The late playwright and poet Sol Rachilo’s memorial Service set for Tuesday at Market Theatre

After Tuesday’s memorial services taking plac from 11am till 1.30pm, at the Market Theatre in Newtown. The funeral will follow on Wednesday, and his memorial service is expected to be attended by prominent names from South Africa’s cultural and creative sector, to pay their last respects to a cultural icon.

By Edward Tsumele, CITYLIFE/ARTS Editor

Pictures By Nonhlanhla Kambule

The late poet, playwright and cultural icon Sol Rachilo (95), who passed on at hospital after suffering extensive burns at home in Mapetla, Soweto, is set to be honoured by the creative and cultural sector on Tuesday, 25, February, 2026, at a memorial services to be held at the Market Theatre.

Rachilo’s funeral will take place on Wednesday, a day after the memorial service.

The memorial service, that has seen a number of prominent names in the creative and cultural sector come together to assist the family in organising the memorial service, will commence from 11am running till 1.30pm. Big names in the creative sector have had their names put forward to speak about the times and life of the late playwright.

Rachilo has had a huge contribution to the cultural and creative sector in South Africa over the years, including high profile roles as an actor, writer, theatre teacher and poet staring in the 1950s, including in landing a role in Sponono, and penning his own plays.

However in his late life, he had struggled financially and frequently suffered episodes of homelessness and suffered ill health, especially in the last few months when he was admitted at Charlotte Maxeke Hospital where he underwent a hip operation after a fall.

However, it is his contribution to South Africa’s arts and culture over the years that speakers will focus on, noting his for example love to pass on knowledge in the sector through art education to a younger generation artists, that speakers are likely to focus on, come Tuesday.