Published on: Oct 01, 2026
The Welgemoed Kunstefees once again brought residents and visitors together for music, theatre, books, art, food and conversation, while raising support for local charities. Now in its fifth year, and the only festival of its kind in Cape Town’s northern suburbs, this year’s Kunstefees gave us plenty to remember.
’n Spesiale woord van dank gaan aan die Feeskomitee (onder leiding van Pieter de Swart) en Marieta Nel vir haar uitsonderlike bydrae, asook aan Carina de Swardt, Karen Nel, Leatitia Sieberhagen, Tanya Nell, Arina Cilliers, Marlene Wiehan, Adeleine Pretorius, Elza Slabbert-VZ, Bernita Faurie, Lorraine Coetzer en Liezel Traut, vir 12 maande se toewyding en harde werk.
Special recognition also goes to sponsors Curro, Barons Volkswagen, Dawie Heydenrych Eiendomme, Welgemoed Forum, Louw & Coetzee and The Greens Guesthouse. Welgemoed CID was pleased to contribute through additional visibility and patrols around the church and festival area, alongside volunteers, Niel Lehani, Michiel de Koker, Laubie Laubscher and Pierre Ferreira.
The festival opened with Boek en Koek, featuring acclaimed poet Antjie Krog, author Marita van der Vyver, who grew up in Welgemoed and travelled from France for the festival, and writer and television producer Erns Grundling. Later, Grundling led a Camino walk through Welgemoed’s indigenous landscape before judging the afternoon’s potjiekos competition with his family.
MUSIC, THEATRE AND CONVERSATION
Francois van Coke, Die Heuwels Fantasties and Hanna de Wet shared the stage with the Laerskool Welgemoed Senior Choir, bringing established South African artists and young local talent together.
The free Sunday concert featured internationally recognised soprano Amira Willighagen, winner of Holland’s Got Talent at just nine years old, alongside DF Akademie’s choir, recently named South Africa’s best mixed choir at the national ATKV-Applous competition, and Jade Paige.
Jacobi de Villiers closed the festival with Poskaarte uit Parys, while the theatre programme included Wilhelm van der Walt’s award-winning, Seun and Aanskou die mens, featuring Winand Grundling and Johann Nel, with a text by Erns Grundling.
Residents could also enjoy discussions covering books, health, retirement, urban nature and fertility, while a rugby panel led by Kobus Wiese, with former Springbok captain Divan Serfontein, Danie Gerber and Hennie Bekker, revisited the famous 1981 Springbok tour of New Zealand.
ART, BOOKS AND THE KINDERFEES
Local artists exhibited throughout the festival, complemented by art classes and appearances by writers including Isabella Niehaus, Elsa Winckler and Rachelle Fourie. The Kinderfees at Laerskool Welgemoed brought children’s theatre, games, face painting, art and entrepreneur stalls to younger festivalgoers.
Behind the programme was a bigger purpose: supporting organisations including Ramot, Badisa, Jan Krielskool, Alta du Toit-sentrum, Huis Jabes, Magdalena-huis, MES, Living Network, Paarl-skool and Durbanville-kinderhuis.
’n GROOT DANKIE
Most importantly, thank you to everyone who attended, performed, exhibited, volunteered, sponsored or supported the Kunstefees. The Kunstefees once again showed what can happen when a community brings its time, talents and support together for a bigger purpose.
Welgemoed Kunstefees Leier – Pieter De Swart
