Dates for 2025 SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge Regionals and Finals Announced

Turning fifteen, the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge celebrates an incredible milestone as it continues to be a much-anticipated highlight in the school sports calendar.

Since the Challenges inception in 2011, there have been 1,114 teams participating with 16,710 players taking to the turf. Over 3,300 coaches, managers and referees have assisted in 143 tournaments.

Growing the love of hockey. Celebrating the 15th anniversary of SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge, Nozipho Mkhize (Advertising and Sponsorship Manager, SPAR KZN), Les Galloway (Tournament Director and Head of Hockey, SchoolGirl Sport), and Nomfundo Shezi (Sponsorship Controller and Events) are pictured at the 2025 tournament announcement at one of the venues, Durban Girls’ College. Pic: Val Adamson

Fifteen years later, the tournament has had 130 victorious teams proudly hoisting their trophies at their respective regionals. The tournament comprises ten regionals across KZN, with a Grand Final rounding off the annual challenge where the ten regional winners meet in a highly competitive weekend of hockey. So far, 32 schools have participated in the Grand Finals, with only three schools being crowned the overall Grand Finals champions: St Anne’s College, St Mary’s D.S.G. and Durban Girls’ College.

Tipping off the sporting year for SPAR KZN, the first of ten hockey tournaments takes place at Curro Hillcrest with the Highway Regional on Saturday 8 March. In the first of three back-to-back weekends, the Durban Central Regional heads to Durban Girls’ College’s turf the following day on Sunday 9 March. St John’s D.S.G. welcomes teams for the Pietermaritzburg Central Regional on Saturday 15 March followed by Treverton School hosting the Pietermaritzburg North Regional for the first time, on Sunday 16 March.

Mid-April is the slot for concluding the Durban based challenges, with Werda Skool hosting the Durban South Regional at the 3 Schools Trust turf in Glenwood on Saturday 12 April. Then Ashton International College is the venue for the Durban North Regional the next day on Sunday 13 April.

The final four regionals roll out in an action-packed May. Another milestone, within the milestone year, Grantleigh School holds the 150th overall regional in KZN. Schools located around Richards Bay and Empangeni take to the scenic field on Saturday 10 May for the KZN North Coastal Regional. Heading south, one of the biggest geographic regions will run out onto the Creston College turf on Saturday 17 May for the Southern KZN Regional with teams from Sisonke & Ugu participating.

For the penultimate regional, Ladysmith High School is the host for the uMvoti and oThukela Regional on Saturday 24 May. Wrapping up the 2025 challenges, St Dominic’s Newcastle will greet teams from Dundee, Vryheid, Pongola, Glencoe and Newcastle on Saturday 31 May for the Northern KZN Regional.

Once all the ten regionals have been played, the top teams will congregate at St Mary’s D.S.G. in Kloof for the Grand Finals on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 July.

All games will be live streamed on SuperSport Schools. For more info like the tournament’s Facebook page (SparSchoolGirlsHockeyTournament) or follow on Instagram (sparkznhockey). 

ENDS

European Film Festival line-up announced

A stellar line-up of films has been announced for the 11th European Film Festival in South Africa which runs from 10 to 20 October.  Including two Oscar nominations, the select showcase of 14 films features numerous award-winners that delve into a wide-range of topics under the overarching theme of Complicated Freedoms.  Cinema screenings take place in Johannesburg at Ster Kinekor, The Zone in Rosebank, and in Cape Town at The Labia.  Eleven of the films will be available in the free programme of online streaming accessible across South Africa during the festival period.  

The Films

Io Capitano

The festival opens with Italian director Matteo Garrone’s Oscar-nominated IO CAPITANO. It recounts the epic journey of two teenage boys from Senegal who make their way across Africa in pursuit of a dream called Europe, and is based on accounts of actual experiences by people who have undertaken these arduous contemporary odysseys. Amidst the multiple dangers of desert, sea and hostile racketeers along the way, IO CAPITANO is ultimately a journey of hope and heroism.  This film goes beyond the numbers to put a very human face on migration issues that remain a tragic challenge to the world, very much including African countries; it raises issues of inequality and racism, but also highlights the presence of humanity and compassion in unexpected places.

Baan

The Portuguese film BAAN directed by Leonor Teles epitomises the pensive restlessness of 21st century Youth. It’s an innate search for both freedom and belonging in what is ultimately a journey of ongoing self-discovery when L. meets the elusive K.  This explorative and gorgeously shot film is by one of the brightest young filmmakers emerging out of Portugal today – who wrote it, directed it and filmed it.

Blackbird Blackbird Blackberry

The Swiss film BLACKBIRD BLACKBIRD BLACKBERRY, directed by Elene Naveriani, is about a 48 year old woman in a Georgian village who finds herself passionately falling for a man, and is suddenly faced with the decision whether to pursue the relationship or continue her life of independence.  The film makes a powerful statement about ageism, sexual awakening, and self-empowerment.  BLACKBIRD BLACKBIRD BLACKBERRY won the Best Film prize at the Swiss Film Awards this year.

Citizen Saint

From Georgia, CITIZEN SAINT is an evocatively shot black and white classic by Tinatin Kajrishvili, which tells the story of a mining town where the disappearance of a revered statue of a saint coincides with the arrival of a mysterious stranger.  A series of miracles create more chaos than good and controversial choices have to be made.  This rather satirical film was Georgia’s submission to the Academy Awards this year.

Dying

From Germany, the often comedic DYING directed by Matthias Glasner, unpicks the dynamics and dysfunctionality between the very different members of the Lunies family; the demented father, the sickly wife, the orchestra conductor son, and the radical hedonistic daughter.  We see that Dying is one thing, but Life is the real difficulty…. DYING won the Best Film prize at the German Film Awards this year.

Grey Bees

The Ukrainian film GREY BEES, directed by Dmyto Moiseiev, is about the last two remaining inhabitants in a tiny village in the no-man's-land between loyalist and separatist forces in the Donbas region in the days before the Russian invasion. Sergiich the beekeeper is Ukrainian, Pashka is Russian, and circumstances have brought them together in a stubborn and sometimes adversarial companionship.  GREY BEES is a powerful testament to human connection going beyond our differences in moments of need.

Kneecap

From the UK, KNEECAP by Rich Peppiatt, presents a riotous look at a hip-hop trio in Belfast who by rapping in their native Irish language become the unlikely figureheads of a Civil Rights movement to save their mother tongue.  In this fiercely original sex, drugs and hip-hop biopic Kneecap play themselves, laying down a global rallying cry for the defense of native cultures. The film won the coveted Audience Award at Sundance this year. 

Love According to Dalva

From Belgium, LOVE ACCORDING TO DALVA  directed by Emmanuelle Nicot, is a beautiful portrait of friendship, recovery and identity through a young girl's childhood sexual abuse story.  Nicot’s  poignant film explores the ramifications of abuse with deep sensibility and grace, in Dalva’s journey to reconstruction and hope.  This film deals with a highly sensitive subject but one that has relevance in SA where child abuse is very high. The film won a remarkable 7 awards at Belgium’s Magritte Awards including Best Film.

Sweet Dreams

From the Netherlands, SWEET DREAMS, directed by Ena Sendijarević , is an audacious tale of the delicious demise of colonialism on a remote Indonesian island.  Satirical and sometimes surreal in tone, personal ambitions play out against a backdrop of workers uprisings, lust, and deep intrigue. Winner of the Best Film award in The Netherlands, SWEET DREAMS was also that country’s submission to the Academy Awards this year.

In the Spanish film THE OTHER WAY AROUND directed by Jonás Trueba, a filmmaker couple have decided to separate and come up with the idea of throwing a party to celebrate the break-up. It is a very contemporary comedy drama that teases out witty and highly believable performances from the cast with some revealing insight into how relationships work…. or don’t work. 

The Peasants

From Poland, THE PEASANTS, directed by Dorota Kobiela Welchman and Hugh Welchman, is a comic, tragic, and reflective story of one woman’s yearning for independence in a rural Polish village in the 19thcentury.  Full of ornamental song and rapturous dance, the acted performances are meticulously painted frame after frame by more than 100 oil painters in a unique form of animation, reminiscent of  the film LOVING VINCENT, by the same husband and wife directors. This film was Poland’s submission to the Academy Awards this year.

The Quiet Girl

In the Irish film THE QUIET GIRL, directed by Colm Bairéad, a young girl is sent away from her dysfunctional family to live with relatives for the summer where she blossoms and discovers a new way of living.  Similtaneously raw and profoundly empathetic, it is a story about childhood and the transformative power of love and human kindness.  THE QUIET GIRL won an Oscar nomination at the 2023 Academy Awards, the first Irish film ever to do so.

The Taste of Things

From France, THE TASTE OF THINGS is directed by Trần Anh Hùng, and stars Juliette Binoche and Benoît Magimel.  Set in 19 century France, it is a touching love story that revolves around gastronomy in a way you just won’t see in the modern foodie films and TV series.  This refined masterpiece of Cinema won the Best Director prize at Cannes and went on to be France’s submission for the 2024 Academy Awards.

Unruly

Women’s stories are very prominent in this year’s line-up and none more so than in the Danish film UNRULY.  Here, director Malou Reyman’s unflinching and empathetic depiction of young women battling patriarchy and suppression of their rights in a 1930’s women’s institution is a deeply personal example of how women’s voices will not be silenced.  It is also a strong reminder that achieving emancipation remains an ongoing process today. 

 For film synopses, film trailers and booking information visit www.eurofilmfest.co.za

The European Film Festival 2024 is a partnership project of the Delegation of the European Union to South Africa and 14 European embassies and cultural agencies in South Africa:  the Embassies of Belgium, Denmark, Georgia, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine, and the British Council, Camoes Institute of Portugal, French Institute in South Africa, Goethe-Institut, Italian Cultural Institut, and Wallonie-Bruxelles International.  

The festival is organised in cooperation with Cineuropa, Ster Kinekor and The Labia and is coordinated by Creative WorkZone.

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Photos supplied:

More pics on this Google drive here

Audio : Co-director of European Film Festival - Peter Rorvik

Youtube link to trailer here:

SA documentary that has touched a nerve – picked up by international festival

Mother City, the hard-hitting South African documentary about the politics of urbanism premiered internationally at the Sheffield International Documentary Festival, and at the prestigious Encounters South African International Documentary Festival where it played to sold out houses. Since then, it has been in demand by audiences and festivals eager to engage with its content throughout the country and abroad.

The film received special mentions from the juries at both these festivals, and was shown to a packed audience of industry peers at the recent Durban FilmMart.

It had a special screening at the CineCentre GrandWest, Cape Town on 30 August followed by a robust panel discussion hosted by Daily Maverick journalist, Rebecca Davis with Disha Govender, Head of Ndifuna Ukwazi Law Centre; Nkosikhona Swartbooi, activist; Brett Herron, former Mayco Member for Housing, City of Cape Town, and Anthea Houston, CEO of Communicare.  

The London Renters Union, a campaigning union with branches across the UK, requested a special for the opening of their Housing Justice Assembly 2024 in London on 30 August.

Given the dire housing and land needs a robust impact campaign is created by the film makers and activists seeking various opportunities to screen the film to a wide and diverse audience in order to trigger discussion.

Where to see Mother City,  next:

In Cape Town a short season will follow at The Labia Theatre in Cape Town on Sunday 8 September, 2.30pm and from Friday 13 to Thursday 19 September 8pm.

Johannesburg public screenings take place at the CineCentre Killarney Mall from Wednesday 18 September at 19:00 with a special screening with the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation with Daily Maverick’s Ferial Hafajee hosting a post screening panel discussion.

It will screen at CineCentre on Friday 4 October at 7.30pm, Saturday 5 October at 5.15pm and Sunday 6 October at 2.30pm.

International screenings and festivals include:

●      Sheffield: The Showroom Cinema in Sheffield 28 October

●      London: Bertha DocHouse in London requested to screen Mother City  29 October 

●      Namibia at the Film Week in Windhoek

●      In Germany, at Afrika Film Festival Köln, 

●      and in Switzerland and USA in the next four months.

Seasoned impact filmmaker Miki Redelinghuys of Plexus Films and veteran investigative journalist Pearlie Joubert, directed and produced the film with renowned feature-producer Kethiwe Ngcobo. Described as a beautifully observed, deeply human and often heart-breaking look at the politics of urbanism, the filmmakers spend six years documenting the activists of the dynamic Reclaim the City movement, as they transform two mothballed state-owned buildings in Cape Town’s into homes for more than 1000 people.  The Woodstock Hospital was renamed Cissy Gool House by occupiers and the Helen Bowden nursing home in the Waterfront, Ahmed Kathrada House  .

“This is a classic David versus Goliath struggle, where activists challenge the powerful forces of politics and property. It has touched a nerve wherever we have screened the film and resonates deeply with audiences worldwide – this is not just a South African problem,” says Pearlie Joubert, who recently  screened the film to the Renters Union in London.

“All over the world people who are living on the edges are talking truth to power, taking their fight like the Reclaim the City movement - to the streets, the courts, high-end events, and governments determined to make their voices heard. We are hoping this film will create the necessary impact for activists as well as those in power whose decisions affect them, we want each and every person who sees this film to be moved to action,” says Redelinghuys.

Link to ticket sales

 Cape Town: https://bit.ly/3AGbNPc

Johannesburg: https://bit.ly/3X4UzT4

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I heart Market Saturday, 7 September 2024 - Durban

Spring has sprung! This month’s  I heart Market at Northlands Primary School in Durban North, takes place on Saturday 7 September and features the Spring Sale, the second and final sale market of the year.

“If you love shopping for bargains and supporting local makers, this is the market for you—especially if you’re looking to get a head start on your Christmas shopping,” says Tanith Molliere, Manager of the Market. “These sought-after sale events are always well-attended because this is one of only two times a year where our vendors offer their amazing crafts and products at especially discounted prices.”

The I heart Market offers a carefully curated selection of exclusive, innovative, handmade, homemade, and locally designed products. Shoppers can expect to find a broad range of items, including unique crafts, art, fashion, jewellery, homeware, children’s goods, and upcycled treasures. Alongside the shopping experience, visitors can indulge in a mouth-watering array of food in the food court, as well as craft gin and beer in the garden.

“We’re always on the lookout for fresh talent to join our community of creators,” adds Tanith. “We encourage ‘makers’ with unique, self-designed, and locally produced items to connect with us. Whether a jeweller, ceramicist, chef, cook, designer or innovator, this could is an ideal opportunity for makers to introduce news creations at our market.” 

Makers and food vendors can apply to Tanith on this link : https://www.iheartmarket.com/apply/

For those with small children, there is a dedicated play area and a pram park, allowing adults to have a stress-free shopping experience. The School Hall has air conditioning, guaranteeing a comfortable visit rain or shine.  There are also designated areas for parking within the school grounds and precinct monitored by security guards.

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uKhoiKhoi performs with legacy artist Robyn Orlin at JOMBA!

South African live-looping band uKhoiKhoi will be on stage in a dance production by acclaimed choreographer, Robyn Orlin, to be performed for the first time in South Africa at the 2024 JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience in Durban, and at The Market Theatre in Johannesburg.

uKhoiKhoi

uKhoiKhoi, consisting of musician and composer Yogin Sullaphen and vocalist and performing artist Anelisa "Annalyzer" Stuurman, has been composing for and performing in Orlin’s stage productions since 2021. The band, together with dancers from the Johannesburg-based dance company Moving into Dance Mophatong, has toured extensively across Europe with these shows over the past 3 years.

 Orlin, a world-renowned and award-winning South African choreographer, is honoured as the 2024 JOMBA! Legacy Artist at the JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience, hosted by the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Centre for Creative Arts from 27 August to 8 September 2024 in Durban. Orlin’s work “we wear our wheels with pride, we slap your streets with color…we say ‘bonjour’ to satan in 1820”, which pays homage to Durban’s rickshaw drivers, will be performed in South Africa for the first time during the 2024 JOMBA! dance festival.

As composers of the music in “we wear our wheels with pride…”, uKhoiKhoi forms an integral part of the performance. On stage, multi-instrumentalist Sullaphen and vocalist Stuurman, known for her blend of indigenous chanting and operatic styles, use a multi-layered approach to create the music with their distinctive Afro-electro sound. In real-time, they seamlessly layer electronic, acoustic and indigenous instruments, together with Stuurman’s vocals, resulting in a dynamic musical experience.

Recently, uKhoiKhoi has also been collaborating with Orlin on another one of her dance productions, “...How in salts desert is it possible to blossom...”, together with the Garage Dance Ensemble from O’Kiep in the Northen Cape. In June this year, they toured with this production across the south of France, with more performances scheduled in Italy and France towards the end of the year. Orlin says, “One day I hope ‘...How in salts desert…’ will also come to South Africa.”

In addition to the international performances with Orlin’s stage productions, uKhoiKhoi has since its formation in 2019 performed across South Africa at festivals, such as Mieliepop and Fête de la Musique, and at other live events.

uKhoiKhoi is currently working on a new album which is scheduled for release in 2025. This is in addition to their debut offering which was a self-titled 3-track EP, released in 2020, followed by their second EP “Nongqawuse”, released in 2022.

About the upcoming performances in Orlin’s dance production at JOMBA!, Stuurman says, “We are excited to perform ‘we wear our wheels with pride…’ for the first time in South Africa after having toured internationally with this production over the past few years. It is an honour for uKhoiKhoi to collaborate with a choreographer of Robyn Orlin’s stature.”

uKhoiKhoi will be on stage in “we wear our wheels with pride…” at JOMBA! in Durban at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre on 7 and 8 September 2024, and at a satellite festival at The Market Theatre in Johannesburg on 11 and 12 September 2024.

Tickets for “we wear our wheels with pride…” at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre are available at Computicket, and for the shows at the Market Theatre tickets can be purchased from Webtickets.

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SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Fast 5s Netball Challenge Southern Regional Saturday 3 August

A smiling Shayamoya shone at the KZN Southern Regional as they defended their title in the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Fast 5s Netball Challenge that took place at King Edward High School in Matatiele on Saturday 3 August.

In a flamboyant display of sensational netball, Shayamoya Area Secondary School dominated from the very first whistle of their nine game path to victory. In the concluding game, they met host school King Edward High School, this is the second year in a row that the two teams have taken each other on in the regional final.

The defending champs took 12 seconds to open up their account in an exhilarating game of aerial onslaughts, exceptional groundwork, thrilling intercepts and sure-fire passes that constantly fed their forwards. The towering and agile attackers, Asiphe Manyaba, Esethu Mbele and Snegugu Gamede had a fantastic day in the circle pocketing 26 goals in the final against King Edward. The local team fought hard against the visitors but only managed to net 6 goals.

Leading up to the final, the Kokstad based school played in seven round robin games, followed by a semi-final and then the all-important regional final. The crowd favourites had a total of 159 goals and only allowed their opponents to slip in a total of 39.

The path to the finals, Shayamoya finished the round robin stage on top of the log with 21 points and seven wins. King Edward ended in second place on 16 points followed by St Monica's Diocesan School and Mthatha High School on 10 points. In the first semi-final Shayamoya met Mthatha where the final score was 17 – 5 to Shayamoya, and in the second semi-final King Edward played neighbouring school, St Monica’s with the home team taking the win 14 –

The next regional heads to St Henry’s Marist College for the Durban Central Regional on Saturday 25 August, followed by the Highway Regional taking place on Saturday 31 August at Hillcrest Hi

Matrics participating in the netball, also have the opportunity of winning a bursary that is valued at R74,000 through eta College in Durban.

Those unable to make it courtside, can catch all the games on SuperSport Schools website or App.

Finals Result

Shayamoya Area Secondary School 26 vs King Edward High School 6

Semi-Finals Results

Shayamoya Area Secondary School 17 vs Mthatha High School 5

Kings Edward High School 14 vs St Monica's Diocesan School 6

Round Robin Results

1 Shayamoya Area Secondary School, 2 King Edward High School, 3 St Monica's Diocesan School, 4 Mthatha High School, 5 Kokstad College, 6 iXopo High School, 7 St Thomas Residential School, 8 Bergview College

SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Fast 5’s Netball Challenge North Coast Regional

A triumphant host school, Hoërskool Richardsbaai were crowned champions in the North Coast Regional of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Fast 5s Netball Challenge on Saturday 13 July.

The locals met visitors, Empangeni High School’s team in the concluding game of the day.  Empangeni had the centre pass and from the whistle eagerly moved the ball around in the attempt of crafting their first attack, but the savvy home team were wise to their gameplan and intercepted, sending the ball down to their sturdy and steadfast goal shooter, Jané Taljaard who netted the first point of the game 35 seconds in. 

Empangeni didn’t let the early turn around get to them, and whisked the ball to their adventurous Goal Attack, Amanda Shelembe who bravely lofted a 2 pointer that neatly slotted into the net, going a point ahead. The two teams game plan was obvious, Richardsbaai soldiered the ball up quickly to Taljaard who wasted no time firing in her attempt, usually from just under the net. Empangeni were more flamboyant in their play, whizzing passes around the center of their court as their attackers settled up ahead. Once they advanced, they weren’t shy in giving Shelembe the space to try land her looping 2 pointers. 

Going into half time, only one point separated the two, with Richardsbaai being ahead on 7 to Empangeni’s 6 points. In the second half, agile captain for the home side, Anneke Louw ignited her team with four phenomenal aerial intercepts that encouraged her players to change gears. Between Taljaard and Goal Attack, Tiana de Beer for Richardsbaai, they knocked in 6 shots taking their final score up to 13, while Empangeni only managed to net 3 more shots, two of which being magical 2 pointers slipped in by the crack shooter Shelembe, taking their score up to 11 in total. 

This is the third time Empangeni High School has featured in the regional final’s medal game, earning a silver in 2019, and gold in 2022, with an impressive second place this year. While Richardsbaai featured twice, improving on their silver from last year, to hoisting the trophy this year. 

In the third-place game, Eshowe High School took on the second team from Empangeni, with the score finishing on 15 – 13 in favour of Empangeni High. 

The next regional takes place at Creston College on 27 July with teams from the area participating in the South Coast Regional. August has three tournaments, followed by two tournaments in September and the last one wrapping up the year in October. 

For more info like the challenge’s Facebook page sparkznfast5s or follow on Instagram sparkznnetball

Results

1 Hoërskool Richardsbaai, 2 Empangeni High School, 3 Empangeni High School’s Seconds, 4 Eshowe High School

Pool results

Pool A

1 Hoërskool Richardsbaai 12 points; 2 Empangeni High School Seconds 9 points; 3 Tholokuhle High School 6 points; 4 Felixton College 1 point; 5 Eshowe High School Seconds 1 point

Pool B

1 Eshowe High School First 10 points; 2 Empangeni High School 9 points; 3 John Ross College 7 points; 4 Hoërskool Richardsbaai Seconds 3 points; 5 Nkombose High School 0 points

ENDS

Compelling Line-Up of Films for Encounters South African International Documentary Festival

The 26th Encounters South African International Documentary Festival, which takes place in Cape Town and Johannesburg from 20 to 30 June, features a compelling line-up of films from around the globe that promise to spark debate, stimulate conversations, and shed new light on controversial subject matter.

From the Congo to Kenya, USA and Europe, Lebanon to Japan with gripping tales of resilience to thought-provoking explorations of contemporary issues, these films reveal a rich tapestry of global storytelling and celebrate the power of documentary cinema to inspire, inform, and ignite change.

Soundtrack to a Coup d'État

The multiple award-winning Soundtrack to a Coup d'État, is a riveting documentary that delves into the complex relationship between music and political upheaval. Directed by Johan Grimonprez (Belgium/France/The Netherlands) jazz and politics are intertwined in this depiction of murky international interference in decolonisation and the Cold War.  It’s 1960 and against the background of jazz sounds of Louis Armstrong, Dizzy Gillespie, and Nina Simone, a wave of decolonisation movements tear through Africa, and the struggle for civil rights marches on in the USA. Beat by beat, Grimonprez traces Patrice Lumumba’s rise to become Congo’s first democratically elected prime minister—and the meddling forces that conspired his assassination. Deeply researched, the film interweaves archival records, home movies, unheard speeches by Lumumba, and memoirs by Congolese activists and writers with the story of the Black jazz legends who defined the era. Pulsating with the energy of the period, this masterpiece of documentary filmmaking is a chilling indictment of the colonial impact on Africa. 

Moving to East Africa and keeping with the thread of international interference, the Kenyan film Our Land, Our Freedom directed by Zippy Kimundu, is a highly charged conversation about stolen land that follows a woman’s attempt to reclaim ancestral land. What begins as a search for her father’s remains soon turns into a tense national issue surrounding British colonialism, freedom fighters, and an unjust reality. It is pure grit, determination, and a genuine love for her people that keeps her going, pushing her to provide for those who did so much for her country yet received so little reward for their sacrifice. 

Black Box Diaries 

Of particular interest are two fascinating films from Japan: In a raw, riveting, and singular work, playing like a procedural thriller for social media, Black Box Diaries (Japan/USA/UK) directed by journalist Shiori Itō bravely investigates a case of sexual violence perpetrated against her—to bring her powerful, politically connected assailant to justice. As she pieces together evidence, she exposes the paralyzing roots of patriarchy in Japan. Her brave story is a reminder of how far the world still has to go in believing women, and the trauma of survivors. Her quest results in a landmark case in Japan, exposing the country's outdated judicial and societal systems. The film won the Human Rights Award at CPH:DOX in Denmark.

Johatsu – Into Thin Air

Then the beautifully photographed film - Johatsu – Into Thin Air directed by Andreas Hartmann and Arata Mori explores the phenomenon of people who disappear known as Johatsu or “the evaporated” in Japan where around 80,000 people vanish every year. Most are found or return home but thousands simply disappear. We meet people who have chosen to do this and those looking for them, as well as the people who help them so they can reset their lives in places where no one knows them. Johatsu provides an intimate window into the lives of those who have decided, for one desperate reason or another, that they need to start anew.

Hollywoodgate

In true “eyes-on-the-ground” and breathtakingly edgy filmmaking, Egyptian director Ibrahim Nash'at scores a major coup in Hollywoodgate (Germany/USA) when he is granted permission to document the transition of Afghanistan to Taliban rule after the US withdrawal in 2021. The Taliban took over one of the USA’s CIA bases with infrastructure of containers bearing the name "Hollywood Gate" filled with weapons enabling them to equip a new combat unit. Over a year, Nash'at follows the development of this unit and provides an authentic inside glimpse into the Taliban's rapid rise to power. 

Encounter screens “two must see” films that audiences might have missed:

Dancing on the Edge of a Volcano

Dancing on the Edge of a Volcano, directed by Cyril Aris (Germany/Lebanon), is a heartwarming and lucid documentary. After a massive explosion devastated the port in Beirut in August 2020, a determined crew of filmmakers continued their project in an effort of resistance. Amidst the city's destruction and an economic crisis during COVID-19, this family of artists finds meaning and purpose through the transformative power of cinema.

The Mother of All Lies

The Mother of All Lies (Morocco/Egypt) is a poetic, captivating, and cathartic exploration of the lies and memories of director Asmae El Moudir’s family, surrounding the Casablanca Bread Riots of 1981. The period of repression known in Morocco as the “Years of Lead” is hardly discussed. Narratives of trauma, loss, and love are recovered here through exquisite re-enactments played by handmade figurines, sculpted by El Moudir’s father and dressed by her mother, placed in a scale model of her neighbourhood.

Cinemas that will screen the 2024 Encounters’ line-up:

In Cape Town - Ster-Kinekor V&A Waterfront, The Labia Theatre

In Johannesburg - The Zone @ Rosebank, The Bioscope Independent Cinema 

For more information go to: https://encounters.co.za/

Encounters is Supported and Funded by: 

The City of Cape Town, Bertha Foundation, National Film and Video Foundation of South Africa, the University of Cape Town and the Centre for Film and Media Studies, Mail and Guardian (Media Partner), Al Jazeera Documentary, UWC The Centre for Humanities Research, Known Associates, Refinery, Institute Francais, Goethe-Institut of South Africa, Heinrich Böll Stiftung, Heineken Beverages, DOK.fest Munich, German Films, Documentary Filmmakers Association, South African Guild of Editors, anima, Pressure Cooker Studio.

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Joy Sapieka - Joy Sapieka & Associates 

joyls@mweb.co.za 

joysapieka0@gmail.com 

Sharlene Versfeld 

sharlene@versfeld.co.za 

Hard-hitting SA documentary MOTHER CITY to open Encounters 2024

Encounters South African International Documentary Festival renowned for its commitment to showcasing diverse voices, insightful perspectives, and compelling narratives has announced the South African film Mother City directed by Miki Redelinghuys and Pearlie Joubert as the opening film in a line-up of local, African, and international films that are making waves or garnered critical acclaim at festivals worldwide. The fest takes place at venues in Cape Town and Johannesburg from 20 to 30 June 2024.

Sparking transformation, the beautifully observed film, Mother City is a deeply human and often heart-breaking look at the politics of urbanism. The filmmakers follow activists of the Reclaim the City movement over six years as they make Cape Town’s abandoned spaces their home, and use it as a base from which to lobby for the needs of the working class.

In a classic David versus Goliath battle between passionate activists and politics and property power, Nkosikhona (Face) Swartbooi and his peers take to the streets, the courts, the fancy dinner functions, parliament and the homes of the people in power to get their voices heard. They travel to Barcelona to meet the Mayor who has successfully turned Barcelona’s housing crisis around, searching for solutions to the ever-growing housing crisis in Cape Town.

The film offers an opportunity to walk in the shoes of the oppressed and dispossessed, to understand the real struggle for people needing homes closer to work, education, and recreation and are not simply banished to the outskirts of urban areas. It grapples with the rights for access, and fairness to be able to actively participate in an urban economy. It lays bare the struggles of people who are often vilified and “othered” for trying to rightfully claim a space to live with their families. 

“Mother City has been selected as our opening film, as it represents the heart of what documentary film-making is about,” says Festival Director Mandisa Zitha. “Dedicated, tenacious, and vociferous in its approach to following a group of activists over a long period, to capture their challenges and frustrations, and indeed their successes. It speaks to the power of film in exposing the arduous journey so many in this world have to embark on to effect change. It is also a universally powerful story of the triumph of the collective.” 

“I have always thought of Mother City as a love letter to the city I call home and love very deeply,” explains Miki Redelinghuys (Plexis Films) documentary filmmaker and impact producer. “But love can also be painful in as much as it is beautiful. This film is an expression of many diverse lives observed through our lens and we hope our audience leaves inspired with a vision for building a shared democratic South Africa. We are extremely grateful that we have been able to share this story.”

Pearlie Joubert, acclaimed investigative journalist who’s spent years as a news producer for ITV, Sky News and the BBC adds, "When Miki and I started filming Mother City, we dreamt that our film would shift permanently, the way one million visitors to Cape Town see this city and her policies. Now so many years later, we have only witnessed how politicians and property developers have formed and cemented an impenetrable wall keeping the poor out and away. Mother City is our ode to how “gatvol” we are of this status quo."

Mother City is produced by Kethiwe Ngcobo, Pearlie Joubert, and Miki Redelinghuys and will have its World Premiere at the Sheffield Doc Fest in the UK in June before its African premiere at Encounters on 20 June.

The following cinemas will be screening the 2024 Encounters’ line-up:

In Cape Town - Ster-Kinekor V&A Waterfront, The Labia Theatre

In Johannesburg - Ster-Kinekor Rosebank Nouveau, The Bioscope Independent Cinema 

Encounters is Supported and Funded by: City of Cape Town, Bertha Foundation, National Film and Video Foundation of South Africa,  University of Cape Town and the Centre for Film and Media Studies, Mail and Guardian(Media Partner), Al Jazeera Documentary, Known Associates, Refinery, Goethe-Institut, Heinrich Böll Stiftung, Heineken Beverages,  Documentary Filmmakers Association, German Films, South African Guild of Editors, anima, Pressure Cooker Studio

For more information go to: https://encounters.co.za/

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Jazz, Music and Dance in Celebration of Africa Month at Centre for Jazz and Popular Music

Concerts SA in collaboration with Zimboni and iSupport Creative Business presents Afro-Jazz band Bantu's Clef, which headline a night of music along with guest performers Ikusasa Lethu at the Centre for Jazz and Popular Music University of KwaZulu-Natal on Wednesday 29 May as part of Africa Month celebrations.

The concert is funded by the Department of Sport, Arts, and Culture (South Africa) - Mzansi Golden Economy, as part of ‘30 years of Democracy: A Celebration of African Music and Heritage’.

Bantu's Clef

Hailing from a dynamic musical crossroads, Bantu's Clef weaves together the rich tapestry of Afro-Jazz. Led by the masterful Mozambican guitarist Milton Chissano and the soulful South African tenor saxophonist Leon Scharnick, the band brings a unique sound that is both deeply rooted in tradition and invigoratingly fresh.

Their music is a captivating exploration of Bantu rhythms, the lifeblood of sub-Saharan African music. These infectious grooves form the foundation upon which Chissano and Scharnick, along with their band members, Doc Vezi on electric bass and José Albert Chemane on drums, layer improvisational flourishes and sophisticated harmonies, all expressed through the universal language of Jazz.

Expect a riveting performance featuring a blend of original compositions, where the band pushes the boundaries of the genre, alongside treasured works by Mozambican and South African composers. Bantu's Clef promises a journey that will transport you to the heart of Africa, all while keeping you on the cutting edge of contemporary Jazz.

Ikusasa Lethu 

Vibrant dance and music ensemble Ikusasa Lethu founded by Dr Patricia Opondo, is comprised of African Music and Dance students from UKZN. This dynamic group that has the pulse of the country running through its blood, has captivated global audiences wherever they have performed or conducted workshops including in Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Canada, Peru, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Seychelles, Thailand, Uganda, and of course right at home in Durban, Pietermaritzburg, Grahamstown, and East London.

Tickets are R110, R80 (pensioners) and R50 (students) and can be booked through Webtickets or through zamat1@ukzn.ac.za. Doors open at 5pm and concert starts at 5.30pm.

For more information contact info@isupportdoyou.com

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Veteran South African dance-maker, Robyn Orlin, named the 2024 JOMBA! LEGACY ARTIST

The 26th annual JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience, hosted by UKZN’s Centre for Creative Arts, has announced that it will honour veteran South African dance-maker Robyn Orlin as the 2024 JOMBA! Legacy Artist. 

Orlin’s work we wear our wheels with pride and slap your streets with colour… we said ‘bonjour’ to satan in 1820 … will feature at JOMBA! which takes place at The Sneddon Theatre in Durban from 27 August to 8 September, with a satellite festival at The Market Theatre in Johannesburg from 11 to 14 September 2024.

Robyn Orlin

Originally created in 2021 we wear our wheels …  is a collaboration with Johannesburg based Moving into Dance. This is a work that negotiates the complicated Durban rickshaw histories – and it finally comes to Durban.

Born in 1955 Johannesburg, Orlin’s vision of contemporary dance continues to be a kind of aesthetic eclecticism where she draws heavily on her own histories of ballet and modern, and a fascination with film and cinema. She has shifted the boundaries of what we consider dance to be, often falling into witty and biting political satire. Her love of kitsch, tutus and yellow plastic ducks has seen her creating iconic images that still haunt a South African dance landscape. 

we wear our wheels with pride and slap your streets with colour… we said ‘bonjour’ to satan in 1820 … 

Orlin was trained at the London School of Contemporary Dance (1975-1980), then at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (1990-1995). She began her career as a dancer, choreographer and teacher in South Africa, where she was quickly spotted, as much for the singularity of her dance making, as for the chaos that reigns in her creations.  Her (multiple prize-winning) dance piece Daddy, I have seen this piece six times before and I still don’t know why they’re hurting each other, which mocks the difficulties and shortcomings of the young rainbow nation, but also classical ballet as a trajectory of discrimination, enabled her to tour in Europe and brought her international recognition. France has since become a creative territory for her and she has made her first film, Hidden Beauties, Dirty Stories (Ina/Arte, 2004), her first opera, Handel’s L’Allegro, il penseroso ed il moderato (Opéra Garnier, Paris, 2007), and her first theatre production, Les Bonnes, by Jean Genet (Théâtre de la Bastille, Paris, 2019) in France. She continues to create work in South Africa.

Artistic Director and curator, Lliane Loots says, “The JOMBA! festival’s 2024 overall curatorial theme and provocation is “the memory of home” and we can think of no South African artist better suited to unpack both the simplicity and complexity of this in her work. Memories are about history, belonging, sometimes suffocating nostalgia, and maybe also about charting new futures … Robyn’s work is all of this and more”.

“Orlin’s work has not been performed in South Africa for many years, and so it is with great thanks for the support from IFAS (Paris) and IFAS (Johannesburg), that JOMBA! welcomes her back to South Africa as our 2024 JOMBA! Legacy artist.”

JOMBA! takes place at The Sneddon Theatre in Durban from 27 August to 8 September, and the satellite festival takes place at The Market Theatre in Johannesburg from 11 to 14 September 2024.

we wear our wheels …  will be performed on 7 and 8 September in Durban and on 11 and 12 September at The Market in Johannesburg.

For more information go to www.jomba.ac.za.

Animal Anti-Cruelty League calls for awareness and support during Animal Anti-Cruelty Month (April)

April is Animal Anti-Cruelty Month, and the Durban and Pietermaritzburg branch of the Animal Anti-Cruelty League (AACL) is appealing to the public to increase their awareness of abandoned, harmed or injured animals, and support their organisation that provides a vital service to animals who are unable to fend for themselves.

The AACL currently looks after 44 stray cats and 34 stray dogs which have either been brought in by members of the public or rescued from cruel and unsafe environments.

Nomathembu Gumede, animal handler and volunteer Rachel Rabie at the Durban and Pietermaritzburg branch of the Animal Anti-Cruelty League (AACL),

Importantly the organisation also works tirelessly in economically disadvantaged communities and conducts sterilizations and vaccinations, deworming, and flea- and tick-dipping of dogs and cats supporting people who are unable to provide this kind of primary health care for their pets. They have a robust inspectorate that investigates acts of cruelty to animals, removing them, providing medical attention, and rehabilitating them. 

“Companion animals, like cats and dogs, are protected by the anti-cruelty provisions of Section 2(1) of the Animal Protection Act 1962,” explains GM of the ACCL (Durban and Pietermaritzburg), David Rogers. “We act as a compassionate and pro-active entity to intervene where we find animals being ill-treated, neglected, cruelly beaten, teased or terrified, or if it has been confined in a way that it is suffering, or neglected or abandoned in circumstances likely to cause unnecessary suffering.”

“It is often exhausting, sad, and emotionally draining working in this environment, but the rewards are big when we have the successes in our rehabilitation, and adoption processes,” says Rogers. “The service we provide is entirely dependent on the funds we can raise, and the wonderful support we have from a body of dedicated volunteers to help to make things easier for the animals.”

Visitor Jessica Jolley has some fun cuddles with some of the 44 cats housed at the AACL.

Rogers explains that all animals that can be rehabilitated, are up for adoption by the public, with necessary checks done on the new owners.. They also offer boarding facilities in their magnificent kennels at a reasonable price which helps towards their fundraising efforts.

Volunteer Reece Williamson cuddles a feline friend.

The facilities are set amongst the picturesque countryside in Hammarsdale, providing a safe, quiet space for animals to be rehabilitated, and treated. To help towards their fundraising endeavours the AACL has a bustling tea garden, a well-stock and beautifully curated charity shop, a large pool (for use for a R20 donation), and conference and function facilities for small groups.

Sibongakonke Khoza, kennel and dog handler at the AACL

Next weekend, on Sunday, April 14 the AACL hosts their highly popular Dog Walk and Market from 8am to 1pm at their premises, 53 Artesia Avenue, D657 Road, Hammarsdale. There is a R50 early bird entrance fee (R60 on the day) which includes the walk, a market with crafts, clothes, second-hand goods, food, and fun activities for children. (Children under 12 are free).

A well-stocked and curated charity shop at the AACL.

The League is appealing to the public, businesses, and corporates to donate to the organisation to support this vital work they do for animals, that are unable to fight for themselves. 

The Tea room is set in tranquil surrounds.

Donation information and more information about the work the AACL does can be found on https://www.aacl.co.za/branches-durban-pietermaritzburg/

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Afrika Odyssey - update on the Kingsley Holgate Expedition

Legendary South Africa-based explorer Kingsley Holgate and his team are two-thirds of the way through their 41st humanitarian and geographic expedition which began in June 2023, and are now gearing up to reach some of the wildest and most isolated regions in central, north and west Africa.

Utilising new Defender 130s, the Afrika Odyssey expedition that began in June 2023, has already surpassed 40,000 kilometres along some of the most treacherous routes in Africa, withstanding torrential rains, excessive heat, and record floods in the past eight months.

This expedition is delving into the wild heart of 12 diverse African countries and has a strong conservation, culture, and community focus. The aim is to reach 22 unique wildlife reserves, managed by the conservation NGO African Parks in partnership with the government of each country.

“Over the past 30 years of adventuring in every country on the continent, we’ve come to realise that Africa’s iconic biodiversity and wildlife is under immense threat,” said Kingsley. “For a long time, we’ve been asking the question: is there hope for Africa’s wild spaces as well as the people who depend on it, in the face of burgeoning global demand for natural resources?”

“That’s what spawned the idea for this expedition and there’s good news. We’ve been privileged to see first-hand the incredible work being done to protect and restore vast tracts of wilderness and the frontline fight against criminal networks that profit from illegal trade in wildlife, logging, and mining.  We’ve heard gut-wrenching, personal stories of loss from rangers on the front line, alongside uplifting stories of hope that bear witness to the revival happening in many countries thanks to proactive governments, and the positive impact it is having on both wildlife and neighbouring communities.”

The expedition has now reached 15 of the 22 wildlife regions on their list. Starting in the northern tip of the Namib desert at Iona National Park in south-western Angola, it has journeyed through nine national parks in Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Malawi; reached the furthest and highest source of the White Nile in the mountainous rainforests of Nyungwe in Rwanda; tackled a difficult route to two remote wildlife parks in South Sudan; and nearly lost the expedition Defenders to the worst floods in 20 years at Garamba national park in the remote north-eastern corner of the DRC. 

The Afrika Odyssey expedition is also providing humanitarian support to communities living alongside these wildlife regions. “Unusually high rainfall in the East and Central African regions have escalated malaria cases, especially in young children and babies,” said expedition leader Ross Holgate. “The whole team also contracted malaria whilst in East Africa and we know from personal experience how deadly malaria can be. So, we’ve distributed over 7,600 long-lasting insecticide-treated mosquito nets to date on this journey. With one mosquito net protecting on average a mum and two children, that’s nearly 23,000 people safe from malaria.”

“We’ve also provided 1,800 reading glasses to poor-sighted, mostly elderly people in these isolated areas. Additionally, conservation education forms an integral part of this expedition. Through our Wildlife Art programme, we’ve helped educate thousands of children living alongside African Parks-managed protected areas about the values of caring for their environment. They are the future guardians of these wildlife gems and it’s important to pass on the baton of conservation, to ensure they continue to benefit from Africa’s wildlife resources in the coming years.”

“Ahead lies the most difficult part of the expedition, to reach seven wildlife regions in Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, Chad and Benin,” continued Ross. “We’ll be tackling dense rainforest conditions, difficult river crossings, vast desert and rocky mountain terrain where water and fuel will be hard to come by, as well as potential security threats. The logistical issues for this chapter are extreme.”

Veteran expedition member ‘Shova Mike’ Nixon, one of only three people in the world to have completed all 19 Cape Epic mountain bike races, will attempt to cycle 600 kilometres on a specially-adapted Evo-bike through Chad’s Sahel and Sahara desert to reach the World Heritage Site of Ennedi Natural and Cultural Reserve near the Libyan border. 

“Ennedi is said to be the most beautiful part of the Sahara but I’m expecting a hard, physical test with powdery soft sand and temperatures above 40’C,” said Mike. “From what I’ve researched, this route hasn’t been attempted before by bicycle; hopefully it becomes another ‘first’ that adds an extra level of adventure and excitement to the expedition.”

The Afrika Odyssey’s Scroll for Conservation – with hundreds of pages already filled with inspiring messages from community leaders and beneficiaries, park rangers, conservation partners and government envoys –  will also complete the journey, as will the well-travelled Zulu calabash that is collecting symbolic water from all 22 African Parks-managed protected areas.

“We trust that the Zen of Travel will continue to ride with us,” concluded Kingsley. “We need to showcase the inspirational potential of Africa’s people and wild places – it is not all doom and gloom. We’re raring to go for chapter three of this incredible journey, continuing the humanitarian work, and meeting more passionate individuals who are dedicating their lives to this beautiful continent’s wild heart and rural communities.

Follow the expedition on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KingsleyHolgateFoundation

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Exciting Outdoor Experiences and Adventures with Green Corridors in December

The holiday season is here, and there are a host of truly thrilling outdoor adventures and leisure activities on Durban’s doorstep with multiple Green Corridors tourism sites available for holidaymakers to enjoy. Best of all, these experiences are just a short distance away from the heart of the City.

Escaping the hustle and bustle of the festive crowds becomes an enticing option for locals, and out-of-town tourists, allowing families to indulge in a range of fantastic activities, whether it's a self-drive exploration or a guided adventure.

View of Inanda Dam

The breath-taking eNanda Adventure Park on the expansive Inanda Dam features water’s edge picnic spots, a thrilling pump bike track, and guided biking, birding, hiking, and canoeing excursions. The centre also has safe, shady camping areas on the shores of the dam.

Biking around iSithumba

The magical Valley of 1000 Hills offers a culturally warm and welcoming experience at Isithumba Adventures with walking, hiking, and biking trails, as well as authentic cultural tours.

Mqeku Picnic Site - “bumslide”

And, for a delightful laughter filled day out, the Mqeku Picnic Site becomes a choice, featuring a natural waterslide along the pristine tributary into the Umgeni. With braai facilities and ample shade, it becomes the perfect spot for families to unwind and revel in nature.

Hiking around Amaphephetheni

Alternatively, the 7 and 14km trails in Amaphephetheni by Amatata Adventures offer more rigorous hikes with heart-stopping views of the Inanda Dam and the Valley of 1000 Hills. For the more adventurous, one can also hike from Matata Adventures to Mqeku picnic spot for an experience and views you will not forget in a hurry!

Lower Molweni, on the outskirts of Krantzkloof Nature Reserve

Lower Molweni, on the outskirts of Krantzkloof Nature Reserve, awaits nature enthusiasts with a network of community-developed nature trails that are supported by Kloof Conservancy.

Nogxaza Falls Hike

In the same reserve in Upper Molweni, the challenging Nogxaza Falls Hike, that begins at Overrock Rasta Camp, the series of cliff face walk ways and custom made view points allows individuals to experience awe-inspiring views of rural KZN. Overrock is fast becoming one of the most popular hiking destinations in the Green Corridors network.  

Hiking around Mnini Dam

Just south of Durban, in the welcoming community of uMgababa, Mnini Dam boasts two fantastic sites: Thulas' Adventures and the Mnini Dam Tourist Resort. Ideal for picnics, canoeing, fishing, birding, hiking, and biking trails, these sites promise a warm and memorable experience.

Close to the Blue Lagoon on Durban's scenic beachfront, the GreenHub offers an array of eco-tourism activities. Individuals can immerse themselves in birding, hiking, canoeing, and, on selected days, discover the enchanting Ezemvelo Beachwood Mangroves with its truly unique ecosystem.

Most Green Corridors sites can be accessed as self-drives, although the guided tours are recommended to enhance the experience. Guides are all trained and accredited and have deep knowledge of the areas in which they live and work. The guided experience includes a shuttle tour in an air-conditioned mini-bus.

Additionally, guests can also be accommodated overnight in the very comfortable “pop-up camp” with or without catering.

A range of cultural tours are also available including a visit to the Rasta Caves in Inanda, and the Inanda Heritage Route, and Waterfalls.

Camping and activity fees may vary and contribute to the growth of the local tourism economy in these vibrant areas.

To explore the many options in more in-depth, visit this link: https://durbangreencorridor.co.za/our-work/tourism

Bookings are essential and can easily be made by calling +27 (0)81 268 3787 or emailing reservations@durbangreencorridor.co.za

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Unlocking Leadership Excellence as Creative Producer Indaba Gathers Global Talent

Fifteen accomplished producers hailing from various corners of the globe have been selected to participate in the third edition of the Creative Producer Indaba (CPI).

This highly respected film industry professional development programme begins with an open assembly on 6 November, after which the cohort will attend the renowned Atlas Workshops, the dynamic industry programme of the Marrakech International Film Festival, Morocco from 25 November to 1 December where they will  focus on legal and financial aspects of their work, as well as their own career development. Following this, they will attend the International Film Festival Rotterdam (Netherlands) from 25 January to 2 February, 2024 where the programme will focus on marketing, sales and story development. The Indaba then culminates in a programme of online sessions from 8 to 12 April 2024.

The Creative Producer Indaba, conceived by Realness Institute under the leadership of programme director Elias Ribeiro, a Cape Town (SA) based NPO, has formed strategic alliances with noteworthy industry players such as EAVE, International Film Festival Rotterdam's IFFR Pro, and Atlas Workshops. Furthermore, in an effort to expand the Realness Network into the Global South, it has collaborated with the Brazilian foundation Projeto Paradiso, facilitating the participation of a Brazilian producer with interest in producing African projects.

"We're thrilled to welcome new collaborators on board, including the Canadian Film Fund, the Austrian Film Fund, Training Institute Focal, Jeune Création Francophone fund, and the NFVF. Their support is a tremendous boost for the future sustainability of this vital program" says Elias Ribeiro, Co-Founder and Executive Director at Realness Institute.

The CPI offers this unique opportunity to 10 African producers, with and without projects, as well as 5 international producers to bolster their leadership and entrepreneurial capabilities, refine their production skills, and foster professional networks that span across both Africa and the international stage.

Having made significant contributions to the African film landscape Adja Mariam Soro (Côte d’Ivoire), Chloé Ortolé (Senegal), Dantagos Jimmy-Melani (Namibia), Godisamang Khunou (South Africa) and Nomusa Nkabinde (South Africa), are all seeking their next landmark venture and will use this opportunity to network, engage and seek out projects to become involved in.

Actively seeking international collaborators and financial backing to bring their visionary creations to life, African producers with projects in development include Dhia Jerbi (Tunisia), Kudakwashe Maradzika (South Africa/Zimbabwe), Misha Maseka (Zambia), Stefan Supplice (Morocco) and Tapiwa Chipfupa (Zimbabwe).

The international producers include Anouk Shad (Austria), Marie Ka and Sherien Barsoum (Canada), Rhea Plangg (Switzerland), and Yolanda Barroso (Brazil), who joins the CPI with an interest in investing and engaging with African film projects.

An impressive ensemble of industry experts will mentor the filmmakers – including Group Leaders Mehret Mandefro and Diana Elbaum, Story consultant and Creative Producer 2022 alumnus Tracey Lee Rainers. And, as part of the programme the cohort will be able to engage with seasoned ad highly experienced industry experts such as Femi Odugbemi, Sata Cissokho, Constanza Arena and Dayo Ogunyemi, and IFFR Festival Director Vanja Kaludjercic, who will share their skills, insights, and guidance.

Mehret Mandefro, the Director of Development and Partnership at the Realness Institute says “Training and connecting producers that can skillfully develop African stories and finance them for both the local and global market is a critical intervention.”

“EAVE is proud to partner again and contribute with our methodology for the third edition of  INDABA with an incredibly strong cohort of African and international producers who will enhance their entrepreneurial and producing skills and become part of a thriving professional support network through their participation,” says Kristina Trapp, the CEO of EAVE.

Vanja Kaldudjercic  IFFR Festival Director says “The Indaba is a powerful example of the importance of lasting bonds in our industry, both between the exciting talent on the programme and our partners at Realness, EAVE, the Atlas Workshops, and everyone else who makes this programme possible. We're delighted we can continue to develop the skills and creativity of these producers, and we look forward to another fruitful edition.”

Head of Atlas Workshops at Marrakech IFF, Hédi Zardi says “Our collaboration with the program Creative Producer Indaba is very inspiring because it actively participates in the dynamic that we create within the Atlas Workshops. Indaba helps us anchor our support for the African producers of tomorrow. Creativity can only rhyme with diversity.”

The Realness Institute acknowledges the support of Institut Français d’Afrique du Sud, the Brazilian foundation Projeto Paradiso, the Austrian Film Institute, The Canada Media Fund, the Austrian Film Institute, The Swiss training organisation Focal and The Storyboard Collective, the Jeune Création Francophone fund and in partnership with European Audiovisual Entrepreneurs (EAVE), International Film Festival Rotterdam Pro (IFFR Pro), and Marrakech International Film Festival (Atlas Workshops).

For more information and submission details, please visit the Realness Institute website at https://www.realness.institute/creative-producer-indaba

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African-European Co-Pro to open European Film Festival in SA

The celebratory 10th edition of the European Film Festival in South Africa, opens with the African–European film GOODBYE JULIA, set in Sudan, at Ster-Kinekor’s The Zone in Rosebank, Johannesburg on 12 October.

Goodbye Julia directed by Mohamed Kordofani

GOODBYE JULIA is a remarkable six-country coproduction between Sudan, Egypt, Germany, France, Sweden and Saudi-Arabia, and the first film from Sudan ever to be presented in the Un Certain Regard competition at the Cannes Film Festival, where it won the prestigious Prix de la Liberté (Freedom Award).   

The film tells the story of two women who represent the complicated relationship and differences between northern and southern Sudanese communities. The multi-layered narrative takes place in Khartoum during the last years of Sudan as a united country, shortly before the 2011 separation of South Sudan.  

Supported by superb cinematography by South African Pierre de Villiers and a moving musical score by Sudanese musician Mazin Hamid recorded during ongoing clashes between the military and civil society in Khartoum, this is a powerful directorial debut by the largely self-taught filmmaker Mohamed Kordofani.  Pierre de Villiers, will be in attendance at screenings of the film in Johannesburg and Cape Town, and will also present cinematography workshops at film schools in both cities during the festival.

After kicking off the festival on 12 October, GOODBYE JULIA will have subsequent screenings on 22 October at The Labia, Cape Town, and on 21 October at Ster-Kinekor Gateway, Durban. 

African stories

Mother directed by Bulgarian Zornitsa Sophia

Connecting the festival more closely to the contexts and the continent in which this festival takes place, GOODBYE JULIA is one of three African stories in this year’s festival.  At the heart of the  film MOTHER, directed by Bulgarian Zornitsa Sophia, is the unfolding of the narrative in Kenya, where a theatre director undergoes profound transformation during her experiences at a local orphanage in Kibera, often called one of the biggest slums in Africa.  MOTHER is based on the true story of artist and cultural activist Elena Panyatova.   NAYOLA, directed by José Miguel Ribeiro, is a thrilling animated story about three generations of women plagued by the long civil war in Angola.  Based on a play by José Eduardo Agualusa and Mia Couto, NAYOLA is bold and thrilling storytelling alive with vivid eye-candy animation! 

Nayola irected by José Miguel Ribeiro

The European Film Festival runs from 12-22 October, with screenings in cinemas, as well as online. Visit www.eurofilmfest.co.za for the film synopses, trailers and screening schedules.

The European Film Festival 2023 is a partnership project of the Delegation of the European Union to South Africa; the participating European embassies of Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Italy, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Switzerland and Ukraine; and the cultural agencies of British Council, Camoes Institute of Portugal, Diplomatic Representation of Flanders, French Institute in South Africa, Goethe-Institut and Italian Cultural Institute.  The festival is organised in cooperation with Cineuropa, supported by Ster Kinekor, The Labia and coordinated by Creative WorkZone.

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10th European Film Festival Programme 12-22 October 2023

Film Line-up for 10th European Film Festival

The European Film Festival in South Africa celebrates its 10th edition from 12-22 October with an inspired lineup of 16 new award-winning films screening in Johannesburg and Cape Town, with a special programme in Durban.  Featured countries are Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom and Ukraine, while the festival also features an African-European co-production film, set in Sudan.

Filmmaker engagements, community centre and schools’ programmes will deepen the festival’s reach, while the countrywide online programme of free screenings will run concurrently during the festival.  The festival will also present events at the Alliance Française in Eswatini (20-22 October) and Lesotho (20 – 29 October). 

The European Union’s Ambassador to South Africa, Sandra Kramer, said that “not only does the 2023 European Film Festival showcase some of the most acclaimed productions to have emerged from the film industries in the European Union and Europe, but the films provide thought-provoking perspectives on issues that are just as meaningful to South Africans as they are to people everywhere. We hope this festival will strengthen connections between Europe and South Africa, and its immediate neighbours, Eswatini and Lesotho. May this festival stimulate discussion and new ideas around our shared experiences, hopes and dreams, as together we face our ever-changing world.”

Transition

The festival theme this year is Transition, as the films offer a cinematic reflection of the transition people go through during our turbulent and fast-moving times.

As festival co-director and curator Peter Rorvik explains; “There can be numerous transitional moments in a lifetime; awakenings, re-awakenings, renewal of purpose, our self-understanding, of who we are, and our direction in life.  Transition is, in essence, a response to change, a process of managing change, or making a change. 

All these elements of transition feature prominently in the line-up of films on offer this year.  The illuminating power of cinema transports us deeply into these experiences, milestones, growth points and turning points, which offer resonance with our own life journeys, and the shared life journeys of those around us”.

The Films

The festival includes two films which were jointly awarded the Grand Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival in 2022: 

From Italy

Set in the breath-taking Italian Alps, THE EIGHT MOUNTAINS is a compelling character-driven drama directed by Charlotte Vandermeersch and Felix van Groeningen.  Gorgeously shot, this film offers a deeply textured glimpse into the bonds of friendship, the journeys of self-discovery, and the relationship between humans and nature.

From Poland

The Oscar-nominated film EO, directed by the legendary Jerzy Skolimowski, is an innovatively-conceived road movie with a difference; it is seen almost entirely from a donkey’s perspective.  This beguiling and often-harrowing tale of a donkey is both thrilling and empathetic, compelling us to see the world differently.         

 There are three films fresh from the most recent Cannes festival in May 2023:

 From France

ANATOMY OF A FALL, astonishingly well-written and directed by Justine Triet, won the top prize at Cannes, the Palm d’Or.  This part thorny family story, part whodunit, part courtroom drama puts marital power dynamics under the microscope.  As Time Out magazine says;  ‘This is a thriller of real psychological, intellectual and emotional depth.’

From the United Kingdom

In THE OLD OAK, veteran filmmaker Ken Loach has made an incisive social drama about an English village where there is anger, resentment and a lack of hope since the closing of the local mine.  What more could go wrong for the world-weary townsfolk?  That’s when the Syrian refugees move in….this will be a time of transition for everybody!

African-European collaboration in Sudan

GOODBYE JULIA is a six-country coproduction film (Sudan, Egypt, Germany, France, Sweden and Saudi-Arabia) and winner of the Cannes Film Festival’s prestigious Freedom Award.  Directed by  Mohamed Kordofani, GOODBYE JULIA tells of the friendship between two women who represent the complicated relationship and differences between northern and southern Sudanese communities at a time of intense upheaval and transition. South African cinematographer for the film, Pierre de Villiers, will present workshops at the festival.

Discovering and affirming one’s identity is not a straight-forward process for all., especially in relation to gender norms. As evidenced by the following two films, this is all the more challenging for the very young who face enormous pressures as they attempt to find their place in the world, and within themselves:

From Spain

20,000 SPECIES OF BEES by Estibaliz Urresola Solaguren focuses on an eight-year-old child who asks “How come everyone knows who they are and I don’t?”  Beautifully delivered, this richly textured chronicle of an 8-year-old’s gradual transitioning, and the effect it has on a family, is ultimately about tolerance and acceptance.

From Belgium

The Oscar nominated CLOSE by Lukas Dhont has been winning major awards for its sensitive portrayal of how the pressures of masculinity shatter the innocent friendship of two 13-year old boys.  CLOSE is an emotionally transformative portrait of the intersection of friendship and love, identity and independence, heartbreak and healing, and of necessary transition.

Two films about responding to the unforeseen circumstances that sometimes surprise and challenge us:

 From the Netherlands

In Martijn de Jong’s NARCOSIS, an adventurous, eccentric and fun father fails to resurface during a cave-dive, and we see how his family responds in unique but very relatable ways as they transition to new lives.  This deeply touching story about love, loss and acceptance won four Golden Calf awards at the Netherlands Film Festival and was the Dutch submission to the Academy Awards. 

From Germany

The smallest of decisions has seismic repercussions in THE TEACHERS’ LOUNGE.  When a young teacher decides to investigate theft at her school things escalate dramatically, not how she intends.  İlker Çatak’s film is about a lot of things — conformity, rebellion, racism, optics, and intergenerational mistrust.  The film swept up the top prizes at this year’s German Film Awards, and has just been selected as Germany’s submission for next year’s Oscars.

Coming-of-age processes are integral to making transitions in life: 

 From Denmark

Will a dream dictate life or death?   AS IN HEAVEN, by director Tea Lindeburg, takes place in turn-of-the-century rural Denmark, where a mother goes into a complicated labour, thereby accelerating the growing-up process for 14-year-old Lise, a process that can be bewildering as well as joyful. AS IN HEAVEN highlights woman-centred experiences that remain just as relevant today.

From Switzerland

Barbara Kulcsar’s feel-good comedy GOLDEN YEARS shows that coming-of-age can come at any time.   As a newly retired husband and wife discover, it’s never too late to find the courage to make a change in life.   And growing old is certainly not for sissies!  GOLDEN YEARS was a breakout hit at the Swiss box office, ranking as the most successful Swiss feature film since the beginning of the pandemic.

New participants Bulgaria and Romania have films in the festival for the first time this year:

From Romania

MIKADO, directed by Emanuel Pârvu, is a fast-paced drama about power dynamics in a Romanian family.  Teenager Magda offers her expensive necklace to a sick child, thereby creating conflict with her controlling father.  A complicated situation develops where every action has consequences…

From Bulgaria

Inspired by a true and transformative story, Zornitsa Sophia’s MOTHER starts out with a theatre director in Bulgaria struggling to come to terms with her inability to have a child, and progresses to her discovering a new and culturally challenging kind of motherhood in Kenya. The director Zornitsa Sophia will attend the festival accompanied by the remarkable artist and cultural activist Elena Panayotova, on whom the story is based.

Adding an exciting new dimension to the festival are two extraordinary animations: 

From Ukraine

Carving a path to peace and a future beyond war, MAVKA – THE FOREST SONG, by directors Oleh Malamuzh and Oleksandra Ruban, is the highest-grossing Ukrainian film ever. Poignant and uplifting, this animated story touches on themes of love, trust, and the coexistence of two worlds: people and forest creatures, and the transformative power of music!

From Portugal

José Miguel Ribeiro’s film NAYOLA brings us much closer to home. A painful secret, a reckless search, a combat rap-song, a suspended love, an initiatory journey - NAYOLA is about three generations of women plagued by the long civil war in Angola.  Based on a play by José Eduardo Agualusa and Mia Couto, NAYOLA is bold and thrilling storytelling alive with eye-candy animation! 

Finally, from the Czech Republic

Petr Václav’s IL BOEMO (THE BOHEMIAN) is a special treat for music lovers.  Prolific 18th century composer Josef Mysliveček was admired by Mozart, but forgotten by history.  This biopic includes Mysliveček’s romantic dalliances, revealing backstage intrigue, and the colourful lifestyles of the era.  Centrally of course, there is glorious music featuring some of the world's leading operatic soloists performing with the renowned Baroque Orchestra Collegium 1704. 

 The Screenings

Screenings take place at Ster-Kinekor’s The Zone in Johannesburg, and The Labia in Cape Town. Each film will screen  once. Ster-Kinekor Gateway in Durban will present a limited programme of films not available in the online streaming.  Five of the most recent films will only show in cinemas: ANATOMY OF A FALL, GOODBYE JULIA , THE OLD OAK, THE TEACHERS LOUNGE and MAVKA – THE FOREST SONG.   11 films can be viewed for free online. Visit www.eurofilmfest.co.za for more information.

The European Film Festival 2023 is a partnership project of the European Union National Institutes for Culture (EUNIC), the Delegation of the European Union to South Africa and the participating European embassies of Belgium, Bulgaria, The Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Italy, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Switzerland and Ukraine; as well as the cultural agencies of British Council, Camoes Institute of Portugal, Diplomatic Representation of Flanders, French Institute in South Africa, Goethe-Institut and Italian Cultural Institute.

The festival is organised in cooperation with Cineuropa, supported by Ster Kinekor, The Labia and coordinated by Creative WorkZone.

The special programmes in Eswatini and Lesotho are organised in partnership with the Delegations of the European Union to the Kingdoms of Eswatini and Lesotho respectively, and the Alliance française in Maseru and Mbabane.

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The Sound of Drowning, an inspiring short documentary on addiction recovery available to view online during Women’s Month

The Sound of Drowning, a compelling, insightful, and gently inspiring short documentary about women and their journey from addiction to recovery, directed by Durban filmmaker, Tami Jacobs is available to view free online on YouTube during Women’s Month.

The film is a quiet homage to the brave journey of eight women from the ages of 19 to 69 years -mothers, daughters, sisters, and aunts - from a variety of backgrounds and cultures, who have found and are living in recovery from active addiction. By amplifying the voices of these resilient women who triumphed over challenges around addiction whether it be alcohol, street drugs, or psychiatric medications, the filmmakers hope to encourage women to step forward and seek help if needed.

Anél Sherren and Tami Jacobs - producers of The Sound of Drowning

Produced by Jacobs and Anél Sherren, an Addictions Counsellor, who also features in the film, The Sound of Drowning offers insights into the transformative power of unity through community that is found within the recovery process and sheds some light on what it takes to get better and what happened to them when they eventually reached out for help. 

Jacobs, who is herself an addict in recovery explains what inspired her to create the film: “I lived in active addiction for 15 years before finding recovery and I know from my personal experience that it’s an extremely painful place to be.”

“I was constantly depressed and suicide was a constant risk for me. When I found recovery, together with my sponsor and co-producer Anél, we noticed that the number of women who seek treatment and also manage to stay in recovery is drastically less than the number of men. Anel has a lot of insight into the disease of addiction and we decided that together, we could do something about it. We first wanted to find out why women don’t seek help and next, we wanted to send out a message of hope to any women suffering from the disease of addiction, that there is help available, and there are many people that can support them.”

“The purpose of the documentary was to lift the lid off the stigma women face when attempting to get help for their addiction,” says co-producer Anél Sherren. “There is such disproportion between the number of men and women coming in for help -we wanted to break this view so that women could feel safe asking for help and entering into treatment. We hope that this gentle message from these incredible women in this film will help motivate women to step forward.”

To watch the film go to: Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpoIp8TmGyQ 

For anyone struggling with addiction and needing support please call 0818609578.

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Maritzburg SPAR Women’s 10/5km Challenge Maritzburg: Sunday 20 August

Running an entirely individual race, young Tayla Kavanagh owned the Maritzburg SPAR Women’s 10/5km Challenge that took place in Pietermaritzburg on Sunday 20 August. 

Leading from the start to finish with a gun-to-tape dash, the 22 year old running for Hollywood Athletics Club, finished her 10km challenge in a time of 34.07. Kavanagh had a decent lead of 1 minute and 14 seconds to second place Jenet Mbhele, who finished in 35.21. A delighted third place Makhosi Mhlongo crossed 3 minutes and 21 seconds behind Kavanagh, in a time of 37.28.

A fresh looking Kavanagh, who resides in Hillcrest started after her run, “I had a good run, the course was undulating which suit me. The actual race was tough as I ran completely solo from the start. There was no one to help push me but it was a good test for me demanding my focus on keeping up my pace”

The leading lady’s next race will be in two weeks’ time when she will be hitting the streets of Durban for her home club’s race, the Hollywoodbets 10km run. Thereafter, the budding athlete will be heading to the 5km World Champs in Riga, Latvia running around the Baltic city on 1 October. This will be her second international race, having a Hollywood dream build up to her second global race, the determined star finished second in the recent Totalsports Women’s Race held in Durban recently, in a time of 33.44. Her first international race was in Germany last year where she took part  in the Race 2 Records 10km run.

“I really would love to run a fast time in Riga, even a personal best would be great.” Talking about her personal best, the trail blazer has a 32.10 best run that she set in 2021 at the SA Champs for 10km.

Both second-place Mbhele and third-place Mhlongo will be heading east where they will both be competing in the gruelling 50km World Champs in Hyderabad, India later this year. 28 year old Mbhele from Umzimkulu ran in the Comrades earlier this year where she finished tenth overall. 

A completely sold-out field of 3,100 ladies tackled the course, starting in a gorgeous mystical mist that enveloped Alexandra Park area before the clouds lifted and burnt off, and the day warmed up to a gorgeous sunny morning. 

CHOC House in Pietermaritzburg, the race charity for the event, were awarded a cheque of R20,000, with R5 from each entry being donated to them. 

Results 

1 Tayla Kavanagh 34.07; 2 Jenet Mbhele 35.21; 3 Makhosi Mhlongo 37.38; 4 Janie Grundling 38.36; 5 Slindile Hlatswayo 38.50; 6 Nokkhanya Memela 41.22; 7 Janene Carey 41.25; 8 Kadence Ribbink 43.15; 9 Dawn James 44.48; 10 Hannah Bullock 45.45

Junior

1 Kadence Ribbink 43.15; 2 Hannah Bullock 45.45; Mia Clendennen 49.13

Senior

1 Tayla Kavanagh 34.07; 2 Jenet Mbhele 35.21; 3 Slindile Hlatswayo 38.50

40 – 49

1 Makhosi Mhlongo 37.38; 2 Janine Grundling 38.36; 3 Pauline Rainbird 49.03

50 – 59

1 Janene Carey 41.25; 2 Dawn James 44.48; 3 Sibongile Ziqubu

60 - 69

1 Brenda Myburgh 57.58; 2 Alette Wegner 01:01.24; 3 Kathy Baxter 01:04.30

70 + 

1 Sybil Dinkemann 01:12.26; 2 Jeanette Eglington 01:16.41; 3 Christina Eckstein 01:22.45

ENDS

SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge Ten Teams in Grand Finals 22 & 23 July

After ten hotly contested regionals around KZN, the finalists from each area head to the main event of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge, the Grand Finals that takes place at St Mary’s DSG on 22 and 23 July. 

This year’s Grand Finals welcomes a fantastic mix of challengers. The tournament that began in 2011 has a handful of teams with an expansive history of appearances, and adding to the line-up this year, several fresh new contenders. 

Snap! Pictured at the tournament announcement for the Grand Finals of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge are Danville Park Girls’ High School’s captain, Anqobile Nkayi; Durban Girls’ College’s Jenna Reardon; Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High School’s keeper, Kelly Willson with her captain Sisikelelwe Sopiseka and St Mary’s DSG’s captain, Kelly Jansens ter laeck. The action packed weekend of hockey will take place at St Mary’s DSG in Kloof on 22 and 23 July. Pic by Val Adamson

Two travelling teams will be competing for the very first time: the challenge welcomes Suid Natal Hoërskool representing the Sisonke and uGu Region and St Dominics Newcastle, the winner of the Northern KZN Region. 

Two teams will be making their second appearance, having both last competed at the Grand Finals in 2012. The Wykeham Collegiate will be waving the flag for the Pietermaritzburg North Regional and on behalf of the uMvoti and oThukela Regional, Ladysmith High School are back too. In their first run at the finals, Wykeham got to the medal round, finishing an impressive fourth overall, while Ladysmith earned a seventh place eleven years ago. 

Back for a third time, Danville Park Girls’ High School will be keen to better their consistent sixth places in 2012 and 2014. Kuswag Hoërskool will also take to the turf for their third outing. They competed in the inaugural tournament in 2011 where they finished ninth and then last year, they took the tenth spot. 

North Coast Regional winner, Grantleigh College head to the finals for their fifth time. Last year they finished seventh and in 2011, 2016 and 2017 they ended eighth overall. 

After several years’ sabbatical, Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High School make a welcome return for the seventh time as the Pietermaritzburg Central Regional winners. In their six previous runs, they have featured in the medal games every year with three silvers in 2011, 2013 and 2015, two bronze medals in 2012 and 2014 and a fourth in 2016. 

Host school St Mary’s DSG will be eager to continue their success at the Grand Finals, they have dominated the Highway Regional, representing the area for the tenth time this year. Saints have hoisted the trophy five times in 2012, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019, taken silver in last year’s finals, won bronze in 2011 and 2013 and finished fourth in 2015. 

The only team with a 100% record at the Grand Finals, Durban Girls’ College are the defending champions. The Durban Central Regional winners have a fantastic history at the Grand Finals, winning gold four times in 2013, 2014, 2015 and last year. They have also won silver in 2012, 2016 and 2017, one bronze in 2019 and two fourth places in 2011 and 2018. 

The weekend’s action will all be livestreamed on the SuperSport School’s mobile app and website.  

For more info like the tournaments’ Facebook page (SparKZNSchoolGirlsHockeyTournament) or follow on Instagram (sparkznhockey). 

Eleventh Appearance

Durban Girls’ College - Durban Central Regional Winner - Gold (2013, 2014, 2015, 2022), Silver (2012, 2016, 2017), Bronze (2019), Fourth (2011, 2018)

Tenth Appearance

St Mary’s D.S.G. – Highway Regional Winner - Gold (2012, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019), Silver (2022), Bronze (2011, 2013), Fourth (2015)

 Seventh Appearance

Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High – Pietermaritzburg Central Regional Winner - Silver (2011, 2013, 2015), Bronze (2012, 2014), Fourth (2016)

 Fifth Appearance

Grantleigh College – North Coast Regional Winner – Seventh (2022), Eighth (2011, 2016, 2017)

 Third Appearance

Danville Park Girls’ High School – Durban North Regional Winner – Sixth (2012, 2014) 

Kuswag Hoërskool – Durban South Regional Winner – Ninth (2011), Tenth (2022)

 Second Appearance

The Wykeham Collegiate – Pietermaritzburg North Regional Winner - Fourth (2012)

Ladysmith High School - uMvoti and oThukela Regional – Seventh (2012)

 First Appearance

Suid Natal Hoërskool - Sisonke and uGu Regional Winner

St Dominics Newcastle – Northern KZN Regional Winner 

 ENDS