Press Start Mzansi

Ep 8 – Identity, Creativity and Building Games from the Heart of Africa with Homolang “Nathi” Marule In this episode of  Press Start Mzansi , we sit down with  Homolang “Nathi” Marule , founder and CEO of  Atrybute Studios , to explore how imagination, spirituality, and technology intersect in African game development. From drawing robots and sharks in preschool to leading a creative studio today,...

In this episode of  Press Start Mzansi , we sit down with  Albi Modise , Senior Executive Manager for Communication and Marketing at the  Gautrain Management Agency . With more than two decades of experience across journalism, media, and government communication, Albi has shaped some of South Africa’s most important public narratives. From his early days in radio and journalism to his current work...

In this episode of Press Start Mzansi, we speak with Ben Myres, the creative force behind Nyamakop, one of South Africa’s most acclaimed independent game studios. From Semblance, the first African-developed title released on a Nintendo platform, to his latest project Relooted, Ben’s work continues to shape how the world sees African creativity. Relooted is a heist game with a purpose. Built around...

Building a Game Development Ecosystem from the Ground Up with Raymond Ledwaba In this episode of Press Start Mzansi, we sit down with Raymond Ledwaba, CEO of ITTHYNK Gaming, to explore what it really takes to build South Africa’s game development ecosystem from the ground up. From finance to gaming, Raymond’s journey is one of vision, grit, and purpose. He is not just creating games, he is helping...

Moving People, Moving Futures with Gautrain CEO Tshepo Kgobe In this episode of  Press Start Mzansi , we sit down with  Tshepo Kgobe , Chief Executive Officer of the Gautrain Management Agency (GMA), to explore how  mobility, innovation, and gaming intersect  in shaping South Africa’s future. From building one of the country’s most ambitious infrastructure projects to imagining what the next decad...

Telling South Africa’s Digital Story with Deputy Minister Mondli Gungubele In this episode of Press Start Mzansi, we sit down with Deputy Minister Mondli Gungubele from the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT) to talk about South Africa’s place in the global digital economy — and how games can play a role. The Deputy Minister reflects on the importance of skills development...

Telling Gauteng’s Story Through Gaming and Digital Tourism In this episode of Press Start Mzansi, we sit down with Barba Gaoganediwe, Head of Marketing at the Gauteng Tourism Authority, to explore how gaming can help tell the story of place, identity, and culture in South Africa. Barba shares why tourism must embrace digital platforms and immersive experiences, how township and heritage stories ca...

In our very first episode, we speak to Zaid Motala, Legal Advisor at the National Treasury’s Jobs Fund, about why the Fund is investing in South Africa’s gaming industry — and what that means for the future of work, youth employment, and creative innovation. Zaid shares insights into how public policy is shifting to include non-traditional sectors, what legal and governance challenges exist in cre...