WeeklySA_AdminDEDICATION: As the theatre marks 50 years of fearless storytelling, resistance and cultural excellence, three remarkable women reflect on decades of service behind the scenes. From stage management and audience engagement to brand stewardship, their journeys reveal dedication, passion and resilience…
By Jabu Khumalo
When South Africa reflects on the remarkable story of the Market Theatre at 50, much attention naturally falls on the actors, playwrights and productions that shaped the institution’s international reputation as the country’s “Theatre of the Struggle”.
Yet behind every standing ovation, every sold-out performance and every production that challenged audiences to think differently stand dedicated individuals whose contributions are seldom seen under the spotlight.
Among them are three women whose combined service spans more than eight decades of the Market Theatre’s 50-year existence: Motlalepula Makhathe, Siwe Hashe and Lusanda Zokufa.
The Market Theatre has never been just a
workplace. It has been a home for artists, storytellers, audiences
and dreamers – Lusanda Zokufa
Each arrived at the theatre at different moments in its history. Each followed a different path. Yet all three share an unwavering commitment to preserving the institution’s mission of telling authentic South African stories while nurturing the next generation of theatre-makers and audiences.
Makhathe – behind the scenes
For Motlalepula Makhathe, Senior Stage Manager, the Market Theatre has been both a workplace and a life journey.
Having joined the institution in 1996 as a trainee stage manager through a Standard Bank-sponsored technical programme, she has spent nearly three decades ensuring that productions run seamlessly behind the scenes. Today she leads stage management teams, oversees production operations and coordinates the countless moving parts required to bring performances to life.
Reflecting on the theatre’s golden jubilee, Makhathe speaks with pride about having been part of its history.
“It means I was and still am part of the history-making,” she says, describing the joy of seeing the institution reach such a significant milestone.
Her role may be largely invisible to audiences, but it is central to every performance. From managing rehearsals and coordinating technical crews to maintaining safety standards and facilitating communication between creative teams, Makhathe has become one of the institution’s most trusted custodians of excellence.
The theatre has also broadened her horizons. One of her most cherished memories remains working on Days of Dying, a production that took her on her first international tour to Amsterdam. Along the way, she has worked with a long list of theatre luminaries, including Dr John Kani, Mncedisi Shabangu and Lara Foot Newton.
If Makhathe represents the operational heartbeat of the theatre, then Siwe Hashe represents its welcoming face.
For more than 31 years, the Box Office Administrator has greeted patrons with warmth, patience and a smile that has earned her the affectionate title “Queen of Newtown”.
Hashe – ‘theatre’s face’
Often the first person audiences encounter when they arrive at the theatre, Hashe has become an institution in her own right.
Her commitment to customer service stems from a simple philosophy: making people feel safe, welcome and valued.
“I love my work and assisting people when they come to the theatre,” she says. “I love to make people feel safe and welcome when they come to watch shows.”
Since joining the Market Theatre in 1995, Hashe has witnessed countless productions and met some of the world’s most celebrated artists and cultural icons, including Harry Belafonte, Morgan Freeman, Hugh Masekela, Letta Mbulu, Caiphus Semenya and Dr John Kani.
She never imagined she would remain for so long, but the theatre’s work and impact kept drawing her back.
Today, she remains as enthusiastic as ever, proudly looking forward not only to the 50th anniversary celebrations but also to witnessing the institution’s 60th birthday.
Zokufa – spirit of resilience
Completing the trio is Lusanda Zokufa, Head of Brand and Communications, whose story embodies both the spirit of perseverance and the transformative power of the arts.
Her journey began not as an employee but as a volunteer.
Introduced to the theatre through her mother, an actress, writer and director, Zokufa spent nearly two years working without pay while learning the inner workings of one of South Africa’s most respected cultural institutions.
Today, she leads the strategic communication and branding efforts that connect audiences to the Market Theatre’s productions and programmes. Her work ensures that the institution’s rich legacy remains relevant and accessible to new generations.
For Zokufa, who has dedicated 25 years to the institution, the 50th anniversary is deeply personal.
“Having spent 25 of those years here, I’ve had the privilege of witnessing not just the evolution of an institution, but the unfolding of South Africa’s story through the power of theatre,” she says.
She has seen generations of actors, directors, playwrights and technicians pass through the theatre’s doors, helping shape South Africa’s cultural landscape. Watching emerging talent find its voice alongside established artists remains one of the most rewarding aspects of her career.
Her memories include the unforgettable moment she accidentally hung up on Nelson Mandela when he called asking to speak to John Kani, believing it to be a prank. The story remains one of many reminders of the extraordinary people whose paths have crossed with the Market Theatre over the decades.
Together, Makhathe, Hashe and Zokufa represent three generations of stewardship within the Market Theatre family. One keeps productions running smoothly behind the curtain. Another welcomes audiences through the front door. The third ensures that the institution’s story reaches the wider world.
As the Market Theatre commemorates 50 years of courageous storytelling, cultural resistance and artistic excellence, these women remind us that institutions endure not only because of visionary founders or celebrated performers, but because of dedicated custodians who quietly and consistently carry the mission forward.
Their stories are, in many ways, the story of the Market Theatre itself — resilient, passionate, inclusive and deeply committed to the transformative power of the arts.
And as the next chapter of the theatre’s journey unfolds, their collective legacy will continue to inspire those who believe that stories can change minds, shape societies and help a nation better understand itself.
