Results and Wrap Highway Regional - SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge

In superb fashion, St Mary’s D.S.G. continued their domination in the Highway Regional of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge that took place on Sunday 17 March at Westville Girls’ High School, defending their title yet again.

As the wet conditions wafted across the turf throughout the day, the spirits of all the players were certainly not dampened. After fifteen games, St Mary’s topped the log with wins in all their five round robin games, accumulating 20 hard earned points. Followed by Curro Hillcrest, who narrowly edged out Hillcrest High School who both ended their day with 10 points each. Curro scoring four goals in their five games, had a better goal difference ratio to Hillcrest’s two, and advanced to the regional final to meet Saints for the second time that day.

In a perfect rerun of their first encounter, 90 minutes before the final, Saints netted 3 goals in both games. In the all-important final game, it was St Mary’s Jamie Da Silva; Elizabeth Anderson and Jenna-Leigh Freese that scored the goals in an exciting conclusion to the action-packed day. All three goals were crafted from great attacks, building pressure throughout the 20 minute game.

Nearing 12 minutes of play, Jamie Da Silva weaved her way into the circle, finding herself in space to fire off her shot notching up the first goal for the defending champs. With a number of players hanging high, Anderson was on the receiving end of a great pass after her teammate intercepted a quick clearance from a Curro 16. Anderson wasted no time to send off her attempt, earning her team their second goal. In the final minute, Freese cleverly was lurking by the post, and neatly tapped in a stray shot that looked to be going wide, but her gentle misdirection secured their 3 nil victory.

This win earns Saints a berth at the Grand Finals taking place on their home turf in July. This will be their twelfth run at the Grand Finals where they have won the overall trophy five times; silver and bronze twice and wrapping up their tally, they also have a fourth place in their illustrious SPAR KZN CV.

They join Durban Girls’ College representing the Durban Central Regional, The Wykeham Collegiate who were crowned in the Pietermaritzburg North Regional; St John’s D.S.G. waving the flag from the Pietermaritzburg Central Regional and Our Lady of Fatima from the Durban North Regional.

Having a fantastic day with the whistle, Enza Magubane representing Westville Girls' High was presented with the Umpire of the Day award. Magubane has made several appearances as an umpire over the years at various SPAR regionals, and has been acknowledged several times for magnificent control of the game.

The challenge has a break over Easter, with New Forest hosting the first tournament in April, teams will head to 3 Schools Trust on 6 April for the Durban South Regional. All games will be live streamed on SuperSport Schools. For more info like the tournament’s Facebook page or follow on Instagram.

Results

Regional Final

St Mary’s D.S.G 3 vs Curro Hillcrest 0

Round Robin

1 St Mary’s D.S.G. 20 points; 2 Curro Hillcrest 10 points; 3 Hillcrest High School 10 points; 4 Kloof High School 6 points; 5 Westville Girls’ High School 6 points; 6 Gelofte School 0 points

ENDS

Fixtures- Highway Regional - SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge

Westville Girls High School welcomes the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge back to their turf on Sunday 17 March when seven teams take to their astro on Sunday 17 March for a day of festive hockey.

It promises to be an epic day of hockey as players gear up for action in this hotly contested Highway Regional.

St Mary’s D.S.G.’s Georgia Pollock and Cassandra Forbes ahead of the Highway Regional of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge. St Mary’s will be taking to the Westville Girls’ High School’s astro in the hopes of defending their regional title on Sunday 17 March. 

With non-stop action packed into quick-fire 20-minute games, the tournament takes the form of a round-robin. Victorious teams will be awarded 4 points, while those who draw with equal goals will each get 2 points, a goalless draw earns each team 1 point, with losers taking no score.

The schools participating are Curro Hillcrest, Gelofte High School, Hillcrest High School, Kloof High School, defending champs St Mary’s DSG, Pinetown Girls’ High School - making a welcome return after a few years - and hosts, Westville Girls’ High School.

St Mary’s DSG has reigned supreme in this regional with eleven wins, and one-time champions Westville Girls’ High School would be ready to shake things up to possibly reclaim a victory.

After this regional, there is a three-week break before the action kicks off on 6 April, with schools from across Durban South gathering at the 3 Schools’ Trust Astro, for the Durban South Regional, hosted by New Forest High School.

eta College will be scouting for players for a possible bursary at their Durban Campus. The bursary will be handed out at the Grand Finals, at St Mary’s DSG in Kloof on 20 and 21 July.

Three teams have secured their places at the finals including Durban Girls’ College (Durban Central Regional), The Wykeham Collegiate (Pietermaritzburg North Regional) and St John’s D.S.G. (Pietermaritzburg Central Regional).

The regionals are live streamed on the SuperSport Schools App or their website.

For more details go to the tournament’s Facebook page (SparSchoolGirlsHockeyTournament) or follow on Instagram (sparkznhockey).

-ends

Results and wrap up of Durban North Regionals - SPAR Schoolgirls' Hockey

In a seesaw of results, Our Lady of Fatima reclaimed the Durban North Regional title in a well contested final of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge that took place on Saturday 16 March at Curro Salt Rock.

They met defending champions, Danville Park Girls’ High School, going up 1 nil midway through the final. Fatima pummelled in a cracker with 10.40 on the clock. Fatima's Georgia Brown, who was perched at the Top of the D, pounced on the ball during a short corner and wasted no time in firing in her attempt   This gave her team a goal advantage which turned out to be the only goal of the regional final.

In recent years, the regional title has ping-ponged between Fatima and Danville Park, with Danville being victorious in 2021 and 2023, and Fatima in 2022 and now, raising the trophy after a successful run on Saturday. This is the fifth time in the fourteen years of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge that Our Lady of Fatima are making an appearance at the Grand Finals.

Enroute to the final, Fatima met host school, Curro in their first pool game, starting off strongly with a 4 nil win. Full of confidence, they took on Durban North College in their second game going up 8 nil. A focussed Reddam uMhlanga side gave them a challenge, drawing nil nil, with their final pool game going 3 nil up against Crawford La Lucia.

In a smaller, more competitive pool, Danville only played three games. They met Northlands Girls’ High School in their opening game, going up 1 nil. Their second run was against a strong team from Ashton International College, with the result ending in a nil nil draw after a feisty challenge. Their final game was a victory of 2 nil against Crawford North Coast.

In the Semi Finals, first up - Fatima met Ashton International College. From the whistle, Fatima was in top gear, rising to the early ball, intercepting often and playing an all-round better game winning comfortably, netting 3 fantastic field goals against the Ballito team. Fatima players Georgia Brown, Isabella Slater and Jenna Shaw netting the goals for their victory.

In the second semi, Danville took on a determined team from Reddam House uMhlanga. In a fast-flowing game, Danville dominated possession but were just unable to finish off any of their build ups. A terrier of a player, Cody Bestebier worked her magic running the ball into the Reddam circle, moving it swiftly across, with a tap heading goalwards. Lurking around the penalty spot, Aaishah Karodia ushered it slickly under the charging keeper for the only goal in that game.

Representing Danville, Tatum Kroutz was awarded the Umpire of the Day. Kroutz is no stranger to this tournament, having played when she was at Danville until she matriculated in 2020. Taking up the role of umpire, she participated in last year’s tournament and was acknowledged with the Most Promising Umpire award.

Our Lady of Fatima is the fourth team to secure a spot at the Grand Finals. They join Durban Girls’ College representing the Durban Central Regional, The Wykeham Collegiate who were crowned in the Pietermaritzburg North Regional and St John’s D.S.G. representing the Pietermaritzburg Central Regional. In back-to-back action, following the Durban North Regional, teams battled it out at the Highway Regional on Sunday, with St Mary’s D.S.G. being victorious there.

The challenge has a break over Easter, with New Forest hosting the first tournament in April, teams will head to 3 Schools Trust on 6 April for the Durban South Regional. All games will be live streamed on SuperSport Schools. For more info like the tournaments’ Facebook page or follow on Instagram.

Results

Regional Final:

Our Lady of Fatima 1 vs Danville Park Girls’ High School 0

Semi Final One: Our Lady of Fatima 3 vs Ashton International College 0

Semi Final Two: Danville Park Girls’ High School 1 vs Reddam uMhlanga 0

Pool A

1 Our Lady of Fatima 13 points; 2 Reddam House uMhlanga 10points; 3 Curro Salt Rock 8 points; 4 Crawford La Lucia 5 points, 5 Durban North College 0 points

Pool B

1 Danville Park Girls’ High 9 points; 2 Ashton International College 6 Points; 3 Northlands Girls’ High School 2 points; 4 Crawford North Coast 1 point

Fixtures - Durban North Regional - SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge

The Durban North regional of the 2024 SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge will be hosted for the first time by Curro Salt Rock on their home astro on Saturday, 16 March.

Standing tall. Danville Park Girls’ High School’s Rhea Pather and Megan Hulet

The Challenge starts with an early whistle at 07:15am with the first match played between Ashton International College and Crawford North Coast in this highly contested regional of the schoolgirls’ hockey challenge.

The tournament will have the nine teams split up into two pools. Pool A has Our Lady of Fatima, Curro Salt Rock, Crawford La Lucia , Reddam House uMhlanga  and Durban North College. Pool B comprises defending champs Danville Park Girls’ High School, Ashton International College, Northlands Girls’ High, and Crawford North Coast.

Games will last 20 minutes with play only running one way. A win earns the successful team 4 points, a draw with goals sees both teams notch up 2 points, a goalless draw only a single point for both teams and finally, a loss holds zero points for the unsuccessful team.

Danville Park Girls’ High has raised the trophy three times prior at this regional, with three other teams including Fatima, Ashton International College and Crawford La Lucia have scooped top honours.

There are back to back regionals this weekend with the Challenge heading to Westville Girls’ High for the Highway Regional on Sunday, 17 March. Three teams – Durban Girls’ College (Durban Centrals), The Wykeham Collegiate (Pietermaritzburg North) and St John's D.S.G. (Pietermaritzburg Centrals) have already secured their tickets to the Grand Finals at St Mary’s DSG in Kloof on 20 and 21 July.

eta College will be scouting for players for a bursary at their Durban Campus. The bursary will be handed out at the Grand Finals.

All action will be streamed live on the SuperSport Schools’ Mobile App or their website.

For more info like the tournament’s Facebook page - SparSchoolGirlsHockeyTournament or follow on Instagram - sparkznhockey.

St John’s D.S.G. raised the trophy at PMB Central Regional of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challengelts:

Blazing their way to victory, St John’s D.S.G. raised the trophy at the Pietermaritzburg Central Regional of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge on Sunday 10 March at the UKZN Astro.

This is the third time in the 14 years in the challenge’s history that St John’s D.S.G. have been victorious in this regional, their first in 2017 and then in 2022. From the onset, St John’s D.S.G. looked on fire, taking on Epworth in their first game where they netted one goal.

In their second round robin game, they met hosts and defending champions, Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High, and in a tightly contested game, they went up 2 nil. They continued their terrific winning ways right through the remaining round-robin games. Earning wins in all of their games and netting 19 goals in total, they topped the log comfortably, until they met Epworth for the second time in the regional final.

Epworth had to work a bit harder on their way to the regional final. Equal on points after five rounds, they met the defending champs in their last round-robin game. With Maritzburg Girls’ High having better stats in the goals scored column, they would have been content with a draw, but Epworth needed a win to proceed. With time running out, they managed just that, a magical goal that kept their hopes alive and knocked out the young team from Maritzburg Girls’ High.

Both teams had to dig deep as their energy reserves were nearly diminished after the sweltering hot day. From the whistle, the game whizzed around the turf, with fast decisive passes taking play up and down, and a few long, searching passes being let to run out, giving players a reprieve to reset and compose themselves for a 16. Only one short corner was awarded in the last 30 seconds of the 18 minutes of play, with St John’s D.S.G. having their one and only set piece in the Epworth circle. Epworth keeper, Lauren Rosaveare came into play with a game-saver of a deflection as the shot fired high was calmly smacked away with her right glove.

With the game level at full time, the decider moved to an 8-second penalty shootout. Rebecca Macquet got the ball rolling for St John’s, knocking in her team's first point. Amy Fletcher went first for Epworth but was unable to find the back of the net. In the second round, Isobel Cobbald scooped up the ball and skilfully bouncing it on her stick as she advanced towards the Epworth goal. Dashing off her line, Rosaveare tried her utmost to prevent the cheeky attempt, but Cobbald cooly looped the ball over the jumping Rosaveare as it arced into the back of the net, giving St John’s a 2 nil cushion.

Anna Schulze was next to go in Epworth’s second run, she glided right as St John’s Deanne Norman hung back waiting to see what Schulze would do. Following her, Norman cut her angle down, not giving her room to fire off a shot, Schulze was running out of time, and rattled off a desperate attempt that rebound off Norman’s pads out of reach as the 8 second timer sounded.

Recognised for his skills with the whistle, Curt Rogers representing Martizburg Christian School was acknowledged as the Most Promising Umpire at the tournament. This was the first big tournament he has officiated in and showed great composure during all of his games.

St John’s D.S.G. is the third team to qualify for the Grand Finals that will be held in July at St Mary’s D.S.G. in Kloof. They join Durban Girls’ College representing the Durban Central Regional and The Wykeham Collegiate who were crowned in the Pietermaritzburg North Regional the day before the Pietermaritzburg Central Regional.

This weekend, the challenge moves to Curro Salt Rock for the Durban North Regional on Saturday 16 March, followed by the Highway Regional hosted by Westville Girls’ High School on Sunday 17 March.

All games will be live-streamed on SuperSport Schools. For more info like the tournaments’ Facebook page or follow on Instagram.

Results

Regional Final

St John’s D.S.G. 0 (2) vs Epworth School 0 (0)

Round Robin Results

1 St John’s D.S.G. 24 points, 2 Epworth School 20 points, 3 Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High School 16 points, 4 Maritzburg Christian School 6 points, 5 Carter High School 3 points, 6 Alexandra High School 3 points, 7 Russel High School 2 points

ENDS

Results : Pietermaritzburg North Regional of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge

On a hot summer’s day, host The Wykeham Collegiate’s cool, calm, and collected performance earned them top honours in the Pietermaritzburg North Regional of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge on Saturday 9 March.

Starting the tournament as defending champs, The Wykeham Collegiate met rivals St Anne’s College in the concluding game in the strongly contested regional. At full time, the scoreline was level with both teams unable to penetrate on either end.

In the history of this area, these two powerhouses have met annually in the regional’s finale, with St Anne’s hoisting the trophy nine times to The Wykeham Collegiates two previous victories. Meeting earlier in the day in the round robin stage, St Anne’s showed their intentions with a flawless firm display, winning 1 nil. In the regional final, The Wykeham Collegiate stepped up a gear, not allowing St Anne’s any space to get back into their groove from earlier.

Twenty minutes of spellbinding passes had the riveting game flow to all corners of the turf. St Anne’s led the charge with some promising runs resulting in five short corners. In each of these, the visiting team took the direct approach of a no-nonsense attack, peppering the home team’s goals with low flying attempts that either whizzed just wide of the post, or were fabulously defended by the young keeper, Zoe Harper from The Wykeham Collegiate.

Small in stature but big in bravery, 17 year old, Harper representing TWC’s first team for the first time was remarkably composed in the regional’s decider. Chatting after the final, the youngster stated, “My favourite moment in the day was during the game against St Anne’s, who were really good! With every goal that I saved, my confidence grew and was eventually through the roof, boosted by all the spectators cheering me on from the sideline.”

Moving to an 8 second penalty shootout, The Wykeham Collegiate opted to get the ball rolling. Emily Wilson stepped up but was unable to convert her attempt. First to go for St Anne’s, Emma Shuttleworth knocked in her shot, taking the scoreline up to 1 nil. Erynne Marais was second to take a run at Kgabi Morafo from St Anne’s and levelled the score for The Wykeham Collegiate. Second to go for the visitors, Jasmin Kelly met the steadfast stance of Harper and was unable to go any further. Going into the third round of the shootout, Mary Jellis charged forward for The Wykeham Collegiate and quickly slotted in her shot, nudging the score up to 2 for her team to St Anne’s 1. With the pressure mounting, Jade Kelly bravely went last. Dashing forward, she was met by the committed young Harper who stormed out, stifling Kelly’s valiant assault on her goals, stopping her dead in her tracks and securing victory for the third time for her team. 

Umpire of the Day was awarded to Lori o’Bree representing Grace College. Being acknowledged for her determined efforts with the whistle, this is her sixth Pietermaritzburg North Regional that she has participated in.

The Wykeham Collegiate join the Durban Central Regional winner, Durban Girls’ College, who are the first team to have qualified for the Grand Finals which will take place at St Mary’s D.S.G. in Kloof in July. In the back to back Maritzburg action, the Pietermaritzburg Central Regional took place on Sunday at the UKZN Astro where St John’s D.S.G. secured their spot for the third time at the Grand Finals.

The fourth tournament in the challenge heads to Curro Salt Rock where teams will participate in the Durban North Regional, followed by the Highway Regional that takes place on Sunday at Westville Girls’ High School.

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

All games will be livestreamed on the SuperSport Schools App or on their website.

Overall Results

Regional Final

St Anne’s College 0 (1) vs The Wykeham Collegiate 0 (2)

Round Robin Results

1 St Anne’s College 24 points, 2 The Wykeham Collegiate 17 points, 3 Howick High School 13 points, 4 Treverton School 10 points, 5 Grace College 9 points, 6 Riverwood School 5 points, 7 Linpark High School 0 points

ENDS

Thirteenth win for Durban Girls’ College at SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge

Thirteen, it turns out, is indeed a lucky number for Durban Girls’ College who took the honours at the Durban Central Regionals of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge this Saturday, 2 March. The champs have held onto this honour since the inception of the Challenge in 2011.

In a searing hot summer’s day, six Durban central teams braved the heat on Durban High School’s relatively new blue astro, in a jam-packed round robin format hosted by runners-up of the tournament Maris Stella.

In a tough final, Durban Girls’ College met Maris Stella after a short 10 minute break following their pool match against Durban Girls’ High, which if the latter had won, would have pushed Maris Stella out of the gold/silver game. But DGHS was no match to the all-time champs, who won 2-0.

Moving into the finals, Maris Stella put up a brave challenge giving College a run for their money. While College were slick in their team work, using wide passes and deft control of the ball, they worked seamlessly in pushing the ball to their half. Maris Stella with less strategy but a whole lot of energy, were not able to keep College from their goals. Diminutive Maris Stella goalkeeper Owethu Kunene bravely kept their attempts out, when eventually College’s Anna Holmes sent a soft shot into the goals out of her reach – earning DGC the only point of the game, at a magical thirteen minutes in.

The rest of the game Maris Stella was often able to take control of the ball in a “never-say-die” effort, especially the other diminutive Kunene sister Zezethu who nimbly drove the ball up right of field enough times to ensure that the team found themselves in the D and the welcome award of a short corner in the last minute of the game. The shorty came to naught and College were crowned winners.

Speaking after the finals player Taegan Price explained with three of their top players including their captains, away at the indoor IPT, this  “was a very big learning experience for us but all the competition was very good and we are really grateful to be a part of this tournament.  Maris Stella is an excellent team and they have an extremely good goalkeeper and players, but luckily, we came out with a win. It was a really good game and exciting to play.”

Umpire of the match was Bee Schultz.

Durban Girls’ College will meet 9 other regional winners at the Grand Finals at St Mary’s DSG Kloof on 20 and 21 July.

The tournament moves inland to Pietermaritzburg this weekend for the North regionals hosted by The Wykeham Collegiate on Saturday, 9 March and to the UZKN astro for the Centrals hosted by Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High on Sunday, March 10.

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

All games are live streamed on SuperSport Schools.

-ends

Round Robin Results

1 Durban Girls’ College 15pts; 2 Maris Stella 10pts; 3 Durban Girls’ High School 8pts 4 St Henry’s Marist College 5pts; 5 INK Schools 3pts; 6. 5 Inanda Seminary School 2pts 

Regional Final Result 

Durban Girls’ College 1 vs Maris Stella 0

SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge Pietermaritzburg Central Regional 10 March

Seven teams take to the fields for the upcoming Pietermaritzburg Central Regional of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge on Sunday 10 March, hosted by Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High School. 

Game faces. Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High School’s Leboga Molale and Siyamthanda Majikijela gear up to hosts teams for the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge’s Pietermaritzburg Central Regional at the UKZN fields on Sunday 10 March. Pic by Val Adamson

Meeting on the UKZN astro, the fixtures follow the tournament’s familiar style with a round robin format of 21 quick fire games lasting 18 minutes each of running time. The challenge gets underway at 8am. The local schools participating are Alexandra High School, Carter High School, Epworth School, Maritzburg Christian School, Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High School, Russell High School and St John’s D.S.G..

Tipping off the fun-filled day, the first game features Carter High School and Russell High School. Points will be awarded after each game, to the winning team they will earn 4 points, if both teams draw having scored an equal amounts of goals, they will each earn 2 points. For a goalless draw, each team will walk away with 1 point and for the losing team, zero points will be registered on their tally. 

The two top teams will then face off in a much anticipated regional final. The Pietermaritzburg Central Regional has produced three teams that have gone on to represent their area at the conclusion for the competitive teams - the Grand Finals. Both the host of this regional - Epworth School, and St John’s D.S.G. have appeared twice at the Grand Finals, while Epworth also won in 2020, the disrupted CoViD year which had no Grand Final. Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High School dominated the region with six successive victories in a row when the tournament began in 2011, and they were crowned champion last year so are this year’s defending champs. 

 Two teams will have secured their ticket at this year’s Grand Finals by 10 March. So far a team from the Durban Central Regional (played on 2 March) and a second team representing the Pietermaritzburg North Regional would have been crowned the day before the PMB Central Regional plays out. All the regional champions will head to St Mary’s D.S.G. to compete in an action-packed two days of top schoolgirls’ hockey at the Grand Finals.

Adding to this year’s challenge, scouts from eta College will be at each of the regionals, watching potential players that they can offer a bursary to their Durban Campus. The bursary will be presented at the Grand Finals. 

 For more info like the tournament’s Facebook page (SparSchoolGirlsHockeyTournament) or follow on Instagram (sparkznhockey).

All games will be livestreamed on the SuperSport Schools App or on their website. 

ENDS

SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge Pietermaritzburg North Regional 9 March

The Wykeham Collegiate hosts the second regional in the 2024 SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge on Saturday 9 March. 

Seven teams will be taking to The Wykeham Collegiate’s turf to rival it out for the honours of the Pietermaritzburg North Regional. Joining the host team, The Wykeham Collegiate are Grace College, Howick High School, Linpark High School, St Anne’s College, Treverton College, and Riverwood College (formerly Voortrekker High).

Jump for joy. The Wykeham Collegiate’s Emily Wilson and Amy Erasmus are excited to defend their title in the Pietermaritzburg North Regional of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge. Their team will defend on their home turf on Saturday 9 March, meeting local teams in an action packed day.  Pic by Val Adamson

The tournament will be run in a round robin format. Play gets underway at 8am, with ten games rolling out, followed by a 10 minute technical break, then another 11 games will take place. All games are 18 minutes running time with a 2 minute change over. 

Points will be awarded for each victory, with the winning team earning 4 points. 2 points will go to each team that draw having scored in their game. For a goalless draw, each team will walk away with 1 point. A losing team will unfortunately earn zero points. At the conclusion of the 21 round robin games, the main deciding game will reveal the regional champion.

The host team, The Wykeham Collegiate has won this regional twice, the first time in 2012 and then last year. St Anne’s College is the only other team to have hoisted the trophy in this regional. They have their name engraved on the trophy nine times and will be wanting to claim back the title, earning their tenth victory. 

Each KZN regional winner advances to the Grand Finals which takes place in July at St Mary’s D.S.G. The Pietermaritzburg North Regional champion will meet nine other regional champs in a two-day tournament. One team will have secured their ticket for the Grand Finals, on 2 March at the Durban Central Regional, the first in the 2024 challenge. 

Leading up to the Grand Finals, the challenge moves to the UKZN astro the following day where teams will compete in the Pietermaritzburg Central Regional, hosted by Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High School. 

Scouts from eta College will be at each of the regionals, watching potential players that they can offer a bursary to their Durban Campus. 

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

All games will be livestreamed on the SuperSport Schools App or on their website. 

ENDS

SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge Durban Central Regional 2 March

Kicking off the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge, Maris Stella welcomes teams for the Durban Central Regional on Saturday 2 March. 

The first tournament will take place at a new venue for this regional, on Durban High School’s smart blue astro turf. Maris Stella will host six schools in a round robin tournament. They will be taking on Durban Girls’ College, Durban Girls’ High School, Inanda Seminary, INK Schools (comprising players from Inanda and KwaMashu), Port Natal High School and St Henry’s Marist College. 

First to play in the 21 round robin games, will be defending champions Durban Girls’ College. They will meet Inanda Seminary. All games will be 18 minutes running time, with a win earning 4 points, a draw with goals adding 2 points to the tally, a goalless draw only 1 point and a loss amounting to zero. 

In the build up to the main game, Durban Girls’ College will take on Durban Girls’ High School in the concluding round robin game. The two met in an action-packed gold medal game last year. The only team in the KZN tournament with a 100% record in the regionals is Durban Girls’ College. Having advanced to the Grand Finals each year since the tournament’s inception. 

The top teams from all of the regionals will head to the Grand Finals where they will meet in a two day highly contested conclusion that will take place in July at St Mary’s D.S.G. 

Scouts from eta College will be at each of the regionals, watching potential players that they can offer a bursary to their Durban Campus. 

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

Embrace Artisanal Craftsmanship and Support Local at I heart Market 2 March

The regular I heart Market, which takes place this month on Saturday 2 March from 9am - 2pm at Northlands Primary School, in Durban North, is an opportunity to dive into the vibrant world of some of Durban’s finest artisans and craft makers.

The Market is renowned for its impeccable ethos of craftsmanship with quality being the focus of the carefully curated selection of handcrafted treasures spanning fashion, décor, jewellery, candles, natural skincare, kids' clothing, toys, deli goods, delicious meals, and much more.

“At I heart Market, we are not just a marketplace; we are a celebration of the local creative spirit,” says Manager of the Market, Tanith Molliere. “Our market pulsates with the heartbeat of Durban's makers, showcasing the dedication and passion of homegrown artisans, creators, and entrepreneurs.”

"We believe in the power of shopping local," says Tanith. "Our ethos revolves around saying YES to unique, locally produced goods. Think of handcrafted, artisanal, organic, repurposed, or upcycled items - each telling a story of creativity and authenticity. We say NO to imported goods and mass production, championing the essence of craftsmanship and individuality. Our customers can feel a sense of pride knowing that they are supporting our local creative community, and helping to uplift and empower small businesses.”

In line with the Market’s commitment to fostering community connections, new traders are invited to join the market and can apply through the website: www.iheartmarket.com/apply/

In addition to the diverse array of artisanal offerings, the Market offers a dedicated kids' play area (with a pram park), helping to create a stress-free outing for parents and children alike, and the venue is the School Hall which is air-conditioned, enabling the market to take place rain or shine.

Parking is available in designated school areas, with security guards to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience.  

For more info contact info@iheartmkt.com.

Adventurer and Wildlife Filmmaker Josh Crickmay comes face-to-face with “City Beasts” in new series on People'sWeather

Exploring the wild side of Cape Town game ranger, and adventurer Josh Crickmay takes audiences on an exhilarating journey through the City's hidden treasures in the upcoming TV series City Beasts: Cape of Chaos on People'sWeather on Channel 180 DSTV and Openview Channel 115 beginning on 29 January.

City Beasts chronicles the journey of Josh Crickmay on a mission to find proof that humans and animals can coexist in harmony. Josh shares his experiences as he discovers these animals in a fun and educational way, imbuing the series with his unbridled enthusiasm and quirky sense of humour. Through tracking, trap cameras, stakeouts, and by following the tales from the locals, he encounters fascinating “beasts” of the City, uncovering their resilience, as they adapt and cohabit with humans, who have increasingly claimed their spaces.

Through honest and genuine encounters with animals like penguins, sharks, porcupines, baboons, genets, and even otters, he proves his theory that not only do people coexist with wildlife in Cape Town, but he also discovers the remarkable impact it has on the locals.

Josh’s passion for wildlife was ignited as a 15-year-old when as a lost and suicidal teen, he spent a “big year’ chasing down bird species in Southern Africa, the Andes, and the Amazon. Following this he produced a magnificent coffee table book: Josh’s Big Year, a photographic record of his experience. Josh qualified as a FGASA nature guide and became interested in creating content and started filming his experiences, uncovering his eccentric and often humourous slant on nature.

“What attracted us to the City Beast series is Josh's unique, genre-bending approach to wildlife film-making. It’s off-beat, unusual, highly accessible and engaging,” says Stephan le Roux, owner and CEO of People’sWeather.  “He has created a fresh approach to an often serious genre that is desperately in need of some humour and young voices to broaden its appeal. Think Tik Tok by the waterhole!”

“Creating the City Beasts was the culmination of everything I love in life: Incredible wildlife, fascinating people, conservation, challenging filmmaking, pirate boats and unbridled havoc,” says Josh. “It was as every bit chaotic behind the scenes as it is on the screen, and I couldn’t have asked for better.”

Josh’s enthralling adventures kick off with a welcome by Cape Town’s dassies. He follows baboons as they navigate the urban landscape and tracks down the four species of cormorants inhabiting the City, unveiling a stunning diversity of avian life. He takes a plunge into the depths of the kelp forests, learning to free dive to bring viewers face-to-face with the shark life beneath the waves. His encounters with the iconic seals of Cape Town, provide a rare glimpse into their daily struggles and triumphs in their natural habitat. He captures the goofy and lovable nature of African penguins. In a breathtaking exploration of shipwrecks off the Cape of Storms, Josh reveals how nature has ingeniously turned man's trash into treasure. He meets a Cape Clawless Otter under the docks of Simon’s Town harbour, searches the dangerous gorges of Table Mountain for the extremely elusive and aptly named ghost frog, and has a memorable experience with a pair of porcupines. Josh also shares his personal story of struggle and success with Autism Spectrum Disorder, as he explores sundews and seabirds and searches for an elusive otter.

It's no wonder that Josh feels that creating City Beasts is a kind of tribute to the Natural World - as it literally saved his life. Josh's curiosity, sheer bravery, and clever sense of humour make him an endearing character, and his passion is undeniably authentic and palpable throughout the series. “My every step forward is an attempt to repay that debt back to the Natural World, through conservation, spreading knowledge and excitement about our world through film - told with humour, adventure, and as always, mayhem.”

Catch this uniquely captivating series on People'sWeather on Channel 180 on DSTV and Openview Channel 115 from January 29 to 8 February at 20:30 with repeats.

To watch trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9UBn5T1_n4

For more information go to https://www.peoplesweather.com/.

For more info on Josh Crickmay go to www.Joshcrickmay.com[KC2] 

FLATFOOT ACCESS FESTIVAL 2023 – a Feast of Dance for All Abilities

FLATFOOT DANCE COMPANY in partnership with Stable Theatre presents its second annual edition of the FLATFOOT ACCESS FESTIVAL offering a week-long engagement (workshops, panel discussions, and performances) from 28 November to 3 December during South Africa’s National Disability Rights Awareness Month (3 November - 3 December).

The festival celebrates FLATFOOT’s 20-year history of encountering disability through dance education and development work, and more recently in their professional development work. 

“The journey toward access and training for dancers living with both intellectual and physical disabilities lies at the heart of FLATFOOT, and this small ever-growing festival,” says FLATFOOT’s Artistic Director Lliane Loots. “It is a wonderful moment of celebrating not just the incredible dancers, dance makers, and choreographers, but of the truly transformative power of dance to bind society together.”

FLATFOOT Downie Company

New works from the 7-year-old integrated dance programme working with dancers with Down Syndrome who fondly call themselves the “FLATFOOT Downie Dance Company", will be performed. The company also performed at the inaugural SIBIKWA BODY MOVES festival in Benoni, Gauteng in 2022. For this festival they will perform alongside FLATFOOT in a new work called “now that we are here …” created by Lliane Loots in collaboration with all the dancers.

FLATFOOT Access Panthers

With the success and growth of the FLATFOOT Downie Dance programme, FLATFOOT set out (in the beginning of 2023) to start a new intake of dancers and training. After a series of workshops, and not excluding anyone, a group of six amazing dancers stuck it out and the group - now referred to as the “FLATFOOT ACCESS PANTHERS” – was born. The group was named by Kelly Louw – one of the participants. This will be their first public performance – and together and alongside the FLATFOOT company, they will perform a work called “finding home”.

Julia Pitt with FLATFOOT Dance Company

Loots’s ongoing work with dancers using wheelchairs is showcased in a special trio created for dancer Julia Pitt alongside FLATFOOT’s Jabu Siphika and Ndumiso ‘Digga” Dube. “This new work is called “the infinite space between us”, and is a journey taken by three dancers that delves into how we hold, walk and wheel past or towards one another as we attempt to find or break connections,” explains Loots. Loots’s on-going choreographic interrogations into the intimate politics of relationships, are given a unique spin as the dancers play around with duet, trio, solo formats – and a wheelchair.

WACO’s Dance Movember

The FLATFOOT ACCESS FESTIVAL also hosts two special guests: dancers from WACO’s DANCE MOVEMENT under the choreographic guidance of Jarryd Watson. DANCE MOVEMENT is a dance project that was created in 2007 to give access to children and youth, artists, dancers, choreographers, and people living with disabilities to dance training and skills development especially based in the South Durban area of Wentworth. They perform a special work called “Medicine” with choreography by Watson and featuring dancers Kyle Bowles, Bheki Khotsolo, and Cole Walljee.

Jurg Koch

The second special guest is Jürg Koch from Switzerland. Jürg has been working internationally as a performer, choreographer, and dance educator for over 20 years. He received his MA from the London Contemporary Dance School (1998) and, significantly, worked with Candoco Dance Company. His dance integrates disabled and non-disabled performers and this informs his artistic and educational approach. 

Jürg will run a series of workshops titled “in response to …” over three days of the festival (28 – 30 November). Sixteen eThekwini dancers will work on dance and access “in response to...”. The outcome of the workshop will have a staged viewing on Thursday 30 November at 2.30pm at The Stable Theatre and will be followed by a panel discussion with Jürg Koch, Lliane Loots, Jarryd Watson, and all the dancers from the workshops. The panel will discuss, amongst other issues, the working process used by Jürg and will offer space for participants to speak about their dance experience over the three days, all the while celebrating the rich diversity of disability dance work being done in Durban. Attendance at this viewing and panel discussion is free.

Finally, Jürg offers a small deeply personal performance from his own “The Printer’s Tray”. On the one hand, a printer’s tray is a sorting box, divided into a number of compartments to store movable type for printing. On the other hand, printer trays are used to store and display keepsakes and souvenirs; they are placeholders for memories and stories. For each event or performance, several pieces from Jürg’s collection are selected and presented as a linked set, at times with the possibility for the audience to choose the music for the performance of a particular piece.

FLATFOOT Dance Company

The Festival has been made possible through the partnership with the eThekwini Municipality’s Stable Theatre, with support funding from PESP 4, the National Arts Council and the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture. The Festival also acknowledges the URKI funded African Disability Dance Network (ADDN) and how they have supported and encouraged disability and access dance work in South Africa and on the African continent.

Performances and workshops take place at The Stable Theatre 115 Johannes Nkosi (formerly Alice Street) Durban and take place on Saturday 2 December at 6.30pm, and repeated on Sunday 3 December at 2.30pm. Tickets are R80. The Stable Theatre is wheelchair friendly and there is safe parking on site. Bookings are through Computicket : 

https://computicket-boxoffice.com/e/flatfoot-access-festival-3-dec-2023-8RIGkr

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Workshops and Events at the European Film Festival 12 - 22 October 2023

The 10th edition of the European Film Festival kicks off on Thursday 12th and runs until Sunday 22nd  October at The Labia  (Cape Town), Ster Kinekor, The Zone (Johannesburg) and Ster Kinekor Gateway, Durban, as well as online. A number of free activities have been designed to both broaden and deepen the reach of the festival this year. 

Providing access in a variety of areas inside and outside the city precincts, thirteen screenings and post-screening discussions will take place at Community Centres in the Cape Town (Bertha Movie House Khayalitsha and Mowbray, various Ikamva Youth Programme venues in T3-T4, Mandela Park and Gugulethu) Johannesburg (Market Theatre – Windybrow and the Sibikwa Arts Centre),Durban (Ekhaya MultiArts Centre – KwaMashu) and  Oudtshoorn – Oudtshoorn Community Centre.   For full details go to : https://www.eurofilmfest.co.za/2023-home/special-programmes/

Further screenings and post-screening discussions are arranged for various secondary schools in the Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban areas.

A special screening and discussion also takes place at the University of Pretoria’s Centre for Sexualities, AIDS and Gender. Directed by Lukas Dhont, Close is an Oscar-nominated drama about two 13-year old boys whose friendship is shattered by the pressures of masculinity.  There is much to unpick and unpack about this moving portrait of identity and independence, heartbreak and healing, and love -  this event is open to students, it starts at 16.00 on 20 October.  Email h.khorombi@up.ac.za for more information.

Cinematography Workshop

Goodbye Julia

A cinematography workshop conducted by Pierre de Villiers offers an invaluable skill-sharpening opportunity for budding cinematographers, in both Johannesburg and Cape Town.  Pierre’s film Goodbye Julia, which opens the festival, had its World Premiere in Un Certain Regard at the Cannes Film Festival 2023 and went on to win the Prix de La Liberte prize (Freedom Award).  Pierre was also cinematographer for the now-legendary Lesotho film It’s Not a Burial, It’s a Resurrection.  The workshop will be an interactive exchange with Pierre sharing experiences, tips and techniques aimed at broadening technical and aesthetic approaches to cinematography.

Workshop dates:

Johannesburg

Date: Friday, 13 October 2023

Time: 9:30 – 11:30

Venue: Wits Film School Theatre

Cape Town

Date: Monday, 23 October 2023

Time: 10:00 – 12:00

Venue: Baxter Theatre

Many of the films online also have Q & A’s following the viewing of the film – to further enhance the film festival experience.

Eswatini and Lesotho

In Eswatini and Lesotho meanwhile, where filmmaker development opportunities are far and few between, the festival hosts a 2-day workshop entitled The Architecture of the Film Script by Zornitsa Sophia, director of Mother.   This is an intensive closed programme for budding scriptwriters.

Mother, which opens the festival programme in Eswatini and Lesotho, is based on the story of Elena Panayotova, who also presents a workshop in both countries.  Drawing on her vast experience as a theatre director, academic and cultural activist, including extensive work in Africa, Panayatova will offer an open session called Performing Arts for Social Change. This 90 minute workshop will be of interest to performing artists, educators, social workers - any one interesting in applying theatre or performing arts for social change.  Enquiries about this workshop may be addressed to the Alliance Française in Mbabane and Maseru.

Visit www.eurofilmfest.co.za for film synopses, trailers, screening schedules and festival updates.

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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European Film Festival comes to Durban 12 - 22 October 2023

Film-lovers in Durban are in for a treat in October during the European Film Festival which runs from 12-22 October.  The festival has extended its reach beyond its principal cinema screenings in Johannesburg and Cape Town to include a special programme at Ster-Kinekor Gateway in Durban.

As co-director of the festival Magdalene Reddy explains: “Five of the most recent films this year will only show in cinemas: ANATOMY OF A FALL, GOODBYE JULIA , THE OLD OAK, THE TEACHERS LOUNGE, and MAVKA – THE FOREST SONG. Because they will not be available in the festival’s free countrywide online streaming programme we have scheduled a special showing for these five films for Durban, as well as in Johannesburg and Cape Town of course.  If extending the festival footprint to Durban in this way draws significant public interest perhaps this is something the festival can revisit again for future events.”

More about the Films:

The French film ANATOMY OF A FALL, astonishingly well-written and directed by Justine Triet, won the top prize at Cannes, the Palm d’Or.  Starring Sandra Huller, 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.’ 

 Veteran UK filmmaker Ken Loach’s latest work THE OLD OAK is 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….!   A timely story about modern Britain, immigration, xenophobia, and the need for compassion and understanding.

GOODBYE JULIA is a six-country coproduction (Sudan, Egypt, Germany, France, Sweden and Saudi-Arabia) and winner of the prestigious Prix de la Liberté (Freedom Award) at the Cannes Film Festival.  Directed by Mohamed Kordofani, GOODBYE JULIA tells the story a 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 in that country.

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.  Crackling with tension, İlker Çatak’s film is about a lot of things — conformity, rebellion, racism, optics, and intergenerational mistrust.  THE TEACHERS’ LOUNGE swept up the top prizes at this year’s German Film Awards: Best Film, Best Direction, Best Actress, and Best Screenplay, and has just been selected as Germany’s submission for next year’s Oscars.

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

Visit www.eurofilmfest.co.za for film synopses, trailers, and screening schedules.

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.

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An Inspiring Weekend Workshop For Writers in Cape Town and Johannesburg

The Write Journey weekend workshop in Cape Town and Johannesburg on 28 and 29 October takes aspirant writers from inspiration to writing their first pages.

The Write Journey workshop empowers writers to own the writing process and take ownership of their stories.

Following in the tradition of 23 years of extensive workshops throughout South Africa, and courses internationally, The Writing Studio is a leading independent training initiative that has shaped the successful careers of many of South Africa’s leading filmmakers and storytellers and is now honing the skills of future writers in the art and craft of storytelling.

The workshop is ideal for beginners, experienced writers who are unsure of what they are writing,  writers who need discipline and motivation and is aimed at novelists, screenwriters, and playwrights.  Anyone who has a story to unleash.

It is an interactive, intimate, and introspective journey into the world of the story, empowering writers to take ownership of the creative journey and creative expression.

The 4-sessions will explore who are you as a storyteller and storymaker, how to write a first draft, what type of story you are writing and who you are writing for, what you want to write, who are you writing about, how you structure & plot your story and how do you take ownership of your story.

The workshops are facilitated by Daniel Dercksen in Cape Town and Dirk Fourie in Johannesburg.

As the driving force behind the successful independent training initiative The Writing Studio and a published film and theatre journalist of 40 years, Daniel Dercksen has been teaching workshops in creative writing, playwriting, and screenwriting throughout South Africa for the past 23 years and fine-tuning screenplays and stories as a story-editor.

Dirk Lombard Fourie received his Honours Diploma in Film and Television Production Techniques at the City Varsity Multimedia School in Cape Town. Between 2002 and 2007 he facilitated workshops in screenwriting and directing, through the Writing Studio, at the SABC branches in Cape Town, Bloemfontein, and Johannesburg. In 2007 his short film, In God’s Country, won the highly acclaimed Jury Prize for Best Newcomer at the 65th Annual Apollo Film Festival in Victoria West, South Africa. In the same year, it also received awards for Best Screenplay (as co-writer with Daniel Dercksen), Best Director and Best Film at the Shortz Film Festival in Cape Town.

All you need for the workshop is a notebook, pencil, and your IMAGINATION!

Proud graduates from The Writing Studio include Tertius Kapp (Griekwastad, Gaia), writer-director Sallas De Jager (Dominee Tienie), writer-director Karen van Schalkwyk (The Adventures Of Supermama), director-writer-producer Uga Carlini (Alison, Angeliena, Beyond the Light Barrier), writer-director Henk Pretorius (Modder en Bloed), writer-director John Barker (Umbrella Men), playwright Neil Coppen (Isidlamlilo / The Fire Eater),  Spanish filmmaker Pablo Pinedo (Noma), director-producer Bonginhlanhla Ncube and screenwriter Carl Roddam (Safe Bet), and writer, facilitator and self-publisher Gary Hirson.

For more information on The Write Journey Weekend Workshop for Writers in Cape Town and Johannesburg on 28 and 29 October, visit the website www.writingstudio.co.za or email writejourney@writingstudio.co.za

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JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience Announces International Guests for 25th Edition

This year, the JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience presented by the Centre for Creative Arts (UKZN) celebrates its 25th anniversary, offering dance fans a 13-day treat of world-class contemporary dance that will see both local and international dance makers converge on Durban from 29 August to 10 September.

Alongside the very best that South Africa has to offer JOMBA! will feature international guests from Mozambique, Switzerland, Netherlands, Madagascar, Uganda, Romania, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Brazil. This 25th edition offers not only a powerhouse of performances but workshops, residencies, talks, panel discussions, and virtual screen dance.

The theme for this year is “(in)tangible heritages”. Curator and Artistic Director, Dr Lliane Loots elaborates: “In curating this year’s festival, we have invited dance makers to reimagine their – and our – relationship with ideas of belonging and our varying (in)tangible heritages. The 25th JOMBA! is honouring artists who, through their work and their moving bodies, generate a new sense of belonging that questions who we are at this critical moment in our history”. 

Mozambique’s award-winning dancer/choreographer Pak Ndjamena

Mozambique’s award-winning dancer/choreographer Pak Ndjamena presents his arresting solo work, DEUS NOS ACUDI / GOD HELPS US, that interrogates contemporary African male identity and pulls no punches in its message. 

Thobi Maphanga in hannahmadance’s INVASION(S) (Germany)

Two dance companies from Germany will feature: Hannah Ma’s hannahmadance performs a work that links with South African performers Thobi Maphanga and Jabu Siphika.  INVASION(S) analyses the act of invasion as the act of violently entering a (political, physical, biological) territory from a feminist, and post-migrant perspective. Helge Letonja and his company Of Curious Nature – made up of artists from all over the world presents UN-ZEIT which creates hypnotic images where the perception of time seems to fray and dancing bodies search for support. 

Virva Talonen (Finland)

FLATFOOT DANCE COMPANY in Portable Home Project (Finland /SA)

With support from the Finnish Embassy (Pretoria), Virva Talonen presents a work in collaboration with Durban’s FLATFOOT DANCE COMPANY. Her Portable Home Project is a contemporary dance performance series that delves into a concept of home and its various definitions. The Portable Home Project is co-created by Finnish Lighting Designer Nanni Vapaavuori. 

ACE dance and music (UK)

Birmingham (UK) based ACE dance and music features in a spectacular double bill – UNKNOWN REALMS – with choreography by Burkina Faso’s Serge Aimé Coulibaly and South Africa’s Vincent Sekwati Mantsoe. Coulibaly’s THE NIGHT BEFORE TOMORROW is a metaphorical night where people try to do their last dance before an uncertain tomorrow. Mantsoe’s MANA – THE POWER WITHIN engages the sacred, ritualistic and shamanic. 

Ramanenjana (Romania/Madagascar)

JOMBA! partners again with Rerouting Arts at St Anne’s (Hilton) to share a collaboration between Romania and Madagascar. Ramanenjana is a docufiction performance about a dance that made history. The work examines dance’s societal role and how colonialism spread misconceptions about this extraordinary moment in history. Ramanenjana will also be performed for audiences in Durban. 

Unmute Dance Theatre (SA)

JOMBA! continues to open up access to work that makes visible intersections around dance and disability. JOMBA! 2023 DANCEABILITY FOCUS features dance-makers who are shifting global perceptions around disability: Joseph Tebandeke (Uganda), Unmute Dance Theatre (Cape Town, South Africa), and an inclusive programme from Introdans (Netherlands).

Joseph Tebandeke (Uganda)

Introdans (Netherlands)

In partnership with ASSITEJ, JOMBA! offers the new JOMBA! FOR YOUTH FOCUS aimed at younger audiences, to help grow youth audiences for dance.

Switzerland’s Joshua Monten’s GAME THEORY 

Artists from Switzerland and the Netherlands feature in a new JOMBA! programme that travels to schools and also offers public performances. Switzerland’s Joshua Monten, brings a delightful engrossing work called GAME THEORY that will travel to two schools. This work looks at some of the building blocks of play: freedom and rules. Dutch Dance company de Stilte, focuses on developing productions and performing for children. They bring FLYING COW choreographed by Jack Timmermans which is the story of two girls and a boy who embark on a stand-off, flying on the wings of their imagination.

FLYING COW choreographed by Jack Timmermans (Netherlands)

Other features of the 25th Anniversary festival include two major South African works, the JOMBA! Youth Open Horizons, JOMBA! ON THE EDGE, after performance talks, an engaging dialogue with dance-makers, the launch of the 25th-anniversary book, a series of free workshops and masterclasses, a lighting workshop, a screen dance residency, a dance writers residency, and a smaller curated festival at The Market Theatre in Johannesburg.

Tickets are R80 or R50 (students, scholars, pensioners) or R350 – once off FULL festival pass to see everything.

Booking through COMPUTICKET

For more information go to https://jomba.ukzn.ac.za/

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Seven new local guides for Green Corridors and local other tourism sites

Seven local nature-lovers recently qualified as eco-tourism guides - part of an initiative started by Green Corridors (the Durban NPO which has as its mandate to look after green spaces), in partnership with Kloof Conservancy and 1000 Hills Tourism.

The guides received their NQF4 certificates from Sigma International, a CATHSSETA accredited training provider. The formal training included both classroom and field work over four months working with the Green Corridors qualified guides to gain field experience.

Guides who graduated include from left to right:  Thando Shezi and Nokwazi Sithole who are now guiding with Green Corridors Matata Adventures set in the mountains of Maphepehetheni, a wild camping site, with owner of the Mlu Mthembu, Mbali Xaba and Nomfundo Ntshingila, (and Ntikelelo Nene not in picture) who are guiding in the Lower Molweni site supported by the Kloof Conservancy, and “Rasta” Reuben Tafari who guides at the Overock Site in upper Molweni. In front is Sbu Nduku who now guides with Thulas Luthuli at Green Corridors Mnini Dam site. 

The graduation ceremony was held at the Green Corridors Tourism site at iSithumba Adventures  in Kwa-Ximba where the guides received their certificates.

The official curriculum included facilitating a curated cultural experience, customer care, leading guiding activities, ensuring safety and handling emergency situations, as well as conducting research and developing a guided experience at a renowned tourism destination.

Guides who graduated included: Nokwazi Sithole and Thando Shezi, who are now guiding with Green Corridors Matata Adventures set in the mountains of Maphepehetheni, a wild camping site, with owner of the Mlu Mthembu. “Rasta” Reuben Tafari who guides at the Overock Site in upper Molweni, Sbu Nduku who now guides with Thulas Luthuli at Green Corridors Mnini Dam site, and Nomfundo Ntshingila, Mbali Xaba and Ntikelelo Nene who are guiding in the Lower Molweni site supported by the Kloof Conservancy. 

For more information about the various nature walks, sites and guide tours, contact Green Corridors on reservations@durbangreencorridor.co.za.

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Realness Announces Participants for Second Edition of Southern Africa-Locarno Industry Academy

Nine female film industry professionals from Africa have been selected to participate in the second edition of the Southern Africa-Locarno Industry Academy – a dynamic and innovative film industry development programme presented by Realness Institute in partnership with the Locarno Film Festival and with the support of The Story Board Collective.

The programme aims to support, upskill and network young film professionals working in distribution and sales, festival programming, theatrical exhibition, and other related sectors of the industry.

Participants of the 2023 Southern Africa-Locarno Industry Academy : Tope l-r: Lerato Bokako (South Africa), Nozipho Swelindawo (South Africa),  Abulele Njisane (South Africa), Middle l-r: Anga Mqingwana (South Africa), Khanyisile Zondi (South Africa), Lucinda Van de Rheede (South Africa), Bottom L-R: Seggen Mikael (Eritrea/ Germany), Taryn Joffe (South Africa), Victoria Ogar (Nigeria) 

The participants are:

Abulele Njisane (South Africa) - lecturer in Cinema Studies at the School of Arts, Media and Cultural Studies department at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN).

Lerato Bokako (South Africa) – film festival programmer and features writer.

Taryn Joffe (South Africa) - Festival Programmer and Industry Coordinator at Encounters South African International Documentary Festival, curator and writer. 

Anga Mqingwana (South Africa) -producer with Big World Cinema team in Cape Town as a Production and Distribution Co-ordinator.

Khanyisile Zondi (South Africa)- founder of Sinema Agency, a start-up specialising in film marketing, public relations, and distribution.

Nozipho Swelindawo (South Africa) - founder and co-director of Mbudu Community Art Centre. 

Victoria Ogar (Nigeria) - film account manager at Filmone Entertainment 

Lucinda Van de Rheede (South Africa) - entrepreneur, writer and freelance line producer and researcher.

Seggen Mikael (Eritrea/ Germany) - freelance cultural manager, programmer and writer, Film Festival Programmer at DOK.fest Munich and Industry Programmer at the European Film Market (Berlinale).

"We are thrilled to witness the Academy gearing up for this year’s edition during the highly anticipated FAME Week,” says Markus Duffner, Head of Locarno Pro, and Marion Klotz, Industry Academy Project Manager. “We love that all the selected participants are women, as the global film industry requires more female voices to be heard. We believe that this initiative will help propel young professionals into the vibrant tapestry of the local and international film industry network. We look forward to the transformative impact it will have on the next generation of filmmakers.”

“We believe this to be one of our most necessary industry initiatives,” says Elias Ribeiro co-founder and Executive Director of Realness Institute and Regional Manager of Locarno Southern Africa Industry Academy. “Before producers can deliver their content to African audiences through established and profitable distribution avenues on a large scale, we will remain dependent on the North structures. Our content is also worth less than in its primary market, where it is most relevant. The emergence of solid distribution operations is urgent and costly, so we need to innovate while we develop and build.”

The Locarno Southern Africa Industry Academy takes place during FAME Week Africa in Cape Town, South Africa from 3 to 9 September this year. FAME Week Africa is a growing platform for the development and networking of the creative industries on the continent.

"In the heart of MIP Africa at FAME Week Africa, the Southern Africa-Locarno Industry Academy emerges as a transformative platform, empowering African film professionals to unlock their potential,” says Martin Hiller, Portfolio Director: FAME Week Africa. “Through mentorship, networking, and curated programming, we pave the way for their journey into the global entertainment industry, celebrating diverse voices and captivating stories that will shape the future of African cinema.”

The participants will be given the opportunity to network with global experts, attend masterclasses, workshops, and panel discussions. They will also contribute to curating the short film programme, under the mentorship of Academy alumnus Lyse Nsengiyumva (Rwanda) which will be showcased at The Labia Cinema in Cape Town from 7 to 9 September and will feature conversations with high-profile filmmakers and Q & A’s.

“As an alumnus of the first edition of the Academy, I’m thrilled and honoured to be part of this prestigious programme again, this time around as an artistic director of the Short Film Festival,” says Nsengiyumva. “I will be working closely with these professionals to curate a balanced and vibrant programme that promises to resonate with audiences. It is an extraordinary privilege to be involved with the Realness Institute which has been unwavering in its support of African cinema.

Victoria Ogar (Nigeria) says that she is looking forward to meeting new people, learning about new cultures through the films, and having a fulfilling experience.”The sheer magnitude of having to consider the films submitted at the festivals through a selection process to explore the audience's potential and satisfaction will be a lifetime achievement for my career growth in the film space."

“I hope to gain a  wider valuable network of African film professionals and that the programme will empower us to promote African cinema globally and elevate its presence on the international stage,” says Seggen Mikael (Eritrea/ Germany).

Khanyisile Zondi (South Africa) looks forward to gaining insights into distribution through the Academy to help affirm her vision to contribute towards the development of film in Africa: “My aspirations for the distribution industry revolve around fostering an inclusive ecosystem and leveraging technology to facilitate easier access for filmmakers across the continent to sales agents, aggregators, and distribution networks.”

Many mentors and experts will be supporting these young professionals in looking for systems and innovations in this distribution sector including amongst others Dennis Ruh (European Film Market Director), Pamela Bienzobas (Locarno Film Festival - member of the feature film selection committee), Lyse Nsengiyumva (International Film Festival Rotterdam Programmer), Constanza Arenas (Luz Agency and Marketing Expert), Sydelle Willow Smith (Sunshine Cinema), Claire Diao (Sudu Connexion) and Elias Ribeiro.

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Tadu Nare (Nedbank) claimed victory at the Durban SPAR Women's Challenge

Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: Defending series champion Tadu Nare (Nedbank) claimed victory at the Durban SPAR Women's Challenge, strengthening her grip on the SPAR Grand Prix, on Sunday, dominating the third leg of the campaign with a gun-to-tape victory in ideal conditions.

Three athletes tried to stay with Nare in the early stages of the race, but the Ethiopian star stretched the small lead group into single file as she was chased by compatriot Selam Gebre (Nedbank), South African favourite Glenrose Xaba (Boxer) and Blandina Makatisi (Maxed Elite) of Lesotho.

By the 4km mark, Nare and Gebre had dropped Xaba and Makitisi, and with a few kilometres remaining in the 10km contest, Gebre could no longer hold on to the lightning fast pace.

Nare gradually drew further clear, ultimately crossing the finish line in 31:26 to secure her second victory of this year's series.

She still needs to run two more SPAR Grand Prix races this season to rake in maximum points, but Nare looked to be in full control as the campaign reached its halfway point.

"I felt very comfortable today. It was not like other races I've run this year, which had more hills," Nare said afterwards. "The course was good and I enjoyed it today. I had a good race."

Gebre held on to finish second in 31:37, with Xaba shattering her personal best to take third spot in 31:55, dipping under 32 minutes for the first time in her career.

Makatisi took fourth position in 32:18, and Kesa Molotsane (Murray & Roberts) was the best of the athletes in the chasing group, ending fifth in 33:42.

"I was not feeling very well at the start, and my body did not respond as well as I would have liked, so I'm glad I was able to run a good time," Xaba said. "I'm very happy with the progress I am making with my coach (Violet Semenya) and with my result today."

Meanwhile, in the grandmasters (60+) division, Judy Bird produced a superb performance to break the South African record in her age group. Bird charged to victory in her category in 40:00, taking 12 seconds off the national mark.

Though she narrowly missed her goal of running under 40 minutes, she was delighted to have broken new ground.

"I've been sleeping, eating and thinking sub-40 all week. I visualised it and it became non-negotiable, but it was quite a hard run," Bird said.

"My main focus this year is the SPAR Grand Prix and the other races are at altitude, but I'd love to go sub-40." 

ENDS.