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“We were negotiating the impossible.” Few people have shaped modern South Africa as directly as these two. Veteran statesman Tony Leon sits down with Ambassador Roelf Meyer for a wide-ranging, candid conversation on his new book Roelf Meyer: A Political Memoir. Together they trace Roelf’s unlikely journey from a sheep farm in Cariad in the Eastern Cape to the heart of the negotiations at Kempton Park, serving under four presidents — P.W. Botha, F.W. de Klerk, Nelson Mandela and now Cyril Ramaphosa. They unpack the world that shaped him, the Afrikaner nationalism that pre-dated apartheid, the strange bedfellows of white empowerment, and the moment the National Party finally drew a line in the sand. Roelf Meyer’s new book is Roelf Meyer: A Political Memoir, as told to Annaliza Burgess. Part political history, part personal reckoning, it traces one of the most consequential political lives of South Africa’s transition. Roelf Meyer is a former Minister in the governments of F.W. de Klerk and Nelson Mandela, the National Party’s chief negotiator at Kempton Park, and currently South Africa’s Ambassador to the United States. Tony Leon is a former leader of the Democratic Party and the Democratic Alliance, a former South African Ambassador, and a best-selling author.

“When faith becomes aligned with power structures, it transforms from a prophetic force into a tool for social control.” Bestselling author and poet Siphokazi Jonas sits down with Siya Khumalo for a searching, generous conversation on his new book When Saying No to God Is an Act of Faith. Together they unpack his critique of institutional Christianity, the religious trauma that pulled him deeper into the Bible rather than away from it, and why discerning when to say “no” to religion is itself an act of faithfulness. They explore how pulpits around the world constantly add to and subtract from scripture to prop up power, how DARVO plays out in religious language, and what it means to interpret scripture against the grain in a world where any disruption to the status quo is treated as heresy. Siya Khumalo’s new book is When Saying No to God Is an Act of Faith. It presents a critique of institutional Christianity, arguing that when faith becomes aligned with power structures, it transforms from a prophetic force into a tool for social control, and challenges readers to discern when saying “no” to religion becomes an act of faithfulness to God. Siya Khumalo writes about religion, politics, sex and technology. His first book, You Have to Be Gay to Know God, was long-listed for the Alan Paton Prize, shortlisted for the UJ Book Prize, and awarded the Desmond Tutu-Gerrit Brand Prize. He is also the author of Queering Revelation. Siphokazi Jonas is a bestselling author, poet, writer, performer and producer. Her latest book is Weeping Becomes A River (audiobook out now).

“How do you stop being a naai? Die. That’s how you stop.” Comedian Yaaseen Barnes sits down with author Mia Arderne for a lively, laugh-out-loud conversation on her new novel How to Stop Being an Naai — a satirical take on the self-help genre and one of the sharpest, funniest reads of the year. Together they unpack the book’s origins as a sincere personal guide, the midlife crisis that gave birth to protagonist Lucian, the research rabbit holes (including TRC documents) that pulled the story into darker places than she intended, and the one question that quietly sits at the heart of it all: can you really stop being a naai, or is it the cost of surviving under capitalism? Mia Arderne’s new book is How to Stop Being an Naai. A satirical take on the self-help genre, it follows protagonist Lucian — an aging DJ having a full-blown midlife crash-out — as he’s put through the steps of becoming a better person. Mia Arderne is a South African author. Her debut novel Mermaid Fillet introduced readers to a world of mermaid-tail smuggling on the black market. Yaaseen Barnes is a celebrated South African comedian known for his sharp wit and dynamic performances. Profanity warning: this episode contains strong language.

“Translated into 33 languages, available in over 50 countries.” Children’s book illustrator and reviewer Mia van der Merwe sits down with the Sydney-based husband-and-wife team behind one of the biggest middle-grade phenomena in the world. Author Eva Amores and illustrator Matt Cosgrove join Pagecast live from their South African school tour to talk about the Worst Week Ever series — seven books, one for each day of the week, each one worse than the last for hapless main character Justin Chase. They unpack the real-life inspirations (including the eldest son who pitched the idea), the lockdown origins of Monday, the “focus group” of their own kids, and why embarrassment is the most universal humour of all. Eva Amores and Matt Cosgrove’s Worst Week Ever series is a hilarious black-and-white illustrated middle-grade series for readers aged 8+. Across seven books — one for every day of the week — poor Justin Chase has the WORST week ever, featuring vampires, giant toilets on wheels, secret treasures, mistaken identities and even getting trapped underground. Eva Amores is the author of the global best-selling Worst Week Ever series. Matt Cosgrove is the illustrator and her creative (and life) partner. Mia van der Merwe is a children’s book illustrator, reviewer, and all-round lover of books.

"The sweep of it, seeing all those years, is quite extraordinary for an artist." Internationally renowned South African artist Penny Siopis sits down with Sue Williamson for a wide-ranging conversation on her new book There's Something I Must Tell You, published to accompany her landmark retrospective at the Iziko South African National Gallery. The exhibition filled eight rooms and the atrium, and traced nearly fifty years of practice. Together they walk through what it means to see a lifetime of work hung together, from the earliest district-six work of the early 1980s through the apartheid years, the TRC-era Truth Games, reflections on colonialism, and intergenerational conversations between the mothers of the Mandela generation and their granddaughters. Sue Williamson's new book is There's Something I Must Tell You, a beautifully illustrated catalogue of her 2025 retrospective at the Iziko South African National Gallery, featuring essays by Sean O'Toole, Zoé Whitley and Sixolise Sigolo. Sue Williamson is one of South Africa's most esteemed artists, internationally renowned for her work. She lives and works in Cape Town. Her 1989 book Resistance Art in South Africa was the first to document the role of South African artists in the struggle against apartheid. Penny Siopis is a South African artist based in Cape Town and one of the country's most important contemporary voices.

"There was a job to be done." Legendary Springbok coach Nick Mallett sits down with former Springbok prop Steven Kitshoff for a rich, generous conversation on his new memoir Kitsie: Memoir of a Bomb-Squad Bok. They unpack the origins of the Bomb Squad — the name that came from a Wilder–Tyson press conference, the alignment inside the squad that made it work, and the selfless conversations that decided who would start and who would finish. Kitshoff reflects on being told he'd never play for the Boks, the call from Allister Coetzee that turned him and Amy around on a French motorway, and the culture of role clarity that turned three world-class props into an unstoppable unit alongside Malcolm Marx and Vincent Koch. Steven Kitshoff's new book is Kitsie: Memoir of a Bomb-Squad Bok, written with best-selling author Michael Vlismas. The memoir takes readers behind one of rugby's greatest careers — from schoolboy prodigy to two-time Rugby World Cup champion — and features personal recollections from Rassie Erasmus, Tendai "The Beast" Mtawarira and others. Steven Kitshoff is a former Springbok prop and two-time Rugby World Cup winner, admired both on and off the field for his discipline, humility and unwavering commitment to his team. Nick Mallett is a former Springbok head coach, rugby analyst and one of the most respected voices in the South African game.

"An opportunity to hold and be held." This one is a joy from start to finish. Chef, food stylist and best-selling cookbook author Zola Nene sits down with Chef Nokx Majozi for a conversation that feels less like an interview and more like two sisters at the kitchen table. Together they unpack Nokx's beautiful debut, The South African Cookbook, and why it exists: the years of travelling the world and finding no book on South African food, the gap she quietly decided to fill, and the immense pride of her mother inviting the neighbours over to hold the book. They talk about the influences of both parents in her kitchen, the shouting culture Nokx refuses to carry forward, and what it means to lead a team with kindness rather than fear. Nokx Majozi's new book is The South African Cookbook, out now in-store and online across South Africa, the UK and EU. Nokx Majozi is Chef-in-Residence at Fallow restaurant in London and a proud ambassador for South African cuisine on the global stage. Zola Nene is a chef, food stylist, TV personality, and best-selling cookbook author. Her latest book is Simply More Zola.

For the final episode of Pagecast at the 2026 Open Book Festival, Letlhogonolo Mokgoroane is joined by Athi-Patra Ruga. Athi-Patra Ruga is a South African multidisciplinary artist whose work explores archives, spirituality, colonial histories and speculative world-building across performance, film, tapestry, sculpture and installation. He is also the co-founder of Victory of the Word (VOW), a non-profit arts and research organisation focused on reimagining Southern African knowledge systems. Letlhogonolo Mokgoroane is a practising advocate and also a part-time in-counsel at the Centre for Applied Legal Studies at the University of the Witwatersrand. They were named one of the Top 200 Young South Africans in 2018. In 2022, they formed part of the judging panel for the AKO Caine Prize for African Writing. #AthiPartaRuga #VictoryoftheWord #OpenBookFestival

Natalie Sifuma is a Kenyan writer, researcher, and consultant currently based in Cape Town. She is the founder of Sisters in Climate — a Pan-African climate initiative — and is completing an MPhil in Inclusive Innovation at UCT’s Graduate School of Business, with a focus on social impact, climate, and gender across Africa. She is also a 2026 BOOKED Trips Fellow, weaving together literary culture and travel as a form of place-based storytelling. Letlhogonolo Mokgoroane is a practising advocate and also a part-time in-counsel at the Centre for Applied Legal Studies at the University of the Witwatersrand. They were named one of the top 200 Young South Africans in 2018. In 2022, they formed part of the judging panel for the Ako Caine Prize for African Writing. #Pagecast #NatalieSifuma #ClimateActivism #OpenBookFestival

On this installment of Pagecast at the 2026 Open Book Festival studio, Lethogonolo Mokogroane is joined by Sahra Noor. Sahra is a Somali-American writer whose work explores belonging, migration, and the complicated work of building a life across cultures. Alongside her writing, she works in global health, supporting efforts to strengthen health systems across Africa, and contributes to scholarship on culturally responsive care and inclusive health system design. She is the author of Salt in the Snow. Letlhogonolo Mokgoroane is a practising advocate and also a part-time in-counsel at the Centre for Applied Legal Studies at the University of the Witwatersrand. They were named one of the Mail and Guardian 200 Young South Africans in 2018. In 2022, they formed part of the judging panel for the Ako Caine Prize for African Writing. #Pagecast #SahraNoor #OpenBookFestival #SaltintheSnow

Kicking off Sunday at Open Book Festival 2026, Faraaz Mahomed joins Dr Alma-Nalisha Cele in the Pagecast studio. Faraaz is a researcher in the field of mental health and human rights, based between New York and his native South Africa. His short stories and travel writing have appeared in Granta, Boston Review, The Georgia Review, The Sunday Times, and other publications. In 2016, he won the Commonwealth Short Story Prize for the African region with his story “The Pigeon”. His latest work is Motherland. Dr Alma-Nalisha Cele is a doctor, literary curator, and co-founder of The Cheeky Natives, a literary podcast focused on the review, curation and archiving of Black literature. #Pagecast #FaraazMahomed #ThePigeon #CommonwealthShortStoryPrize #OpenBookFestival

For the final recording on Saturday, Kirsten Deane joins Letlhogonolo Mokgoroane in the Pagecast studio at Open Book Festival 2026. Kirsten Deane is the lead editor of English Alive, South Africa’s oldest publication for high school students. Her writing has been published in journals nationally and internationally, and her debut collection, Disabled, But, was released by uHlanga Press in April 2026. Letlhogonolo Mokgoroane is a practising advocate and also a part-time in-counsel at the Centre for Applied Legal Studies at the University of the Witwatersrand. They were named one of the Top 200 Young South Africans in 2018 and, in 2022, formed part of the judging panel for the Caine Prize for African Writing. #KirstenDeane #DisabledBut #DisabilityAwareness #Pagecast #OpenBookFestival

Next to join Letlhogonolo Mokgoroane in the Pagecast studio at Open Book Festival 2026 is debut novelist Selali Fiamanya. Selali was born and raised in Glasgow, with a couple of years spent in Accra, Ghana. He won a place on the inaugural Breakthrough Novel-Writing Course for Black Writers, run by Curtis Brown Creative. He is currently undertaking his GP training in Scotland. Before We Hit the Ground is his debut novel. It asks what it means to love and be loved in return, offering an intimate portrait of a family and one man’s struggle to find his place. Letlhogonolo Mokgoroane is a practising advocate and also a part-time in-counsel at the Centre for Applied Legal Studies at the University of the Witwatersrand. They were named one of the Top 200 Young South Africans in 2018 and, in 2022, formed part of the judging panel for the Caine Prize for African Writing. #Pagecast #SelaliFiamanya #BeforeWeHitTheGround #OpenBookFestival #QueerWriting

Next up in the Pagecast studio at Open Book Festival 2026, Dr Alma-Nalisha Cele is joined by bestselling author, keynote speaker and award-winning photographer Lọlá Ákínmádé. Lọlá's work has appeared in National Geographic, BBC, CNN, The Guardian, The Sunday Times Travel, The Daily Telegraph, The New York Times and Lonely Planet, among others. She has received multiple awards for her work, including being named a 2022 Hasselblad Heroine and receiving the 2018 Travel Photographer of the Year Bill Muster Award. In 2018, she was also honoured with a MIPAD 100 (Most Influential People of African Descent) recognition in media and culture, and her work is held in the National Geographic Image Collection. Dr Alma-Nalisha Cele is a doctor, literary curator and co-founder of The Cheeky Natives, a literary podcast focused on the review, curation and archiving of Black literature. #Pagecast #LolaAkinmade #TravelWriting #OpenBookFestival #Photography

Joining Dr Alma-Nalisha Cele in the Pagecast studio at Open Book Festival 2026 is (East) African feminist practitioner, writer, ideamonger and award-winning poet, Jessica Horn. Her book, African Feminist Praxis: Cartographies of Liberatory Worldmaking (Sage, 2025), chronicles decades of feminist mobilisation. Taking her archival passion into film, she recently directed The Temple of Her Skin, a feature documentary exploring African women’s journeys with tattooing and scarification. Jessica is the founder of Hindura Studios, a Nairobi-based social design agency grounded in futures and feminist thinking, and the host of The Beautiful Policy Podcast. Dr Alma-Nalisha Cele is a doctor, literary curator and co-founder of The Cheeky Natives, a literary podcast focused on the review, curation and archiving of Black literature. #Pagecast #JessicaHorn #AfricanFeminism #AfricanFeministPraxis #OpenBookFestival