Wherever you find material, South Africa is certainly the right place. Whether it is the discussion going on via the taxi window or the investigation that takes place in family WhatsApp groups, the life in Mzansi always produces its punchlines.
This is why South Africa is an ideal place for having a national comedy team and this September some of the funniest people of the country will bring their humor to the arena with the help of South Africa’s Festival of Comedy with Trevor Noah and the Bafunny Bafunny squad.
Sponsored by Savanna, the premium arena-scale comedy tour will make stops in SunBet Arena in Pretoria, SunCoast in Durban and GrandWest in Cape Town with global comedy star Trevor Noah as the captain and curator of the festival.
The festival will include a range of comedians whose styles differ from street observations and kasi humor to social commentary and large stage storytelling. True to the spirit of South Africa, the goal is simple – gather, laugh and celebrate those who always know how to turn chaos of everyday life into humor.
The Headliners: From the streets to the arena
The captain of the team will be Trevor “Mtana ka Patricia” Noah who will come back home to head the festival after dominating international stages for years.
With 14 specials, seven seasons of The Daily Show and six consecutive Grammy wins, Trevor Noah comes with plenty of experience of performing around the world. This time, he is coming back to the very source of his inspiration – the hilarious streets of South Africa.
He is joined in the role of the vice-captain by Eugene “Today is Tuesday” Khoza, who has been working in comedy for the last 15 years and known for his multilingual storytelling and smart social commentary. Having worked with six languages and gained experience not only in South Africa but also in other countries, he definitely brings his Mzansi flavor to the festival.
Also joining the squad is Thabiso “Two Touch” Mhlongo who works as a head writer of Comedy Central Roasts and appears in Netflix’s Catching Feelings.
Another member is Lindy “Vula Vala” Johnson, who is a winner of Savanna’s Show Us Your Apples and a Standard Bank Ovation Award winner with her community storytelling and crowd work.
Panch “Dancing Feet” Gasela, who has performed on Don’t Tell Comedy and Netflix shows such as Justice Served and Soon Comes Night, brings the physical comedy element to the team.
The final member of the announced team is Mbali “Spy Two” Gudazi, the 2025 Jive Funny Competition winner, the SA Comics’ Choice nominee, and the creator and performer of MADLIYIDLA.
It is all about highlighting the talent that exists in the area for Noah.
“Because we’ve chosen the best players to represent the South African National Team of Comedy, this promises to be an explosive experience that fans should look forward to,” says Noah.
The festival promises a fast-paced, unfiltered live experience across three cities, with audiences encouraged to secure their seats early.
Tickets are available exclusively through Quicket.
And if you miss out, don’t expect your comedian friends, relatives or the Savanna team to rescue you with a complimentary ticket.
THE FESTIVAL DATES
Pretoria: SunBet Arena — 4 & 5 September 2026
Durban: SunCoast — 19 September 2026
Cape Town: GrandWest — 25 & 26 September 2026
