IN PICS | Connie Ferguson, Enhle Mbali Mlotshwa, Makoma Mohale win big at SA Style Awards

It is such a special moment in my life – Makoma Mohale

26 May 2025 - 13:45
By Nombuso Kumalo
Enhle Mbali Mlotshwa
Image: Pedro Ridwan Enhle Mbali Mlotshwa

The 27th annual SA Style Awards on Sunday night in the upmarket Johannesburg suburb Hyde Park were an A-list affair with guests including Connie Ferguson, Sipho “Hotstix” Mabuse, David Tlale and Thebe Magugu. 

The awards honour influential players and style makers in business, film, music, TV, social media and fashion with this year's recipients including Zoé Modiga, Mzukisi Mbane, Enhle Mbali Mlotshwa, Zanele Potelwa, Kat Sinivasan, Makoma Mohale as well as Lebo and Denetric Malope.

High slits and swooping floor-length gowns were the order of the night as attendees walked the red carpet in ensembles inspired by the fashion theme All that Glitters.

In her acceptance speech for Style Icon, Ferguson encouraged the evening’s host and TV presenter Vanessa Carreira-Coutroulis to never slow down.

Ferguson and Carrera-Coutroulis both lost their husbands in 2021.

Connie Ferguson
Image: Pedro Ridwan Connie Ferguson

“I remember it was a tough time for the both of us. I hope you are doing well, I’m strong by the grace of God. We are still standing and God has been good to us. I believe our husbands are proud of us because they would not have wanted us to crumble. If the reason for my loss was for someone else to be encouraged then I’m glad to offer that gift,” Ferguson said.

“1 Corinthians 16 verse 14, do everything in love. What we do in the entertainment industry is not easy and we can easily get discouraged. It’s a dog-eat-dog business. But if we do it all in love, you get to see the reward at the end of the day and appreciate all the sleepless nights, early mornings, late nights, it all becomes worth it in the end.”

Scandal and Queen Modjadji star Mohale, a former SMag cover star, received the award for Next Big Thing. She shared the honour with Potelwa.

Zanele Potelwa
Image: Pedro Ridwan Zanele Potelwa

“I’m at a loss for words. It is such a special moment in my life and having been considered for this award is touching,” Mohale said.

“Especially considering that in the four years of being in this industry, I’ve been focused and my work has always been at the centre, I never thought people were watching. I knew one day I would receive my award in the industry, but I never thought it would be this soon. I’m grateful.”

Other winners included former Miss SA Shudufhadzo Musida and model Yuri Pailman for Most Innovative Style. Mlotshwa was named Most Stylish Performing Artist in Film/TV, while actor-cum-businesswoman Lala Tuku walked away with Most Stylish Business Personality.

BFFs Omuhle Gela and Sinivasan were named Most Stylish Couple, while the winner for Most Stylish Performing Artist in Music was Modiga and Most Stylish Models was given to former SMag cover stars the Malope brothers.

Judges this year included fashion designer Gert-Johan Coetzee, past recipients Mabuse and veteran actor John Kani joined by SMag editor Emmanuel Tjiya and Wanted editor Aspasia Karras. Craig Jacobs, Sharon Armstrong and Andrea Nagel from Sunday Times and former Wanted editor Siphiwe Mpye also served as judges.

Buhle Samuels
Image: Pedro Ridwan Buhle Samuels
David Tlale
Image: Pedro Ridwan David Tlale
Mathahle and Siphiwe Mpye, Aspasia Karras, Sharon Armstrong, Emmanuel Tjiya and Aart Verrips
Image: Pedro Ridwan Mathahle and Siphiwe Mpye, Aspasia Karras, Sharon Armstrong, Emmanuel Tjiya and Aart Verrips
Thembi Seete
Image: Pedro Ridwan Thembi Seete
Mzukisi Mbane
Image: Pedro Ridwan Mzukisi Mbane
Emmanuel Tjiya and Sipho
Image: Pedro Ridwan Emmanuel Tjiya and Sipho "Hotstix" Mabuse
Yuri Pailman
Image: Pedro Ridwan Yuri Pailman
Ponahalo Mojapelo
Image: Pedro Ridwan Ponahalo Mojapelo
Sipho
Image: Pedro Ridwan Sipho "Hotstix" Mabuse
Tino Chinyani
Image: Pedro Ridwan Tino Chinyani
Natasha Joubert
Image: Pedro Ridwan Natasha Joubert
Mia Le Roux
Image: Pedro Ridwan Mia Le Roux
Nombuso Kumalo
Image: Pedro Ridwan Nombuso Kumalo
Otsile Sefolo of Otiz Seflo
Image: Pedro Ridwan Otsile Sefolo of Otiz Seflo
Ayanda Thabethe
Image: Pedro Ridwan Ayanda Thabethe
Kat Sinivasan
Image: Pedro Ridwan Kat Sinivasan
Reason and Gigi Lamayne
Image: Pedro Ridwan Reason and Gigi Lamayne
Masi Losi
Image: Pedro Ridwan Masi Losi
Mncedisi Sindane
Image: Pedro Ridwan Mncedisi Sindane
Bryoni Govender
Image: Pedro Ridwan Bryoni Govender