Where Are Nominees of Postponed 13th Simon Mabhunu Sabela KZN Film & Television Awards That KwaZulu-Natal Tourism and Film Authority Said Would be Announced 16 October?

by Thinus Ferreira

Questions are growing about the apparent disorganisation, confusing messaging, postponement of the awards show date, and now the abrupt nominees announcement no-show of the KwaZulu-Natal Tourism and Film Authority and its 13th Simon Mabhunu Sabela KZN Film & Television Awards.

The KwaZulu-Natal Tourism and Film Authority promised that it would announce the nominees of the 13th Simon Mabhunu Sabela KZN Film & Television Awards (SSA26) on Friday during a live stream but then failed to do so without any explanation.

After doing nothing on Friday afternoon in terms of any nominees announcement, the KwaZulu-Natal Tourism and Film Authority also said nothing and just ignored its own no-show.

Observers are now wondering what's going on behind the scenes of the organising of this year's 13th Simon Mabhunu Sabela KZN Film & Television Awards.

The 13th Simon Mabhunu Sabela KZN Film & Television Awards (SSA26) was originally scheduled to take place on 10 October. It then suddenly got postponed and moved to a new date of 21 November at The Playhouse in Durban.

On 6 October, just 4 days before the awards show was set to take place, the KwaZulu-Natal Tourism and Film Authority for the first time publicly announced that it is being postponed to 21 November, with editor Jack Esterhuizen heading up the judging process.

The KwaZulu-Natal Tourism and Film Authority, through a press statement issued by its PR company, suddenly said on 6 October that the "revised date allows for the adjudication process to be concluded with the necessary rigour, following the strong response of more than 420 entries, while providing sufficient time for the final preparations required to deliver an awards ceremony that appropriately celebrates the depth and calibre of South Africa’s film and television industry".

On the same date, the KwaZulu-Natal Tourism and Film Authority, and its PR company, noted that "this year's nominees will be announced online on 16 October, marking the next major milestone in the countdown to the ceremony".

But this self-described milestone was not going to happen on 16 October.

On Thursday, 15 October, the KwaZulu-Natal Tourism and Film Authority, and its PR company, issued a media reminder, saying that the "wait is almost over" and that the Simon Mabhunu Sabela KZN Film & Television Awards was going to "reveal 2026 nominees this Friday".

"The excitement is building as the Simon Mabhunu Sabela KZN Film and Television Awards prepare to reveal the stars, storytellers and creative talents vying for top honours at this year's awards," the press release noted.

The "media, film and television industry stakeholders and the public are invited to tune in and follow the announcement live across the Authority's social media platforms," said the media mailer.

The film body once again confirmed that the KwaZulu-Natal Tourism and Film Authority would "unveil the much-anticipated 2026 nominees in a special online broadcast on Friday, 16 October 2026, at 14:00, across its social media platforms".

"From outstanding acting performances and compelling storytelling to excellence behind the camera, the announcement will shine the spotlight on the filmmakers, actors, producers and television professionals whose work has made an impact on South Africa's screen industry," it said.

"With 29 award categories and two additional special awards, the reveal promises to generate excitement across the film and television fraternity as nominees discover who will be competing for recognition at one of the province's premier industry celebrations."

The KwaZulu-Natal Tourism and Film Authority specifically told the media that it would make the nominees announcement on Friday on its FilminKZN and VisitKZN accounts, on both Instagram and Facebook, as well as on YouTube at VisitKZN.

But 14:00 on Friday came and went, followed by nothing but silence, with no update, no press release, no explanation or notification, and no basic advisory to the press as to the no-show or what is going to happen next.

It came just a day after the KwaZulu-Natal Tourism and Film Authority on Thursday still asked media to diarise and give time, attention and effort to the nominees announcement on Friday, and for news editors and lifestyle reporters to cover it.   

Making it even more bizarre is that the KwaZulu-Natal Tourism and Film Authority on its very own social media accounts and pages promoted that it would do the nominees announcement - only to not do it, and then also say absolutely nothing about it.

Following the hyped "countdown", asking the media to sit ready to cover something, then the nominees no-show, and then complete silence for days, the final nominees list remains unreleased.

Nhlanhla Ngwenya, KwaZulu-Natal Tourism and Film Authority PR person, as well as the PR company FBI Communications repping the film body, were asked in a media query for an explanation and what's going on, and for the nominees list.

The response will be added here when received.

ALSO READ: 13th Simon Mabhunu Sabela KZN Film & Television Awards Postponed to 21 November as Awards Show Needs More Time to Judge 420 Entries

13th Simon Mabhunu Sabela KZN Film & Television Awards Postponed to 21 November as Awards Show Needs More Time to Judge 420 Entries

by Thinus Ferreira

No longer taking place on 10 October, 2026's 13th Simon Mabhunu Sabela KZN Film & Television Awards (SSA26) has been postponed and moved to a new date of 21 November at The Playhouse in Durban.

The KwaZulu-Natal Tourism and Film organisation responsible for organising the Simon Mabhunu Sabela KZN Film & Television Awards says the awards show is being pushed back since more time is needed to judge entries.

The 13th edition will now take place a month later to give more time "for the adjudication process to be concluded with the necessary rigour, following the strong response of more than 420 entries, while providing sufficient time for the final preparations required to deliver an awards ceremony that appropriately celebrates the depth and calibre of South Africa's film and television industry.

The 13th Simon Mabhunu Sabela KZN Film and Television Awards will announce nominees during an online announcement set for 16 October.

At November's awards show two special honours  - a Lifetime Achievement Award and an In Memoriam tribute - will be bestowed.

Sibusiso Gumbi, KwaZulu-Natal Tourism and Film acting CEO, says "The Simon Mabhunu Sabela Awards are not only about recognising the work that is commanding attention today".

"They are also about understanding that our industry has been built over generations, by people whose talent, commitment and courage opened doors and created opportunities for those who followed. The Lifetime Achievement Award allows us to honour that contribution while the In Memoriam tribute ensures that those we have lost remain part of the story of South African film and television."

The judging group of the 13th Simon Mabhunu Sabela KZN Film & Television Awards this year include members of the South African Screen Federation (SASFED), Black Filmmakers Collective (IBFC), eThekwini Filmmakers Association (EFA), Independent Producers Organisation (IPO), Writers Guild South Africa (WGSA), Directors Guild South Africa (DGSA)/Independent Directors Association (IDA), South African Guild of Actors (SAGA) and the Documentary Filmmakers Association (DFA).

"The credibility of any awards programme rests on the integrity of the process behind it," says Sibusiso Gumbi, with editor Jack Esterhuizen, heading up the judging process.

"We have therefore placed considerable emphasis on ensuring that the 13th Simon Mabhunu Sabela KZN Film & Television Awards has a rigorous, transparent and industry-informed adjudication process."

"From the involvement of industry bodies to independent judging, oversight and auditing, there are important checks and balances in place to ensure that every entry is given fair consideration."

Entries are assessed by independent industry judges, says the organisation, while an independent auditing company presides over the adjudication process.

The 13th Simon Mabhunu Sabela KZN Film & Television Awards received over 420 entries this year across the various awards categories.

Jack Esterhuizen says "Receiving more than 420 entries speaks to the level of interest in the awards and also places an important responsibility on the judging panels".

"Every entry deserves to be considered on its merit. Our responsibility as judges is to apply the criteria consistently and independently and to ensure that the quality of the work remains at the centre of the adjudication process."