The Media Online’s weekly round-up of media business moves, all in one place.
The BIG move: Motion Story aims to redefine virtual production in Africa with a studio built by filmmakers
South African filmmakers behind some of the continent’s most ambitious films and TV shows in recent years (Shadow, Dead Places, Office Invasion, In Your Dreams and The Nowhere Man for the likes of Netflix, Canal+, Prime Video, AMC and Starz) have this month opened Motion Story Studio – a sophisticated virtual production hub in the heart of Johannesburg.
Located in Randburg, the studio features a 64-square-metre, state-of-the-art LED Volume with an ultra-fine 1.9mm pixel pitch, premium audio systems, advanced lighting infrastructure and a comprehensive range of professional-grade cameras, offering filmmakers, broadcasters, agencies, corporates and brands a world-class environment in which to create content.
Unlike many virtual production environments that are run by technicians and simply hired out, Motion Story Studio is operated by the same technical and creative team that has produced Netflix Originals and number-one-ranked TV shows in the United States. This means they are able to collaborate with clients throughout the entire production process – from concept and scripting to pre-production, directing, virtual production, post-production and final delivery.
“What makes us different is that you’re not simply hiring a virtual production studio – unless that’s your preference, of course. You’re working alongside top filmmakers who have successfully delivered premium productions to some of the world’s biggest broadcasters and streaming platforms,” says Motion Story co-owner and creative head Gareth Crocker. “From A to Z, we know exactly what it takes to put a production together.”
For brands and corporate clients, the facility offers an opportunity to create visually striking campaigns and adverts, presentations and live events without the logistical complexity and expense traditionally associated with large-scale productions.
“In essence, we’ve created a highly imaginative production hub in the heart of Johannesburg where filmmakers, companies and agencies can collaborate with experienced storytellers to produce world-class content without breaking the bank,” says Motion Story Studio CEO Phillip Wolmarans. “And hopefully have some real fun in the process.”
People moves
A legendary voice with soul-deep impact: Magdaleen Krüger bids farewell to Loof die Here
After years behind the microphone, Magdaleen Krüger will present Loof die Here (Praise the Lord) for one final time on Sunday, 27 September 2026 – marking the close of a remarkable chapter in the career of one of RSG and the SABC’s most respected and beloved radio voices.
This follows her decision to embrace her retirement years wholeheartedly: travelling, getting involved in activities, spending time with friends and, in her own words, “from time to time simply doing nothing at all” – things that weekly broadcast deadlines don’t always allow.
For countless RSG listeners, Krüger’s voice has become part of the rhythm of a Sunday morning over the past seven years.
As one of RSG’s oldest and most popular programmes, Loof die Here first aired in 1972 – originally titled Alle volke loof die Here (All nations praise the Lord) – with Fanie Smit presenting it for roughly 44 years.
Her farewell to Loof die Here is far more than the end of a presenting role. It is a moment to celebrate a remarkable career in Afrikaans radio.
Business moves
PRISA partners with Nedbank IMC as PR and marketing boundaries blur
The Public Relations Institute of Southern Africa (PRISA) has partnered with the Nedbank Integrated Marketing Conference (Nedbank IMC), bringing together two organisations focused on professional excellence, industry collaboration and the development of Africa’s marketing and communications profession.
The partnership aims to strengthen professional standards, foster innovation and create opportunities for learning and engagement as the relationship between public relations, marketing and business strategy continues to evolve.
Recognised as Africa’s Biggest Marketing Conference, the Nedbank IMC brings together marketers, communicators, business leaders, entrepreneurs, creatives and students to explore the ideas, technologies and strategies shaping marketing, brand building and stakeholder engagement.
Dale Hefer, founder and CEO of the Nedbank IMC, said the partnership reflects a shared belief in the importance of collaboration.
“The Nedbank IMC was established to create a platform that challenges conventional thinking, encourages meaningful dialogue and equips professionals to navigate change with confidence. We look forward to working alongside PRISA to create greater opportunities for learning, connection and industry growth.”
PRISA president Caroline Azionya said the partnership aligns with the organisation’s focus on professional standards, continuous learning and the development of the communications profession.
The organisations will work together to promote dialogue, cross-disciplinary collaboration and professional development across Africa.
Five new wins for Flow Communications
Among the five new Flow Communications clients are aha Hotels & Lodges and Few & Far Luvhondo, a carbon-neutral luxury lodge in Limpopo’s Soutpansberg, adding to a growing cohort of tourism customers.
Flow has also started providing marketing and communications services to urban renewal movement Jozi My Jozi, the South African Wind Energy Association (Sawea) and the University of the Witwatersrand’s short-course arm, Wits Plus.
“We are extremely proud to be doing substantial work for these prestigious clients,” says Flow CEO Tara Turkington.
“Tourism, especially in South Africa, has always been close to our heart. Our first client, 21 years ago, was Maropeng, the official visitor centre for the Cradle of Humankind, which is a World Heritage Site in Gauteng, so we’re thrilled to welcome aha Hotels & Lodges and Few & Far Luvhondo to the Flow family,” she says.
“We’re just as chuffed to be working with Sawea, Jozi My Jozi and Wits Plus – all clients who are working to improve South Africa: Sawea by boosting the renewable power value chain; Jozi My Jozi by revitalising Johannesburg; and Wits Plus by helping working people access Wits’ immense bank of world-class knowledge and expertise.”
Woolworths and Thebe Magugu unveil Lineage
This Heritage Month, Woolworths and internationally acclaimed South African designer Thebe Magugu invite customers to discover both through Lineage, an exclusive fashion and fragrance collaboration inspired by the many stories, traditions and perspectives that shape South Africa.
More than a collection, Lineage is a celebration of connection. It imagines what can happen when South Africa’s many visual languages are allowed to speak to one another, bringing together different histories, traditions and ways of seeing the world to create something entirely new. The result is a collection that embraces contrast and celebrates the belief that it is our differences that ultimately make us whole.
Launching across three carefully curated drops from September, Lineage spans womenswear and an exclusive signature fragrance, inviting customers to build a wardrobe and beauty collection that unfolds over time. Each piece reflects a shared commitment to exceptional quality, thoughtful design and purposeful storytelling, bringing together Woolworths’ reputation for beautifully made products and quality with Thebe Magugu’s distinctive creative vision.
PURA backs school mountain bike league at SACS
More than 400 primary school riders took part in the Southern Suburbs School Mountain Bike League at SACS, with PURA Beverage Co supporting the event and providing PURA Kids products at the finish line.
Held over the weekend, the event brought together Grade 1 to Grade 7 riders from at least eight schools, along with more than a thousand parents, family members and supporters.
“Some of these kids are incredibly competitive and others are simply proud that they made it around the course, but that is what makes school sport so special,” says Anthony Silber, head of marketing at PURA Beverage Co.
“You see them come across the finish line exhausted and then their faces completely change when they get that medal. We wanted to be there for that part of the day.”
PURA’s support also contributes to the broader development of school mountain biking. Funds raised through the Southern Suburbs School Mountain Bike League go towards maintaining and expanding the MTB track, creating further opportunities for children to participate in the sport.
For PURA, the partnership forms part of its support for community and youth-focused activities, with the investment in the MTB track extending the potential impact beyond the event itself.
New Disney+ app now available in South Africa
Disney+ announced that it has introduced a new Disney+ app in South Africa, offering new features and updates for customers. The new app brings more personalised recommendations, an enhanced viewing experience and new parental controls, while continuing to offer the same content customers already enjoy.
Disney+ customers will be prompted to download the new app and sign in using their existing account credentials. On-screen prompts will guide them through account confirmation and profile setup.
Customers will continue to enjoy the same content they know and love on Disney+, including stories from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic, Hulu and FX, alongside blockbuster movies, hit TV shows, local originals and live content.
Durban FilmMart expands 2026 line-up with animation, impact producing and natural-world storytelling partnerships
The Durban FilmMart (DFM) has announced an expanded partner programme for its 17th edition, running in Durban from 9 to 12 October 2026.
Three new industry strands – developed with the Cape Town International Animation Festival (CTIAF), a coalition of documentary impact-producing organisations, and the Nature, Environment and Wildlife Filmmakers organisation (NEWF) – bring animation, impact producing and natural-world storytelling into DFM’s core programme.
“This year’s partner programme strands reflect exactly the kind of collaboration DFM exists to enable,” says Magdalene Reddy, director of the Durban FilmMart Institute. “We are always open to working with organisations who share our commitment to strengthening the African film ecosystem, and these partnerships allow us to bring specialist expertise into the DFM programme for the benefit of the filmmakers and industry professionals we serve.”
The strands move the conversation beyond talent to infrastructure: financing, studios, audiences and IP.
“Animation is often talked about as if the only question is whether Africa has the talent,” says Dianne Makings, festival director of CTIAF. “We know we have the talent. The bigger question is what happens next; who commissions the work, who finances it, who builds the studios, who develops the audiences and how do we create an industry that allows African creators to keep making African stories.”
Godrej Consumer Products consolidates international media operations under WPP Media
Godrej Consumer Products Ltd (GCPL), a leading emerging-markets FMCG company, has appointed WPP Media as its global media agency partner for its international business spanning South Africa, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Argentina and Chile.
EssenceMediacom, part of GroupM – WPP’s media investment group – has already been managing GCPL’s media mandate in India since 2025.
The appointment follows a three-month global media pitch process initiated in March 2026 to consolidate GCPL’s media operations outside India under a single global agency group. Media responsibilities across these markets were previously managed independently through locally appointed agencies.
Kagiso Musi, CEO of WPP Media SSA, said: “This win is a powerful reminder of what happens when global relationships and local excellence come together. Built on trust and collaboration, this partnership gives us the opportunity to showcase the exceptional quality of strategic thinking and creativity that exists right here in South Africa and across the continent. We are thrilled to partner with a brand so deeply rooted in African culture, beauty and everyday consumer lives. It makes this win particularly meaningful.”
Col’Cacchio expands from restaurants into retail
Col’Cacchio’s move into retail during the Covid-19 pandemic has grown from a single SPAR Sea Point listing into a broader supermarket business spanning selected SPAR and Checkers stores, as well as Nibbly Bits outlets.
The 34-year-old restaurant group initially launched a fresh pizza range at SPAR Sea Point as it looked for new ways to reach customers during the pandemic. It later expanded into frozen pizzas through Checkers and other retail outlets.
The retail range recently received Gold and Silver at the 2026 Food & Home Awards in the Frozen and Ready-Made Meals category. Col’Cacchio’s Butternut, Feta and Pumpkin Seed Praline pizza won Gold and was named Best Pizza in the category, while its Frozen Pepperoni and Portuguese Sausage Pizza received Silver.
“Covid forced us to look at our business differently,” says Etienne Pieterse, group CEO of Col’Cacchio. “For years, people had known Col’Cacchio as somewhere they went for a meal. Retail gave us an opportunity to reach people in a completely different way.”
Retail now forms part of Col’Cacchio’s wider business alongside its restaurants in South Africa, Namibia and Mauritius, its Col’Cacchio GO brand and delivery operations.
Campaign moves
New Mazda CX-5 campaign suggests the world is considerably more interesting when you’re not swearing at it
Boundless, a bunch of experts dedicated to making the world’s most loved ideas, has created a new campaign for the all-new Mazda CX-5.
It has a car in it. Obviously.
But it also has an enormous blue whale. A graffiti ballerina. A flock of birds pretending to be an aeroplane. A massive bunch of escaping blue balloons. Newspapers actually dancing. A phoenix, a starring performance from a teddy bear and a man holding hands with a stick figure.
This is what happens when you let creatives out.
The new campaign is built around one simple thought: The world won’t change. The way you see it will. The all-new CX-5 is such a ridiculously comfortable, connected and effortless drive that you might stop doing that clenched-jaw traffic thing and actually notice the world around you. Turns out, there’s quite a lot going on.
In the film, there are some jaw-droppingly gorgeous car shots. It really does help when the star is actually quite a looker in Mazda’s almost magical Mica blue. You have to see it to really appreciate it.
Maserati and Migrante present ‘Luxury, every day’: the new global campaign
Maserati has launched its ‘Luxury, every day’ campaign dedicated to the new GranTurismo, GranCabrio and Grecale, paying tribute to the brand identity of “Italian Gran Turismo: Effortless Luxury Performance”. The narrative focuses on an unostentatious, authentic luxury that can become part of everyday life.
As Maserati celebrates the centenary of both its iconic Trident logo and its first-ever racing victory, the campaign expresses the Trident’s identity as a symbol of extraordinary performance, Italian beauty and effortless elegance that transforms every journey into an experience.
Agency partner Migrante has created an evocative film that features four characters interacting with high-value items – a watch, jewellery, a bottle of Tignanello and a suit – which they hesitate to use, as if no occasion were ever important enough.
Making moves
The Jazzy Joburg Market returns in 2026
The Jazzy Joburg Market is set to return in 2026 as part of the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz weekend, bringing together creativity, entrepreneurship, culture and community at the Sandton International Convention Centre.
Following the success of the 2025 edition, which brought 25 local SMMEs into the heart of the Joy of Jazz experience, the Jazzy Joburg Market continues its commitment to creating meaningful market access for local entrepreneurs while showcasing the distinctive creative spirit of Johannesburg.
The 2026 edition will take place alongside the 27th edition of the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz, which returns to the Sandton International Convention Centre on 25 and 26 September 2026.
The festival itself brings together some of the biggest names in international and South African jazz, while the Jazzy Joburg Market offers audiences another way to experience the city’s cultural richness beyond the stages.
More than a marketplace, the Jazzy Joburg Market is a celebration of the people, ideas and businesses that contribute to Johannesburg’s creative economy. Visitors can expect a carefully curated selection of locally produced fashion, jewellery, home décor, art, crafts and artisanal products, providing an opportunity to discover and support emerging and established entrepreneurs.
SA author teams up with Lil-Lets to break period stigma and shame through children’s storytelling
Lil-Lets is deepening its commitment to breaking the cycle of stigma and shame around menstruation with the launch of Masana the Brave: A Story About Growing Up, an illustrated book designed to help children navigate one of life’s important milestones.
Aimed at children aged eight to 13, the book introduces young readers to the realities of growing up, including first periods, body changes and emotional development, in a way that is honest, age-appropriate and relatable.
Importantly, the story speaks not only to girls, but also to boys, helping to foster understanding, empathy and open conversation from an early age.
The launch builds on Lil-Lets’ long-standing Cyclebreakers platform, which challenges outdated narratives and equips the next generation with the knowledge and language to speak openly about menstrual health.
Written by Puno Selesho, who previously contributed to Lil-Lets’ award-winning Be You. Period. campaign, and illustrated by Gabby Correia, Masana the Brave combines cultural relevance with emotional storytelling to create a meaningful connection with young readers.
Africa-Europe Partnerships for Culture: Sub-Sahara Connect & Create Mentoring Programme
The Africa-Europe Partnerships for Culture: Sub-Saharan Africa component, the Connect & Create Mentoring Scheme, has launched, supporting early-career professionals working in the performing arts and music industries across sub-Saharan Africa.
Running from January to December 2027, the programme will support 15 professionals with two to five years of experience in areas such as artist management, production, distribution, administration and communications.
Selected participants will be paired with experienced mentors from Africa or Europe and will take part in group workshops and an immersion trip. Their organisations will also receive a grant to support organisational development and capacity building.
For full details on the call, eligibility criteria and application process, visit the Connect & Create programme page.
