Comedy Central (DStv Channel 122) has recruited some of Mzansi’s top comedy writers to add sizzle to The Comedy Central Roast of Steve Hofmeyr. The comedy channel has tapped witty trio Stephen Francis, Kagiso Lediga and Gus Silber to polish up the script, plump up the jokes and top up the satire for the hilarious comedy “tribute” to singer, actor, writer, polemicist and Afrikans poster-boy Steve Hofmeyr .

The Comedy Central Roast of Steve Hofmeyr, the first Comedy Central “roast” on African soil, will take place on Tuesday 11 September 2012 at the Lyric Theatre, Gold Reef City, Johannesburg.  The show will premiere exclusively on Comedy Central at 21:00 CAT on Monday 24 September.

Head writer for The Comedy Central Roast of Steve Hofmeyr is TV and movie screenwriter and cartoonist Stephen Francis, co-creator of South Africa’s favourite satirical cartoon strip “Madam & Eve”, which reaches more than 4 million people daily.   “Madam & Eve” follows the hilarious antics of two “new” South Africans from different backgrounds as they negotiate their way through the challenges of life.

At the age of 33, comedian, writer and actor Kagiso Lediga has an impressive body of work behind him, and is celebrated as one of South Africa’s pioneering and most recognisable black comedians and scriptwriters. Having started performing comedy gigs while studying drama at UCT with David Kau, Kagiso went on to create, produce and act in “Pure Monate”, the comedy TV series that went on to win eight SA Film and Television awards.  Kagiso currently writes for “Late Night News with Loyiso Gola”, and “Blitz Patrolie”, the buddy cop action comedy he scripted starring David Kau, Chris Forrest, Joey Rasdien and David Kibuuka, recently enjoyed its premiere at the Durban International Film Festival.

Gus Silber is an award-winning journalist, bestselling author and scriptwriter. His books include “It Takes Two to Toyi-Toyi”, a satirical survival guide to the New South Africa, and a user-friendly guide to the world of children and computers, “The PC Parent”.  As a scriptwriter and song lyricist, he has worked with South Africa’s most successful moviemaker, Leon Schuster, on a number of films, including “Panic Mechanic” and “Schuks Tshabalala’s Survival Guide to South Africa”.

Commented Evert Van der Veer, Head of Comedy Central, Africa, “We’re delighted to unite the unique comedy talents of Stephen, Kagiso and Gus, who will be working with our Roastee, Roastmaster and Roastees to make sure The Comedy Central Roast of Steve Hofmeyr goes off with a real bang.  For topical gags, laugh out loud jokes and a finger on the pulse of what makes Mzansi laugh, we couldn’t have put together a better or funnier team! ”

2012 Comic of the Year Trevor Noah is the official Roastmaster for The Comedy Central Roast of Steve Hofmeyr.  Roasters include comedians Casper de Vries, John Vlismas and David Kau, Top Billing presenter and Highveld radio DJ Anele Mdoda, journalist and TV presenter Kuli Roberts, Sports Illustrated model and Pasella presenter Minki Van Der Westhuizen, soap actor Robert Whitehead (a.k.a. Barker Haines, Isidingo’s villainous business tycoon), and renowned TV and movie actress Shaleen Surtie-Richards.

For further information on “The Comedy Central Roast of Steve Hofmeyr”, please go to www.comedycentralafrica.com.