strengthen the Centre’s operations and commitment to artists to uphold the Centre’s reputation for efficiency and clear goal-setting. Whilst reporting to the Centre’s Finance Administrator, she will also work with the Centre’s Director and Senior Administrator to maintain the Centre’s several MOU’s with partners, ensure timely and compliant reporting to funders, and to develop proposals that can grow the Centre’s income potential through sales of publications, box office packages, and special projects. With her degree in strategic management, Mvunga will be a member of all of the Centre’s curatorial committees to grow the business strategy of the festivals as strongly as the festival’s artistic reputation.

Andisa Mpisi

Emerging Arts Manager - Guest Relations & Programs Coordinator

Andisa Mpisi

Emerging Arts Manager - Guest Relations & Programs Coordinator

With a diverse background spanning over a decade in the arts and entertainment industry, Andisa Mpisi is a seasoned professional known for her expertise in theatre making, filmmaking program management, guest relations, production design, and more. With a strong foundation in both creative and administrative roles, Mpisi has honed her skills through internships, traineeships, and hands-on experience, including stints at the National Arts Council of South Africa, the Business & Art South Africa, Stained Glass Productions, Rhythm World Productions, and the Bergen LitFest. Her versatility and dedication to the arts make Andisa a valuable asset to any project or organization seeking innovation and excellence in storytelling and cultural expression.

Sthembile Lauryn Mlambo

Emerging Arts Manager

Sthembile Lauryn Mlambo

Emerging Arts Manager

Sthembile Mlambo, a recent UKZN graduate, holds a Bachelor of Administration in Public Administration and Human Resources, alongside a Post Graduate Certificate in Education. With practical teaching experience at the high school level and an internship as a Finance Administrator, she brings a blend of academic knowledge and real-world insight. A proactive go-getter with excellent interpersonal skills, Sthembile thrives outdoors, enjoys cooking, and values imparting knowledge. Eager to grow professionally, she looks forward to contributing her diverse skill set and passion for learning to the CCA, poised to make a positive impact in her chosen field.

Thalente Ndlovu

Emerging Arts Manager - Office Operations

Thalente Ndlovu

Emerging Arts Manager - Office Operations

Thalente Ndlovu is a multi-talented individual and a passionate advocate for the arts pursuing a Master of Arts degree at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Thalente has made significant contributions as a writer, actor, director, stage manager, and poet. Thalente recently expanded her skills to include Production Management for the award-winning play "Faces," which toured to Zimbabwe. With five years of experience tutoring Drama and Performance Studies, and English Studies at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Thalente brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to both academic and artistic realms. Thalente's dedication to the craft and commitment to education mark her as a dynamic force in the world of arts and academia.

Owethu Dlamini

Emerging Arts Manager - Marketing and Communications

Owethu Dlamini

Emerging Arts Manager - Marketing and Communications

Owethu Dlamini is an AFDA alumnus, holding a BA Honours in Motion Picture Medium majoring in writing and directing. With a deep passion for storytelling, Owethu combines a keen artistic vision with a relentless work ethic, consistently striving for excellence in every project. She is a Marketing and Communications Emerging Arts Manager at the Centre for Creative Arts, where she develops and implements marketing strategies to promote the center's festivals and events. In addition to enhancing audience engagement and fostering partnerships within the arts community, Owethu is also responsible for maintaining and growing all of the festival's social media pages. With a passion for storytelling and the arts, she is dedicated to supporting and showcasing talent in the creative sector.

Nhlakanipho Thabethe

Emerging Arts Manager - Centre Operations

Nhlakanipho Thabethe

Emerging Arts Manager - Centre Operations

Nhlakanipho Thabethe, well known as Steel The Poet from Stanger, KwaDukuza. He is a poet, a writer, music producer, graphic designer and aspiring director. The majority of his scripts are about the unknown. He explores the mystery of the cosmos, distant galaxies, reincarnation and the stories hidden in the dark. He is a mystery-filled writer and sees the world as a huge riddle. Durban University of Technology 2023 Alumni In Diploma in Information Technology in Application Development. His ultimate goal is to be a film writer and director, films like Dune, Inception, Tenet, In The Tall Grass and other mysterious and cinematic masterpieces. He is inspired by Dr Jordan Peterson, the way he interprets the world and articulate himself freely and unafraid of society and the modern day cancel culture.

Our Generous

Funders

Our Loyal

Partners

Our Gracious

Venue Partners

To receive information about events please complete the following to add yourself to the CCA’s database. We value your privacy and we will not share your contact details with third parties

First Name

Last Name

Cell

The Centre for Creative Arts upholds Freedom of Expression and Freedom of Creativity as guaranteed in Section 16 of the South African Constitution. The Centre for Creative Arts recognises that artists may sometimes live and work in States whose values may not always be in accordance with the values of the South African Constitution but the Centre for Creative Arts commits to protect and advance the rights of any artist who freely chooses to participate in the Centre’s festivals where their voices and artistic expressions can contribute to building a better world for all people.

The ANNUAL

Festivals

18 - 23 March 2025

3 - 8 May 2025

17 - 27 July 2025

26 August - 13 September 2025

2 - 11 October 2025

What's happening?

Latest News

The Core

Values of the Centre

Teamwork

Integrity

Trust

Deadline Driven

Diversity

Leadership

Our Creative

Team

Our Generous

Funders

Our Loyal

Partners

Our Gracious

Venue Partners

Festivals

Links

Contact

Contact Number

Physical Address

Office Hours

Email

© University of KwaZulu-Natal: All Rights Reserved