AFTER serving five years as a chief executive of the South African State Theatre, businesswoman Xoliswa Ngema has stepped down.

Ngema said she was vacating the office in a week's time "to pursue new business interests".

She will be replaced by business executive Quinton Wayne Simpson.

Simpson's appointment comes after an extensive search that began in October last year.

Ngema said she was joining a group of creative individuals in the arts sector.

But she said since she was still with the State Theatre, she cannot reveal more.

Ngema said her stint at the theatre had been a beautiful and challenging journey to run one of the biggest institutions in the country. "I (had) joined the State Theatre from the Johannesburg Development Agency," she said.

Ngema said she was working on her autobiography, which she plans to publish next year.

Without revealing more about the book, she said it looked at her life between the ages of 17 and 29.

"I am working on the book with publisher Pinki Khoabane and the idea has been there for a long time," Ngema said.

Two years ago Ngema was in the news over her divorce with Sifiso Dabengwa. In the reports, Dabengwa refuted claims that they were married, but said they were just engaged. The two had been together for eight years.

Elsabe Booyens, the State Theatre's marketing director, said the institution had wanted to keep Ngema at the helm.

"However, she wanted to pursue other businesses," Booysen said.