Savanna Premium Cider Spotlights South Africa’s Next Generation of Comedy Talent

With its crisp, dry taste and even drier sense of humour, Savanna Premium Cider has spent the past 13 years championing South African comedy and supporting the bold new voices willing to take the mic.

This past Sunday, The Maslow transformed into a comedy pressure cooker as 20 of South Africa’s most exciting emerging comedians took to the stage for the Savanna Newcomer Comedy Showcase. Making a room full of comedy lovers laugh is no small feat, but the newcomers delivered sharp punchlines, original perspectives and confident performances that proved why they represent the future of South African comedy.

For audiences who missed the live showcase, the full performance will air on eTV on Saturday, 7 March at 22:00, with a repeat broadcast on Saturday, 14 March at 14:00.

The evening was hosted by reigning Savanna Comics’ Choice Comedy Awards Comedian of the Year Celeste Ntuli, whose warmth and presence underscored the importance of creating platforms where emerging talent can grow. Setting the tone ahead of the newcomers was 2025 Savanna Newcomer Award winner Khanyisile Ngwenya, offering a clear reminder of how quickly a newcomer can become a respected name in the industry.

Each of the 20 comedians had just five minutes to win over a room filled with industry insiders, comedy fans and fellow creatives. Armed with original material and distinctive delivery, they stepped onto the stage as newcomers and walked off having announced themselves as serious contenders in South Africa’s comedy scene.

Savanna Premium Cider’s Marketing Communication Manager Kayla Hendricks said the showcase continues to honour the brand’s commitment to building comedy from the ground up. She noted that the 2026 newcomers brought sharp ideas, confidence and a refreshingly dry point of view, reinforcing Savanna’s role in bringing South Africa’s next comedy headliners to the forefront.

The showcase also serves as a key industry moment, offering casting directors, agencies and established comedians a front-row seat to the country’s freshest comedic voices. As many in the room could attest, this is often where future stars are first spotted.

Celeste Ntuli added that comedy needs spaces where new talent can learn, grow and find their voice, and that the Savanna Newcomer Comedy Showcase continues to do exactly that.

The event forms part of the build-up to the Savanna Comics’ Choice Comedy Awards, where five of the 20 performers will be announced as official Savanna Newcomer Award finalists during the nominee announcement event. Winners will be crowned at the Savanna Comics’ Choice Comedy Awards on 2 May at The Lyric Theatre, celebrating excellence across stand-up, television and digital comedy. Tickets are available via Quicket.