South Africa’s comedy scene is officially heating up again because the nominees for the 13th annual Savanna Comics’ Choice Comedy Awards have dropped — and let’s just say the competition is tighter than a taxi squeezing in “just one more passenger.”
The big announcement went down at the slick BlackBrick Hotel in Sandton, where comedians gathered pretending to be chilled… but you know they were internally doing calculations like, “Yoh, did that one joke I made about my aunt count or not?”
According to Kayla Hendricks from Savanna Premium Cider, the awards celebrate the comedians who keep Mzansi laughing year after year — even through load shedding, rising petrol prices, and those awkward family group chats where everyone suddenly becomes a political analyst.
The Heavy Hitters
Some of South Africa’s funniest names are battling it out for top honours. In the Headliner of the Year category, the lineup reads like a comedy all-star team:
• Celeste Ntuli
• Dillan Oliphant
• Kagiso Mokgadi (KG to the fans)
• Mpho Popps
• Skhumba Hlophe
Meanwhile, the Comedian of the Year race also features heavyweights like Sifiso Nene. Basically, this category is stacked — the kind of lineup that makes you say, “Eish, judges… good luck.”
The Best Solo Show nominees prove that these comedians don’t need backup dancers or dramatic lighting to carry a show. Highlights include:
• Conrad Koch and his puppet sidekick Chester Missing for Puppet Power
• Khanyisa Bunu with Teacher DropOut
• Sifiso Nene for Because of Success Tour
If you’ve seen these shows, you already know the laughter hits harder than a braai debate about who actually burned the meat.
New Kids With Big Jokes
The Savanna Newcomer Award reminds us that the next generation of comedians is ready to shake things up.
The nominees include:
#PrinceK, Akhil Maharaj, Nishen Pather, Rae du Plooy and Sjika Da Thirdborn.
These rising stars are basically the comedy equivalent of that quiet friend who suddenly drops the funniest line of the night.
When Comedy Leaves the Stage
The Beyond the Mic Award highlights comedians taking their humour beyond stand-up.
Nominees include:
• Kagiso Lediga voicing young Rafiki in The Lion King
• Lazola Gola in the game Relooted
• Trevor Gumbi starring in Cop & a Half
• Tumi Morake appearing in animation and gaming projects
Proof that once you’re funny, you’re funny everywhere — even in a video game.
Fans, It’s Your Time to Shine
While the comedy industry decides most winners, fans still get a say in categories like Best Comedy Festival or Show, Breakthrough Act of the Year, and Comedic Content Award.
Voting is open via the Savanna Comics’ Choice Comedy Awards website or by SMS (R1.50). And if luck is on your side, you might even score the chance to attend the awards.
Just remember: voting closes 15 April. Don’t do the classic “I’ll do it later” move — we all know how that story ends.
The Big Night of Laughs
The winners will be revealed on 2 May 2026 at the Gold Reef City Lyric Theatre — the biggest night on the South African comedy calendar.
Expect big laughs, spicy roasts, emotional speeches… and probably one comedian blaming their ex for giving them the best material.
One thing’s clear: South African comedy is alive, thriving, and still finding new ways to make Mzansi laugh.
