As South Africa celebrates Women’s Month, the spotlight is turning to the women behind some of the country’s most compelling film and television stories.
Among them are award-winning creatives Bonie Sithebe, Zola Mhlongo and Portia Ncwane, whose careers reflect not only the changing face of the entertainment industry, but also the growing influence of women as producers, directors, actors, writers and decision-makers.
For these women, recognition has never been simply about a trophy. Their Simon Mabhunu Sabela Awards have become markers of perseverance, creative purpose and responsibility, particularly in an industry where women have historically had to fight harder for leadership and technical opportunities.
Film producer Bonie Sithebe, whose work includes "Valley of a Thousand Hills", "Blood Legacy" and "Meet the Khumalos", had already established herself as a filmmaker long before the Simon Mabhunu Sabela Awards were launched.
For Sithebe, receiving the award was an important turning point that extended the reach of her work beyond South Africa.
"Receiving the award elevated my recognition beyond South Africa and introduced my work to a wider international audience. It strengthened my confidence and created opportunities for me to collaborate and work with filmmakers and industry professionals from around the world.
"Since receiving the awards, I have reached several significant milestones, including directing a Netflix telenovela and receiving opportunities to work with international partners. I am currently developing a co-production with a Canadian producer, which is an exciting step in expanding my work beyond South Africa and building meaningful local and international collaborations," said Sithebe.
But for Sithebe, success is not only about personal advancement. She believes established women have a responsibility to bring others with them.
"It is extremely important for established women to create opportunities for other women. Representation cannot end with our own success; we must use our positions to bring other women into the room.
"Throughout my career, I have mentored emerging filmmakers, collaborated with women across different departments and intentionally created opportunities for women through my productions and training programmes. I believe that when one woman is given an opportunity, she should create space for others to follow. That is how we build a stronger and more sustainable industry," she said.
Sithebe believes the industry needs more female producers and decision-makers who are committed to developing women in technical and leadership roles.
She said young women need visible role models who can demonstrate that careers in directing, cinematography, editing and sound are attainable.
Young creatives, she says, need to build genuine networks, attend festivals and film markets, learn from people who have already succeeded and deliberately position themselves where opportunities can find them.
Just as importantly, they need to think about the business of filmmaking.
Sithebe wants the next generation to build careers that are not only creatively fulfilling and recognised, but financially sustainable.
For actress, presenter and media personality Zola Mhlongo, receiving a Simon Mabhunu Sabela Award was an affirmation of the value of persistence, authenticity and passion.
The award gave her renewed confidence to continue pursuing her purpose in an entertainment industry where many leadership and decision-making spaces have historically been dominated by men.
"It represented more than just recognition for my work, but reminded me that passion, consistency and authenticity are always worthwhile. As a woman in the entertainment industry, where many leadership and decision-making spaces have historically been dominated by men, receiving this recognition gave me even more confidence to continue pursuing my purpose fearlessly.
"The award encouraged me to keep challenging myself creatively and to believe that my voice, perspective and contribution matter. It also reminded me that every achievement comes with a responsibility to inspire and create opportunities for those coming after us," said Mhlongo.
Her career has continued to expand since receiving the award, with roles across acting, presenting and media. She is currently part of "Love Wins", which airs on Mzansi Magic, a project she says has reaffirmed her passion for storytelling.
Looking ahead, Mhlongo hopes to expand further into feature films and telenovelas, taking on roles that challenge her creatively while helping bring African stories to larger audiences.
Through her Lovin Entertainment Foundation, Mhlongo has mentored and supported five women by helping them professionally record radio demos.
For aspiring broadcasters, she said, access and exposure can be among the biggest barriers to entering the industry.
Mhlongo believes the industry must create more mentorship programmes, internships, funding opportunities and leadership initiatives to ensure women are represented not only in front of the camera, but also in the technical and production departments.
"When young women see female directors, producers, cinematographers, editors and sound engineers leading productions, they begin to believe those careers are possible for them too," she said.
For Mhlongo, the legacy she hopes to leave is one of “excellence, authenticity and service”, a career that creates opportunities for others as much as it creates opportunities for herself.
Portia Ncwane, director, producer and filmmaker said the Simon Mabhunu Sabela Award carried a particularly personal significance.
Her recognition for "Tales of a Zulu Folk Dancer | Igida Ngoma" celebrated a body of work rooted in Zulu culture, heritage and traditional storytelling.
For Ncwane, the award was not simply an acknowledgement of a successful project. It represented recognition of a vision built around preserving culture and bringing African stories into spaces where they can be seen, valued and celebrated.
"As a woman working across writing, directing, producing and filmmaking, I understand that the creative and film industries can still be spaces where women have to work twice as hard to have their voices heard and their leadership recognised.
"What made the recognition even more powerful was that it came for a project rooted in isiZulu culture and traditional folk dance. My work has been centred on taking culture, heritage and community stories into film, and the recognition encouraged me to continue pushing those boundaries," said Ncwane.
She is currently working on "Raised the African Way", a feature documentary, as well as developing a feature film titled "Jozi to Kwelika Mthaniya". She wrote, directed and co-produced "Tomasi", an experimental musical short film, and "Wheel You Be Mine", a short film that highlights and empowers those living with a disability.
As the Simon Mabhunu Sabela Awards prepare to return in October 2026, the journeys of Sithebe, Mhlongo and Ncwane demonstrate that recognition matters, but access matters more.
The three creatives agree that meaningful transformation requires deliberate investment, from mentorship and training to funding, leadership development and opportunities for women to gain experience on major productions.
The future of South African film will depend not only on the stories that are told, but on who gets the opportunity to tell them, who is trusted to lead, and whether success creates a pathway for those still waiting for their first opportunity.
taschica.pillay@nationalmg.co.za