MEDIA RELEASE
TO: ALL MEDIA
ATTENTION: JOURNALISTS AND EDITORS
DATE: Friday, 14 November 2025
Mogale City; Gauteng, South Africa – November 2025
Ripples of joyful live rhythms are set to sweep through the iconic and globally renowned Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site’s Maropeng Visitor centre in Mogale City, as a major cultural celebration prepares to unfold. The not-to-be-missed inaugural MACfest Maropeng Arts and Culture Festival will inject an extra breath of pizazz into Maropeng – the epicentre of Gauteng’s only World Heritage Site.
Proudly conceptualised by Mabs Market Masterkey, the vibrant MACfest. coincides with the 20th anniversary of Maropeng, offering even more reason for an exhilarating, three-day celebration taking place over two consecutive weekends at the famed visitor centre.
MACfest is a cultural and heritage showcase featuring spectacular live music, arts and crafts exhibitions, indigenous African fashion, a book fair, and food stalls serving flavourful cuisine from across the motherland. Enriching the diverse programme is a range of poetry sessions and memorial lectures, ensuring a holistic and inclusive festival offering.
Unpacking its relevance and perfect fit with the Cradle Humankind’s Maropeng organisers emphasise that a World Heritage Site deserves an annual international festival – one that not only attracts significant numbers to its Visitor Centre, Maropeng, but also boosts tourism across the 52 000-hectare World Heritage Site and neighbouring historically rich townships such as Munsieville and other experiences. Collectively, the city of human origins as Mogale City is affectionately known, offers diverse tourism experiences that stand strong alongside the best in the country.
“MACfest is not just an event; it is an experience – a living story of who we are as South Africans. Every moment of the occasion is crafted to honour our heritage from the past, present, and into the future,” said the organisers.
According to key partner Mogale City Local Municipality’s Executive Mayor, Cllr Lucky Sele “MACfest comes at a significant moment as Maropeng marks 20 years of shaping our heritage and tourism landscape. For Mogale City, this festival is a catalyst for local economic activity – boosting our creative industries, creating opportunities for young people, and strengthening the Cradle of Humankind as a key tourism corridor. We value this partnership because it aligns with our developmental vision of an inclusive, vibrant, and globally competitive city.”
Festivities kick off on 29 November at the Maropeng Amphitheatre, with a powerful line-up featuring the crème de la crème of South African music. New age maskandi sensation Big Zulu, Imacsoul, and crowd-pleaser Kabza De Small headline the opening night. Vusi Nova will treat audiences to tracks from his new album alongside favourites from previous releases.
Additional Afro-soul brilliance includes Ami Faku, Maleh, and Berita. Smooth, enchanting jazz sounds will be delivered by Jeff Maluleke, Thammy Mdluli, and Quincy K. For hip-hop lovers, Tuks Senganga and Molemi take centre stage, while traditional African sounds shine through performances by MaAusi, Cultural Spears, and Majoy. Rounding off the entertainment are Rocboy, DJ Sphiwe, Y U Asking Me, Moreki, Blacksun, Bongz Moriri, and Tommy T.
The MACfest Golf Day on 05 December, followed by an exclusive Gala Dinner, will provide a platform for executives to network, collaborate, and strengthen relationships. The event will also highlight a special Two Of A Kind Masterkey Music Series segment that pairs two artists of similar genres for a once-in-a-lifetime collaborative performance.
Under the slogan “Connecting Footsteps to Footprints of Generations,” the Maropeng Human Evolution Family Fun Walk will take place on 06 December. The walk concludes with a joy-filled family picnic also at Maropeng, offering families an opportunity to bond and reconnect.
A portion of the event proceeds will be donated to the South African National Council for the Blind, and to Maropeng’s conservation programmes. The festival is proudly supported by funding from the national Department of Sports, Arts, and Culture’s MGE, Mogale City, West Rand District Municipality and Maropeng a’ Afrika Leisure.
Tickets are available at R400 per person via Webtickets and Pick n Pay. Early-bird tickets are R350 until the end of September.
End
Issued by Mogale City Local Municipality