JEFFREYS BAY – Jeffreys Bay-based composer, Kurt Slabbert, has been nominated for a South African Film and Television Award (SAFTA) for Best Sound in a Comedy for the Netflix production The Mabaso Family Reunion.
The recognition places a local creative on a national stage and highlights the growing creative footprint of the coastal town.
Originally from East London, Slabbert grew up with a strong connection to music and drama.
After school, he worked at East London Private Hospital, where he qualified as a Pharmacy Technician.
The qualification allowed him to work in the United Kingdom, though music remained his long-term goal.
“I left for the UK with a suitcase and a guitar,” said Slabbert.
While working within the hospital system and holding two jobs, he saved to study music formally and later enrolled at the Guitar Institute in London.
Slabbert said that this period in his life sharpened both his technical foundation and his professional discipline.
After three years abroad, he returned to South Africa and joined the Campus of Performing Arts as a guitar lecturer while building a presence in the Johannesburg music scene.
During this time, he met producer Lorens Persson, who introduced him to the commercial composition space.
Slabbert said that his first major session in 2004 was for Fanta’s “Fanta Fun Guide”.
“This opportunity was demanding, but it confirmed that I could operate in high-performance creative environments,” said Slabbert.
Over the years, he has composed and produced jingles for major brands and worked in sound design on award-winning campaigns recognised at the Loeries and the Cannes Lions.
He credits the advertising industry with refining his ability to deliver with speed and emotional clarity.
Slabbert said his move into film and television developed through collaboration while he was a member of the band, Gang of Instrumentals, founded by Mandla Ndimande.
Ndimande later created the television show, City Ses’la, and subsequent sitcoms, and he invited Slabbert to contribute.
“I took the opportunity seriously, and that marked the beginning of my journey into television scoring,” said Slabbert.
Reflecting on his latest SAFTA nomination, he described it as meaningful.
“While it is not my first SAFTA nomination, and I have been privileged to win previously, this one carries a deeper sense of perspective. It represents consistency, growth, and sustained commitment to the craft,” said Slabbert.
Working on a Netflix production, he said, comes with high expectations.
Slabbert said that the standard is high, and collaboration is key.
“Ultimately, the platform matters less than the level of care invested by the team. When everyone is committed to excellence, the result reflects that,” said Slabbert.
Now based in Jeffreys Bay, he finds inspiration in his surroundings, though he acknowledges the importance of collaboration.
“Creativity is not limited by geography, but it is strengthened by community. Surrounding yourself with driven and purposeful individuals elevates the work, wherever you are based,” said Slabbert.
He hopes his nomination sends a clear message to young creatives in the Eastern Cape that preparation is critical.
Slabbert said that opportunities come, but that those who are ready are favoured.
He also believes that geography does not define potential and that excellence can come from anywhere.
Slabbert said that small towns can nurture talent through practical initiatives such as workshops, local competitions and accessible filmmaking projects.
To do his part for the local community, he remains active in local music, particularly within church communities, and is finalising a project with King’s College where learners were given the opportunity to write and record their own song.
Professionally, Slabbert is currently scoring a new Netflix series, with additional projects in development across film and television.
Beyond music, he has also founded Scelta Pizza in Jeffreys Bay, a pop-up concept built around a signature artisan, hand-stretched, 48-hour fermented Neapolitan-style base.
“For me, creativity extends beyond music. Whether composing for screen or crafting pizza, the principles remain the same: precision, flavour, and attention to detail,” said Slabbert.
Reflecting on his journey, he expressed gratitude for each phase of his career.
“The constant has been preparation, discipline, and the willingness to step forward when opportunity presents itself,” said Slabbert.
