Author, Poet, struggle stalwart and healer Mongane Wally Serote was announced as South Africa’s Poet Laureate at a South African Literary Awards ceremony in Pretoria.

Mongane Wally Serote has been announced as the new South African Poet Laureate taking over a role that was previously filled by the late Keorapetse Kgositsile. The announcement was made at the South African Literary Awards on 6 November 2018. 

A Poet Laureate is a Poet officially appointed by a government (Projects sponsored by the Department of Arts and Culture) or conferring institution, typically expected to compose poems for special events and occasions. In South Africa, the first Poet Laureate was Prof Mazisi Kunene in 2005 and he would hold the position until he passed on after a bout with cancer on 11 August 2006. 

The next person who took the position in 2006 would be popular Poet and political activist Keorapetse Kgositsile until he passed on in January. The new Poet Laureate for South Africa is Mongane Wally Serote.