JOHANNESBURG – Veteran actor Sello Maake kaNcube is turning his attention to a new stage.
After more than five decades in South Africa’s creative and cultural sector, he is creating a space for men to reflect.
The platform will encourage men to confront themselves, discuss their responsibilities and think about the legacy they want to leave behind.
Maake kaNcube is behind Men of Purpose(MOP), a new platform aimed at bringing men together for conversations about purpose, manhood, leadership, family, community and personal responsibility.
The inaugural Men of Purpose experience is scheduled for 17 October 2026 at Sakhumzi Zoo Lake Restaurant in Johannesburg, in partnership with Sakhumzi Zoo Lake Restaurant and Sello Maake kaNcube Holdings.
For Maake kaNcube, the initiative is rooted in an African understanding that meaningful change begins with the individual.
Its guiding philosophy is captured in the proverb: “If there is no enemy within, the enemy outside can do no harm.”
The platform seeks to translate that principle into a practical space where men can reflect on their own lives, confront challenges and learn from one another without the expectation of presenting themselves as perfect.
“Men of Purpose is not about presenting men as perfect. It is about creating a space where men can confront themselves honestly, recognise their responsibilities and make conscious choices about the men they want to become,” Maake kaNcube said.
“Purpose begins within, and from there it extends into our families, communities and the legacy we leave behind,”he said.
The initiative comes at a time when conversations around men and masculinity are often shaped by competing expectations about relationships, fatherhood, leadership, work and social responsibility.
MOP intends to create a different kind of conversation, one focused on reflection, accountability, personal development and practical ways men can contribute to their families and communities.
The organisers say the platform is not restricted to a particular age group, profession or social status.
Instead, it is aimed at men at different stages of life and leadership who are willing to examine their experiences and consider the impact of their choices.
Maake kaNcube’s involvement also gives the initiative a cultural dimension, drawing on his decades-long career and engagement with South African society.
The long-term ambition is for Men of Purpose to develop beyond a single event into a broader platform incorporating dialogue, mentorship, leadership development, personal growth and community engagement.
The organisers say they want the platform to have a distinctly African perspective while remaining relevant to men across generations.
The inaugural event will bring together cultural leadership, hospitality and strategic brand management through the partnership between Men of Purpose, Sakhumzi Zoo Lake Restaurant and Sello Maake kaNcube Holdings.
Wisdom Mobile Marketing Solutions is providing strategic project management, stakeholder engagement and public relations support.
For Maake kaNcube, however, the initiative is ultimately about what happens beyond the event itself: men taking the time to examine who they are, what they are responsible for and what they will leave behind.
The 17 October gathering is intended to be the first step in that broader conversation