EasyEquities goes platinum at Woordfees

EasyEquities has deepened its relationship with the Toyota Stellenbosch Woordfees, stepping up from Gold Sponsor to Platinum Sponsor as the festival continues to grow in ambition and impact.

For the past four years, EasyEquities has backed key elements of the festival programme. That support continues in 2026, including the EasyEquities Writers Festival, the Velddraf met Woorde fun run, and the Toyota Stellenbosch Woordfees Short Story Competition, for which EasyEquities sponsors the prize money.

Entries for the short story competition are open until 1 April, offering both established and emerging writers the chance to win up to R30,000. It is one of the festival’s most exciting platforms for new voices, and a tangible example of how investment can unlock creative potential.

Alongside this, the EasyEquities Discourse Series returns, creating space for open conversations about financial wisdom and investing. The aim is simple: to make the language of money less intimidating and more accessible to everyday South Africans, including artists and festival-goers.

Carel Nolte, chief empowerment officer of EasyEquities and a Stellenbosch resident, says the partnership feels personal.

“As a resident of Stellenbosch and a long-time festival-goer, it’s special to see how the festival has built momentum over the past few years,” he says. “We are also seeing a growing curiosity among festival-goers regarding how they can start investing or better structure their wealth, which is why EasyEquities is playing an increasingly larger role within the programme and the conversation.

“We are grateful to be able to support this platform alongside Toyota, the festival’s naming partner and also a valued client of ours.

“Good luck to the team with this year’s festival. The energy and growth of the last few years once again shows: When community, culture and capital work together, good things happen.”

Investing beyond the stage

What makes this partnership particularly compelling is its focus on wealth creation within the arts themselves.

EasyEquities is exploring new projects with the festival that aim to expand funding models, support job creation and create innovative investment opportunities in the creative sector. More details will follow, but the intention is clear: to rethink how the arts are financed and sustained.

New to this year’s programme are the Easy Festival Packages, pre-curated schedules tailored to different interests. These make it easier for festival-goers to navigate the rich and varied programme without feeling overwhelmed. It is a small innovation with a big impact, designed to remove friction and open doors.

Saartjie Botha, director of the Toyota Stellenbosch Woordfees, sees a strong philosophical alignment between the festival and its Platinum Sponsor.

“Just as EasyEquities creates wealth and makes investments possible for many people, the festival wants to do the same for festival-goers and artists,” she says. “This partnership is an opportunity for artists to perform, as well as to gain access to expertise and financial security.

“In addition to supporting the festival, EasyEquities also rewards all authors of the EasyEquities Writers Festival and the short story collection with additional investments.”

In other words, the support goes beyond prize money and branding. It extends into real financial participation.

A loyal investor in culture

EasyEquities positions itself as an easy, safe and fast way to invest, locally and globally. Its involvement in the arts underscores a belief that cultural capital and financial capital do not sit in separate worlds. They intersect in communities, in ideas and in the long arc of nation-building.

The Toyota Stellenbosch Woordfees, now in its 26th year, continues to evolve while remaining anchored in Stellenbosch’s rich cultural landscape. The festival takes place from 3 to 11 October and brings together literature, theatre, music, conversation and performance in a celebration of language and imagination.

The festival also acknowledges its loyal Platinum Sponsors, Toyota and Stellenbosch University, both of whom signed multi-year agreements in 2025. Together with EasyEquities, they form a strong base of support for sustainable growth.

At CN&CO, we love seeing brands invest in platforms that create real impact. This is not simply about logos on banners. It is about backing writers, artists and thinkers, and helping them build more secure futures.

When capital meets creativity with intention, the result is more than a festival. It is a statement.

For more information, visit woordfees.co.za/en and easyequities.co.za.

Our feature image above, by Henk Oets, shows Marlise Serfontein (Sponsorship Manager), Leslie van Rooi (Advisory Board), Carel Nolte (EasyEquities), Saartjie Botha (Director), Fiona van Kerwel (Advisory Board)