SA’S GOT STYLE
The 26th edition of the SA Style Awards celebrates South African achievers whose talents rank among the best in the world, writes Andrea Nagel
If Iris Apfel were alive today, she’d be overjoyed by the sense of individual style encompassed by the 12 winners of the Style Awards 2024. The grand dame of style died earlier this month at the age of 102, but not without leaving us with some fabulous definitions of style. “You can’t try to be someone you’re not; that’s not style if someone says, ‘Buy this, you’ll be stylish,’ you won’t be stylish because you won’t be you. You have to learn who you are first. And that’s painful,” said Apfel.
As founder of the SA Style Awards, Jillian Groger, reminds us, style isn’t about how you dress. “Style is knowing who you are, what you want to say and how you’d like to shape the world,” she says.
For this 26th instalment of the awards the cast of winners says everything about Grogor’s encompassing definition of style. The Style Awards, powered by Plascon SA, is a springboard for fresh, young talent; honouring individuals across various industries who have made an indelible mark in SA and internationally.
The winners spoke about what “style” means to them ahead of the presentation of their awards tonight:
Brothers Justice and Fhatuwani Mukheli are the winners in The Next Big Thing category. Justice is a multidisciplinary artist, exploring themes of race, gender, sexuality, love, hope and innocence, working as a fine art photographer, painter, and film director in Joburg. Fhatuwani is a multidisciplinary creative covering advertising, photography, directing and visual art. Together, Fhatuwani and Justice are Studio Mukheli.
“Style is character — how you carry yourself, how you walk and talk. Clothing comes after that,” says Justice.
“Style is the aura at your core,” agrees Fhatuwani. “It represents your values and how you engage with your surroundings. It’s also self-respect, the first step to self-expression.”
The winner of the Style Icon Award, Dr John Bonisile Kani, needs no introduction.
“When I told my father I wanted to be an actor he took me to a sangoma, who threw the bones and said, ‘I see madness. He’s going to hear the tokolosh speaking in his ears.’ My father agreed, saying, ‘this morning I heard him talking to himself’. I was learning my lines,” says Kani.
The actor, director and playwright has won numerous awards including the Tony Award on Broadway, the John F Kennedy medal award and, most recently, the Voices in Freedom Award by Shared Interest in New York.
The Most Stylish Changemaker Award winner is Musa Motha, a professional dancer, choreographer and motivational speaker, who lost a leg to bone cancer when he was 11 years old. He shot to fame after a standout Britain’s Got Talent audition in 2023, leading to a standing ovation and the first ever group Golden Buzzer in the show’s history.
“Being good at something isn’t easy,” Says Motha. “I’m in the dance studio from 10am to 6pm most days.” Fueling his passion is the ability to restore people’s belief in themselves. “No matter what happens to you, nothing is impossible, he says.
The Most Stylish Performing Artist in Film Award winner Senzokuhle Radebe is known for his role as Sthembiso Gumede on the beloved SABC2 soap opera Muvhango and for the lead role as King Senzangakhona in M-Net’s latest TV series Shaka iLembe.
“For a long while, it felt like the film industry was meant for people who had a better upbringing,” he says. “For me, being stylish is finding your vibe and sticking to it, instead of going along with what everyone else likes.”
Jacques Bam won the Most Stylish Designer Award. He is a fashion designer / creative director who competed as a finalist at the SA Fashion Week New Talent Search and then established his brand, The BAM Collective.
“I wanted to make clothing to help people express themselves and feel empowered,” he says. “The BAM Collective was born out of a love for the liveliness of South Africa, the exuberance of her people and the profound impact that clothing has on our psyche.”
He has a distinct personal style. “I have fun with clothes and dress, blurring gender boundaries.”
In the Most Stylish Model category, Ponahalo Mojapelo, a supermodel, international DJ, content creator, writer and fashionista from Joburg won. Her mother is her primary style influence. “She had impeccable taste and a keen eye for statement pieces. I was the envy of the kids in town because of how she’d dress me and how she’d allow me to dress myself.”
She believes that style is the ability to turn heads with your looks without breaking the bank. “It’s your imagination at work; taking what already exists and transforming it into something just for you.”
Grammy award winner, Tyla Seethal is the winner of Most Stylish Performing Artist in Music. Known by her stage name Tyla, she’ sa singer and songwriter whose recent hit song Water is a global hit. “Style is an extension of my art and personality. I’ve always used it as a form of expression,” she says.
Bee Diamondhead, internationally acclaimed stylist, editor and creative director wins the Most Innovative Style Award.
Most Stylish Couple goes to Dr Musa Mthombeni and Liesl Mthombeni. Dr Musa is a South African television presenter and a boardcertified specialist radiologist. His wife, Liesl, is a South African model, radio and TV presenter and beauty pageant titleholder, crowned Miss South Africa in 2015.
Most Stylish Media Personality is Motshidisi Mohono, Rugby SA’s First Lady — an awardwinning Sport Broadcaster with SuperSport International.
Most Stylish Business Personality is Melina Lambrakis, executive director and head fashion buyer for the Europa Art Group.
The Style Awards will be celebrating their 26th edition tonight at a glittering event held at @Sandton Hotel in Benmore Gardens, where guests will be dressed in gold. The Style Awards is powered by Plascon SA. Mall of Africa is a title sponsor