Celeste Mitzi Karin Matthews (born 1961) is a South African actress, playwright, and former City of Cape Town local government official elected to the City Council in 2021. She is best known for her roles as Gertie Cupido in kykNET & kie's Arendsvlei (a telenovela) and Auntie Hester in David Kramer and Taliep Petersen's award-winning 2002 revival of District Six: The Musical (1987). Vincent Colby of the District Six Museum cites the musical play as the material which steered a pivotal discussion held in 1994 at the 'old church hall' in former District Six to establish a dedicated museum.
Personal life and education Matthews was born in Klavier Laan (lit. "piano lane"), Steenberg to Anthony Alexander Matthews, a public servant, and Lorraine Ruby Gordene Mentoor. Her childhood home was opposite the Rahmaniyah Masjied (Steenberg Mosque). Matthews’ ethnic background is matrilineally Batswana and Khoekhoen — descending directly from the ‘controversial’ 18th century slave,Emien Wood. 2019. "’n Genealogiese analise van ’n enkele familie as verteenwoordiging van ’n kultuurgroep: ’n ondersoek na nuwe perspektiewe." PhD Thesis (Stellenbosch University). Stellenbosch: SUN MeDIA. p. 2. (available at: https://core.ac.uk/download/196259554.pdf). Mento(o)r van Mozambique (1792) of Quelimane at Oudebosch.Emien Wood. 2019. "’n Genealogiese analise van ’n enkele familie as verteenwoordiging van ’n kultuurgroep: ’n ondersoek na nuwe perspektiewe." PhD Thesis (Stellenbosch University). Stellenbosch: SUN MeDIA. pp. 364 & 403-404. (available at: https://core.ac.uk/download/196259554.pdf). According to the Matthews family's oral history, her father's family are of Bantu, St. Helenian, and early Afro-American extraction.
She matriculated from Rosebank's Progress College in 1992, whereafter she obtained her Teaching Diploma from Hewat Teachers Training College (1996); followed by an Advanced Certificate in Education (ACE) with a major in Science from the University of Cape Town (2003–2004); and completed her B.Ed. Honours degree in Education Management with the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (2016). She is the second wife (1992–2010) and widow of the South African author and anti-apartheid activist, Alf Wannenburgh. The couple have one son. While enrolled at Hewat, she joined the Belhar Players in 1995.
Awards In 1999, she won a Fleur du Cap Theatre Award for 'Best Supporting Actress' as 'Sophie' in Heinrich Reisenhofer's Suip! (lit. "drink!") and received a First National Bank (FNB) Vita Award nomination for the same role in early 2000. The play and cast also won an additional Fleur du Cap Award for 'Best New Indigenous Script' (1999) that same evening.
Political career
Matthews participated in the 2021 South African municipal elections as a candidateIndependent Electoral Commission (IEC). 2021 Municipal Elections Candidate List (Western Cape [WC]). https://www.elections.org.za/pw/Documents/CandidateLists/WC.pdf for Minister Patricia de Lille's Good party and subsequently joined the Cape Town City Council as a proportional representative (PR) municipal councillor (raadslid) on 9 November 2021. She is, therefore, one of the 115 PR members that make up the City Council's total membership of 231 councillors. Between 2005 and 2021, she served as a commissioner for the Western Cape Cultural Commission (WCCC), at the invitation of the then minister Pallo Jordan, and as a board member and adjudicator/advisor on several departmental agencies at provincial and national levels under South Africa's Department of Sport, Arts and Culture.
In May 2023, Matthews' name was published in a Provincial Gazette Extraordinary for the Western Cape as one of 17 shortlisted Good party candidates for the Provincial Parliament of the Western Cape seat that became vacant following Shaun August's controversial dismissal. Matthews separated from the Good party in October 2023, and was subsequently given a Certificate of Recognition civic award by the City of Cape Town for her contribution to Sub-council 16 and the wards that comprise it during her two years in Council (9 November 2021 to 6 October 2023).
Original plays/works Her own plays, Sandra se Erfenis (first performed by Hewat Drama Group with a student cast at the Grahamstown Festival) — was performed with a student cast at the Grahamstown Festival; and Sonne Skaamte was staged as a 'performed reading' in 2004 at the PlayGround venue at the Baxter Theatre Centre.
Theatre productions
2023: African Gothic (Reza de Wet's Diepe Grond) at Theatre Arts, Observatory
2018: Tjieng Tjang Tjerries at US Woordfees, Stellenbosch
2017: Die dans van die watermeid ("The dance of the water maiden") at the Baxter Theatre, Cape Town
2012: Saying Goodbye to Amelia as 'Nora' at the Catalina Theatre
2008: Kroes as 'Aunty Maggie' (presented at the 2008 Suidoosterfees) at Artscape, Cape Town and Oude Libertas Amphitheatre, Stellenbosch
2007: Shirley, Goodness and Mercy at the Baxter Theatre
2006: Truth in Translation at the Market Theatre in Johannesburg (music composed by Hugh Masekela)
2005: The Goodbye Kiss at Theatre on the Bay, Camps Bay
2002: District Six – The Musical as 'Auntie Hester' at the Baxter Theatre (recording released to DVD in 2007)University of Wisconsin–Madison Library. 2007. David Kramer & Taliep Petersen's District Six (Videos, Slides, Films). https://search.library.wisc.edu/catalog/9911222555702121
2002: The Vagina Monologues (directed by Dawn Lindberg [April 2002]) at Caesars in Gauteng and the Baxter Theatre
1999 to 2001: Suip! as 'Sophia' (Aardklop Festival; Perth International Arts Festival and Octagon Theatre, Crawley, Western Australia [1999?]; Klein Karoo Festival; Baxter Theatre; Grahamstown Festival; Opera House, Port Elizabeth; International Arts Festival, Zanzibar; Knysna Theatre)
199*/200*: Moenie Try Nie at Grahamstown Festival
1998: Mix Masala at Artscape
1994: Sandra se Erfenis at Grahamstown Festival (Rhodes Box). Written and directed by Matthews—who also played the role of "Auntie Murie"
Filmography +YearFilmRoleGenreRef. 2026 The Smell of Apples Doreen Drama 2021AngelienaAngeliena's mommyNetflix Movie2021AtlantisTaxi passengerMovie2021SwirlUnknownShomax Movie2018–presentArendsvleiGertie CupidoAfrikaans TV Series2017/2018Sara se GeheimDebbieAfrikaans TV Series2017Nama SwaanGrandmotherShowmax & Silwerskerm Film Festival2016Twee Grade van MoordNurse 2Afrikaans Movie2016Vinkel & KoljanderNeesha SolomonsAfrikaans TV Series2013LenteblomVanessaAfrikaans Movie2013Mad Dogs (British TV series)Kaela (in episode #3.2)British TV Series2012Oupa en Ouma Sit op die StoepPatience DanielsAfrikaans TV Series2009/2012MontanaMrs. De Villiers (S1) & Bonteheuwel Good Samaritan (S2)Afrikaans TV Series2011There Are No HeroesNeighbourShort Film2006/2010StokvelLynette Isaacs (S4) & Sister Plaatjies (S7)Afrikaans TV Series2007Der Mann von gesternUnknownGerman TV Movie2007Geraldina die Tweede Matron FirestoneAfrikaans TV Series2006Home AffairsLizzie (S2)TV series2006OrionMrs. OttoTV series2006The PianoUnknownSABC2 TV Movie2005Known GodsMara HoringTV series2005Scandal!Guest star (S1)TV series2005NellyGerman TV Movie2005Guest starGerman TV Movie2004ForgivenessPetraMovie2003Das Licht von AfrikaAmyGerman TV Movie2003DissonancesGardienneFrench Movie2002Villa RosaUnknownTV series2002Big OakesUnknownTV series2002SOS (Save Our Souls)UnknownTV series2002Fishy FêshunsFlower seller (S2)TV series2000BackstageGuest star (S1)TV series
Awards and nominations
Year Association Category Work Result Ref 1999 Fleur du Cap Theatre Award Best Actress in a Supporting RoleSuip! 2000 First National Bank Vita Award Best Actress in a Supporting Role Suip!
References
External links http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1690230 https://www.pressreader.com/south-africa/kuier/20220915/page/11