It is with great shock and disbelief that I heard of Soli Philander’s passing at the age of only 65. Born in Elsiesriver, Cape Tonw they were a true son of the community who treasured their heritage and place of origin and cared deeply about our communities still trapped in the legacy of Apartheid.
South Africa has lost one of its most beloved and versatile performing artists. Soli Philander passed away on 4 March 2026, from complications of cancer, at the age of 65. Born on 19 January 1961, he initially used his full name “Silamour Philander” in the late 1970s and early 1980s, then assumed the better-known “Solly Philander” before finally settling on “Soli Philander,” especially for his stand-up comedy, radio, and TV work.
By the age of 23, Philander had already accumulated considerable experience in theatre and cabaret. His career began at The Space Theatre in Cape Town, where he appeared in productions including Political Joke, The Car Cemetery, The Final Sting of the Dying Wasp, and Telling Tales, among others. He also worked for Group 44, performing in Elke Ou Storie by Peter Snyders.
Philander’s stage career spanned decades and took in the country’s most prestigious venues in performances like Waiting for Godot (1980) that toured South Africa and went on to have seasons in London and America. Other productions were The Comedy of Errors (1987), The Blacks by Jean Genet (1989), Romeo and Juliet (1992), The Boabab Tree (Market Theatre, Johannesburg, 1990s) and Hamlet.
Soli Philander was celebrated above all as a cabaret artist and creator of original solo works. He devised, wrote, directed, and eventually performed a beloved cabaret character called Rosie September, wowing Johannesburg audiences for six months at No. 58, with an additional season at the Oxford Hotel.
Philander had a long and significant relationship with Artscape. Their production Nice Coat was part of Artscape’s Summer Season, described by him as his Cape Town — a narrative about the place of his birth, his youth, and his heart. They formally showcased his poetry in a production titled Therapy at the Artscape. He described himself as an indigenous creative person who had been writing poetry since the age of six or seven. They directed the one-man Cut in Two at Artscape, performed by Justin Hagen portraying four characters. It was a Cape Town narrative about a family dealing with internal and external social struggles.
Soli expressed as ‘they’ and was a fierce champion for the rights and artistic prowess of the LGBTQI community. At Artscape, particularly, they will be fondly remembered for the many outstanding ADFAB productions they had MC’d, working closely with director Basil Appollis, celebrating and mainstreaming the amazing talents of their fellow LGBTQI artists with compassion and love.
In the last few years they threw themself totally into their community work, especially at the Springfield Terrace in District Six where they also lived. They were a a true activist who never hesitated to speak truth to power. A few years ago they fought relentlessly to free a young child who was held captive at the Marion Building in Chapel Street, ensuring the young child’s safety by rallying the community and public to speak out against this atrocity. Their humanitarian activities in their community stand as a beautiful memorial to their caring heart.
Beyond the stage, Soli’s compassion shone through his community work. In 2023, he launched the Soli Philander Foundation, dedicated to feeding the homeless in District Six, Woodstock, Salt River, and the City Bowl. The foundation also supported LGBTQ+ youth and cultural programmes, embodying his lifelong belief that art and humanity are inseparable. His activism reflected the same generosity and courage that defined his performances.
Soli’s passing is a profound loss, but his legacy endures. He bridged eras, giving voice to communities often overlooked, and reminding us that laughter and storytelling are acts of survival. His work at Artscape and beyond was not just performance—it was testimony, resistance, and celebration.
He is survived by his children Danya, Kyla, Caleb, Ethan, and his foster daughter Lauren. South Africa has lost a rare talent — a man who could move seamlessly between Shakespeare, cabaret, poetry, television, and community service, always bringing an unmistakable Cape Town spirit to everything he did.
Rest in power, Soli Philander. Your laughter, courage, and vision will echo on our stages forever.
Marlene le Roux
Artscape CEO
5 March 2026
