Danie Kriek
Danie Kriek was born in the Harrismith district on a farm that once belonged to Sir James Percy Fitzpatrick, author of Jock of the Bushveld. After matriculating at Hoërskool Sentraal in Bloemfontein, he obtained a diploma in film production and broadcasting. Danie also has a degree in English, which enabled him to work as a teacher in China. He is passionate about health and fitness, and he coaches people to make healthy lifestyle choices. During his film school studies, Danie wrote a number of short film scripts. He believes that the Kommadagga writing school will sharpen his skills in producing magazine short stories.
Esmé Cupido
Esmé Cupido was born in Clanwilliam in 1972 as one of five siblings. Her parents had a bookshelf in the main bedroom, stacked with Westerns, Heinz Konsalik novels and romance novels. Esmé inherited her love of reading from her father, and as primary school learner she devoured all his books. Later, in standard five, when she had access to a library, she fell in love with children’s series like Saartjie and Die uile. Esmé matriculated in Malmesbury and qualified as a teacher after studying for a BA and HDE at the University of the Western Cape. She currently teaches in Mitchells Plain, where she lives with her husband Malcolm and is the mother to a 20-year-old daughter. She has published columns and short stories in Kuier and Son.
Gaasitwe Setshedi
Gaasitwe Setshedi was born in Mabopane, Tshwane. She studied acting at Tshwane University of Technology, specialising in educational theatre, physical theatre, acting and script writing. Gaasitwe started her professional career as a field worker serving community groups, and later joined StageFright Edutainment, which saw her travelling all over South Africa with educational productions for children and corporate institutions. In 2014 she started a literacy programme at Marula Primary school, developing learners’ reading and comprehension skills. Gaasitwe’s dream is to help improve education in South Africa through her acting and writing.
Liziwe Ndalana
Liziwe Ndalana is a freelance writer and blogger, and she has worked as a radio presenter and a content writer for Fin24. In 2007 she graduated with a Diploma in Public Relations Management from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology. Liziwe is active on social media with her own YouTube channel and a blog documenting her hiking and coffee shop-hunting adventures in and around Cape Town. She founded Dream Factor, a club focussing on the advancement of literacy amongst children and adults in Nyanga. As a literacy champion, Liziwe has associations with Nal’ibali and the Fundza Literacy Trust. She also runs her own laundry business in Nyanga.
Yuwinn Kraukamp
Yuwinn Kraukamp (28) hails from L’Agulhas in the Western Cape’s Overberg District. He describes himself as “a natural born creative” whose writing ranges from radio dramas to stage plays, poetry, short stories and articles. After matriculating at Bredasdorp High School, Yuwinn attended the University of the Western Cape where he majored in English and Linguistics. Earlier this year he won a California-based writing contest with one of his short stories. Yuwinn is devoted to writing and believes that the Kommadagga experience will help him to improve his craft to the point where he can share his talents with the world.
*The workshop takes place from 10 to 31 October 2022 at the Jakes Gerwel Foundation’s Paulet House in Somerset East. Award-winning authors Rachelle Greeff and Niq Mhlongo are the mentors.
