Mayisela

MAYISELA is a hybrid, neo-noir 2D animated documentary about South African whistleblower Simphiwe Mayisela, whose courage exposed corruption at the highest levels of power and nearly cost him everything.

Based on the graphic novel of the same name, the film uses hand-drawn 2D animation and re-imagined scenes to render an intimate portrait of conscience under pressure. At once a personal reckoning and a political indictment, MAYISELA asks what it costs to tell the truth in a system built to punish it.

In July 2026, the Public Investment Corporation once again suspended its CEO following a new whistleblower report. Once again, half of the Isibaya Fund’s supposed “empowerment” deals have failed, wiping out billions in pension money. Mayisela’s sacrifice proved that one man can expose the machine. What will it take to stop it?

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Adapted from the graphic novel “Mayisela”
Written by Heinrich Bohmke & Daniel Sheldon / Illustrated by Daniel Sheldon

Directed, Produced & Screenplay by Shannon Walsh

Animation by See Creature

Featuring the voices of
Simphiwe Mayisela -Thami Dlamini
Brigadier Jele-Nhlakanipho Manqele
Frank, Private Investigator-Ben Voss

With Special Guest Appearance by Jack Devnarain as The Chairman

Associate Producer-Amy Miller
Additional Writing- Heinrich Bohmke, Dale Hayward, Sylvie Trouvé
Animators-Dale Hayward, Marielle Dalpé
Editing/Animation Directing-Sylvie Trouvé, Dale Hayward
Illustration-Daniel Sheldon
Colour -Daniel Sheldon, Sylvie Trouvé, Dale Hayward, Marielle Dalpé

Animation production Interns- Yousef Megdad Munoz, Tracey Vergara, Noémie Guérin-Maillette

Recording Studio- A Nathi Sound, Johannesburg
Sound Designer- Nathi Luthango & Bandile Mabaso
Executive Producer- Krystal Heald
Sound Mix- Nathi Luthango & Bandile Mabaso

Voice Recording Engineers- Silent Predia, Nathi Luthango, Bandile Mabaso

Also featuring:
Thandi, Wimpy Waitress- Noluthando Kubeka
CEO- Dominic Gaobepe
Prosecutor- Mashiapata Mogale
Defence Counsel- Thembeka Ngcukaitobi (as himself)
Board Member- Glen Bubb
Woman Officer- Noluthando Kubeka
Colleagues at the PIC – Bandile Mabaso, Nathi Luthango
Journalist- Krystal Heald
Radio Announcer – Noluthando Kubeka
Car Guard – Nathi Luthango
Music Composition & Arrangement – Leslie Javan
Guitar, piano, keyboard, percussion and programming-Leslie Javan
Keyboard and sax- Mark Fransman
Thanks to
Ashwin Desai, Siphokazi Qoza, Olmo von Meijenfeldt, Democracy Works Foundation, Sarchi Chair, Centre for Social Change at University of Johannesburg.
Special thanks toSimphiwe Mayisela for bravely sharing his story.
Made with the support of the Canada Council for the Arts.