by Gerrit Bester
In the spirit of Women’s Month, the Department of Performing Arts at the Tshwane University of Technology’s Faculty of Arts and Design hosted a touching instalment of the A re Bueng seminar series titled Celebrating Women in Technical Theatre. On Monday, 25 August, staff and students were honoured to welcome Mary Thakanyana Mhaladi, a trailblazer in South African television and a steadfast pillar of technical artistry behind the scenes, as its special guest.
Through this event, the Faculty sought to illuminate the often unseen contributions of women in technical theatre and television and to light a fire in the hearts of future generations, encouraging them to pursue excellence in these vital, and historically underrepresented, creative fields.
Lovingly known as “Aus Mary” by her colleagues, she is a revered figure in Black South African television, rooted in Diepkloof, Soweto.
Mary Thakanyana Mhaladi (left) with ger granddaughter, Mpho, during the A re Bueng seminar.
Widely celebrated as the first Black qualified make-up artist to join SA Television (SATV), she began her career at Siggi’s Make-up Store in Johannesburg, where she honed her skills in SFX (special effects) prosthetics and TV make-up under the mentorship of Glenda Ferguson.
Her journey with the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) began in 1981 and by 1984 she had risen to senior make-up artist, contributing to news, sports and entertainment.
Her remarkable body of work includes Shaka Zulu, Matswakabele, Tshipo o Rile ke Lebelo, Lesilo Rula, Bophelo ke Semphekgo, Emzini Wezinsizwa, and many more.
Her connection with TUT emerged through Motshidisi Manyeneng, a Lecturer and Section Head at the Department of Performing Arts, in the context of his doctoral studies, Costume Design Reinterpretations of Traditional Zulu Costume Aesthetic for Film and Television in Contemporary South Africa.
“The conversation with ‘Aus Mary’ was inspired by an interview I had with her granddaughter, Mpho Mhaladi, as a participant (Costume Designer) in my study,” says Manyeneng.
During the conversation it quickly became clear that Mary is a worthy honouree for the seminar, a sentiment the Faculty was eager to celebrate. Her achievements also resonate with academic inquiry and study, underscoring the symbiotic relationship between practice and scholarship.
A choir of Performing Arts students welcomed Mary to the Arts Campus in song, after which she shared candid insights from her career. The moment was beautifully framed by her granddaughter, who herself works in the industry, with credits as wardrobe manager and stylist on prominent productions such as Isidingo and Sewende Laan.
“For as long as I can remember, I’ve been fed nuggets of the entertainment industry; grandma getting me ready for school before her call times, sometimes as early as 05:00. The respect and work ethic she has shown, has added to her longevity in the industry,” Mpho reflected.
Mary spoke of a career that largely unfolded during the apartheid era, a time when segregation permeated the workplace. “As part of my make-up, I often had to perfect skin tones to match the right tones through trial and error,” she recalled.
Her willingness to learn and adapt has always been a guiding light and she encouraged students in the audience to do the same. “Your work is what people remember,” she affirmed.
“In my era at the SABC, things were divided by race and because I was a diligent worker, I was often asked to cross over that line, so to speak. I’ve always been more solutions-based than crisis-based.”
Manyeneng lauded Mary as a matriarch who broke barriers in the industry. “Her wisdom continues to inspire young creatives,” he said.
“She paved the way for young women interested in the technical space.”
Top: A choir of Performing Arts students welcomed Mhaladi to the Arts Campus in song.
Left: Motshidisi Manyeneng, a Lecturer and Section Head at the Department of Performing Arts, facilitated the conversation.
PHOTOS: Samkele Mahamba