SA: ACT announces Nyoloha Scholarship participants

Supported by Nedbank, Sun International and Business and Arts South Africa, NSP offers matriculants, school-leavers and budding arts practitioners the opportunity to win a fully paid undergraduate scholarship to study at a South African arts institution of their choice in 2024.

Following the open call announcement earlier this year and the growing popularity of the ACT NSP, the closing date was extended resulting in a total of 158 applications from candidates across South Africa. Shortlisted applicants participated in an online audition and subsequent interview phase that started on 15 May and concluded on 2 June.

“In Sesotho, Nyoloha means ‘to rise’ and the ACT NSP is an integral part of the ACT strategy to educate, upskill and empower those wishing to make a career in the arts and culture sector to rise to the opportunity,” ACT CEO Jessica Denyschen said. “The programme presents the professional world of the arts and culture sector to young artists and exposes them to various role players and enablers who could advance their trajectory. We are enormously encouraged by the number of artists participating this year and we are excited to see the incredible emerging talent of our country.”

The programme commenced on 10 June with bi-weekly online training running until mid-August 2023. All the artists who passed the audition round will receive three months of professional training and mentorship. Artists will be rated by their mentors monthly and those performing the best over this three-month period will qualify for one of the 12 finalist spots. An additional three wild cards will be selected at the end of the training in an effort to identify talent that grew over the training period.

The finals week will be held from 2 October, culminating in an exhibition and showcase at a gala event on 7 October when the winners of the performing arts category and visual or digital arts category will be announced. Each winner will receive a fully paid scholarship valued at up to R350 000 to study at an arts institution of their choice in South Africa.

The qualifying applicants in each of the arts disciplines are as follows: 

Performing arts

• Alicia Abrahams (Western Cape)
• Anastacia Pharo (Western Cape)
• Andile Mkhomazi (Mpumalanga)
• Asiphumeze Stuurman (Western Cape)
• Balungile Buthelezi (KwaZulu-Natal)
• Bonoko Dineo Khoda (Gauteng)
• Buhle Ledwaba (Gauteng)
• Buhle Mazibuko (Gauteng)
• Dikgabiso Motsisi (Western Cape)
• Elam Ngxaki (Western Cape)
• Entle Nikani (Western Cape)
• Gugu Kunene (Gauteng)
• Jarka Kluson (Gauteng)
• Justine Kaba (Eastern Cape)
• Karabo Motseki (Eastern Cape)
• Kekeletso Setona (Gauteng)
• Khazimla Dalasile (Eastern Cape)
• Lebohang Matlakala (Free State)
• Lerato Motseki (Eastern Cape)
• Lindiwe Ngwenya (Gauteng)
• Lungile Faith Kgomo (Mpumalanga)
• Mahlatse Laka (Gauteng)
• Masego Pheto (North West)
• Morongwa Mable Mohale (Limpopo)
• Mthobisi Khanyile (Gauteng)
• Naledi Lebelo (Free State)
• Naledi Mazibuko (Gauteng)
• Nicole Retief (Western Cape)
• Nonjabulo kubheka (Gauteng)
• Nsizwazakithi Mvubelo (Gauteng)
• Ntombikayise Ndlovu (Gauteng)
• Onalena Modise (Northern Cape)
• Owam Stragom (Eastern Cape)
• Paballo Lynn Pule (North West)
• Rethabile Maluleka (Gauteng)
• Sakhe Ntanjana (Eastern Cape)
• Sfiso Mahlangu (Gauteng)
• Sheila Onnetse Balerileng (Gauteng)
• Siphosethu Mayekiso (Eastern Cape)
• Thamsanqa Zungu (Gauteng)
• Thato Mateisi (Eastern Cape)
• Thato Segodi (Gauteng)
• Thina Sinenjongo Dinakhwe (Gauteng)
• Thuto Motloung (Gauteng)
• Tintswalo Nobuhle Mahlakolisane (Gauteng)
• Trinity Thomas (Gauteng)
• Tshepang Gaya (Northern Cape)

 Visual or digital arts

• Andile Tetani (Eastern Cape)
• Azanda Nyangintsimbi (Gauteng)
• Elona Lebanesana (Northern Cape)
• Kgotso Matlaletsa (Gauteng)
• Lauren Wood (KwaZulu-Natal)
• Lwazi Ndlovu (Gauteng)
• Nkosinathi Mbuko (North West)
• Ongezwa Gqumo (Eastern Cape)
• Oratile Hamese (Gauteng)
• Rethabile Weevirs (North West)
• Saxon Welsh (KwaZulu-Natal)
• Siphephelo Dladla (Gauteng)
• Siphesihle Hlatshwayo (Gauteng)
• Thabang Makgakwe (Gauteng)
• Thapelo Makhanya (Gauteng)
• Themba Bene (Gauteng)
• Tholwana Mokone (Gauteng)
• Timothy Clayton (Western Cape)
• Tshegofatso Moropane (Limpopo)