OD11 digital HR - Flipbook - Page 28
THE SA PODCASTERS GUILD:
RIGHT IDEA, RIGHT TIME
Podcasting has evolved from a niche format into
a juggernaut of modern media, with massive global
investment from Spotify, Amazon, Netflix and the like.
Jonathan Warncke (1998B) is leading the charge in SA
THE ROUNDUP
Last year was another excellent
one for Khanya “Kyeezi” Siyengo
(2006W), aka the Tall Wonder
(pictured above). The radio host,
TV presenter, DJ, MC and all-round
voice guy was voted onto Hot-List
Africa as one of the “Hottest On-Air
Personalities” on the continent. You
can listen to him on both Good Hope
FM and Metro FM.
Not content with his role as
principal horn in the Cape Town
Philharmonic Orchestra, Shannon
Thebus (2015B) is continuing his
organ studies with South African
classical music maestros Deon Irish
and Richard Haigh (PM 1996B). A
musical prodigy at Bishops, Shannon
has flourished since leaving school.
In 2023, he won the Stellenbosch
International Chamber Music Festival
bursary, which allowed him to attend
a study exchange in Washington DC
with the virtuoso Geoffrey Pilkington,
principal horn of the Kennedy Center
Opera House Orchestra.
In a notoriously fickle and
unpredictable industry, Paul du Toit
(1992W) has been nonstop busy for
30 years. A resident of Canada since
late 2019, with frequent trips back to
South Africa, Paul continues to make
his mark as a scriptwriter, director
and actor on stage and on screen.
His latest role was in The Girl Who
Wasn’t Dead, a Lifetime Original
movie released in 2024 and available
on Apple TV and Prime Video.
26 | THE OLD DIOCESAN
“In October 2023, at an informal gathering of podcasters, I looked
around and realised there was no industry organisation for podcasters
in South Africa. Speaking to other producers, it became clear everyone
thought it was a good idea, but no-one had taken the initiative yet.
So I gathered about 20 founding members, registered a non-profit,
organised a bank account, set up a website, and handled all the other
little details needed to start a community – and got to work. And the
South African Podcasters Guild was born on 2 November 2023.
“Since then, our community has grown to more than 350 members.
We have a WhatsApp group where members collaborate on episodes,
give advice, swap promos, and more. We also hosted the first annual
South African Podcast Awards, an initiative designed to set standards
for excellent podcasting, inspire those motivated by competition, and
bring the industry to the attention of the public and media.
“We’re now focused on making the guild more sustainable. Currently,
the three directors are working for a salary of R100 per month – as a
joke. We’re introducing a corporate membership tier for media partners;
we’ve just closed a deal to get some of our show on SAA planes; we’re
launching the SA PodFinder web page to get member shows in front
of the public, running community events, and doing everything we
can to grow the industry while maintaining an independent mindset.
“Where’s it all going? I think podcasting should be a career choice
that’s capable of paying a living salary. I think South Africans telling
more stories and having more conversations in more languages can
only make our country better. And I think 2025 is going to be a very
big year for South African podcasters.
“To learn more about what we’re up to, visit sapg.co.za – or get in
touch with me directly at jon@sapg.co.za.”
