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SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge Pietermaritzburg Central and North Regionals Saturday 14 March & Sunday 15 March

Action-a-plenty awaits schools from the greater Maritzburg area in the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge with Epworth School hosting the Pietermaritzburg Central Regional on Saturday 14 March and St Anne’s Diocesan College welcoming schools for the Pietermaritzburg North Regional on Sunday 15 March.

The busy weekend of hockey will see 12 schools taking to the turf in the hopes of being crowned regional champion. On Saturday, joining Epworth School on their astro are Alexandra High School; Carter High School; Maritzburg Christian School; Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High School; Russell High School and St John’s D.S.G. 

On the prowl for their fifth title, Epworth School looks forward to defending the Pietermaritzburg Central Regional on their astro on Saturday 14 March for the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge. Lining up for the host team are Cara Macfarlane and Siphokazi Mpontshane. Pic by Val Adamson

Sunday sees five schools head to St Anne’s for the annual contest. The guest schools are Howick High School; Riverwood College; Treverton College and The Wykeham Collegiate. 

The weekend’s fixtures have all teams meeting in a round robin format, with games in the Central Regional lasting 20 minutes, and 25 minutes in the North Regional. A victorious team will earn themselves 4 points on the log, while drawn games – both teams will share the points. If both teams have the same number of goals, they will each earn 2 points while a goalless draw will add 1 point to your tally. A loss registers zero points. 

There have been five schools that have had the honour of representing their regions at the Grand Finals since the tournament’s inception in 2011. The top ten schools from around KZN converge on St Mary’s D.S.G. in the hopes of being crowned overall champion in the challenge. Both hosts schools are defending champs.

Leaders of the pack. St Anne’s Diocesan College’s Hannah Schwegmann (vice-captain), Holly Hofmeyr (captain) and Willow Crawford (vice-captain) prepare to defend their title in the Pietermaritzburg North Regional at the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge. The only matrics donning the St Anne’s kit this year, the trio will be welcoming teams onto their turf on Sunday 15 March. Pic by Val Adamson

The two home teams will be walking on to the fields as defending champs. St Anne’s have lifted the regional trophy 11 times while Wykeham Collegiate have three. In the Central tournament, Girls High have their name engraved on the trophy seven times, followed by Epworth with four wins and St John’s three successes. 

Two teams have already secured their spot at the Grand Finals in the 2026 edition. First to qualify was Our Lady of Fatima waving the Durban North Regionals flag and joining them is Amanzimtoti High School from the Durban South Regional who were victorious last weekend. 

Matrics present on the day should keep an eye out for eta College. The leading Sport Science, Coaching and Management tertiary institution in Durban is offering a year’s bursary at eta College, which one lucky player could win. The bursary will be awarded to a lucky young lady at the Grand Finals.

All games at these two tournaments will be livestreamed by SuperSport Schools, so if you can’t make it to the sidelines to support, you can still catch all the action online. 

For more information, follow the tournament on Facebook: SPARSchoolGirlsHockeyTournament and Instagram  sparkznhockey or TikTok spar.kzn.hockey or use the hashtags: #ChixWithStix #HearthoftheCommunity #SuperLocal #MyKZNMySPAR 

SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge Durban South Regional - 3 Schools Trust: Saturday 7 March

The most decorated team in the Durban South Regional reclaimed the title when hosts Amanzimtoti High School hoisted the trophy for the seventh time in the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge on Saturday 7 March at 3 Schools Trust. 

This is the first time in over a decade that Toti have met Kingsway High School in the regional finals with Kingsway stepping onto the field as the defending champs. In recent years Kingsway have featured four times in the main game, with Toti only making it to the final round twice – both times victorious. 

Up close. Defending, Kingsway High School’s Sisipho Mathenjwa works hard to keep the ball away from top shooter, Nadine Smit from Amanzimtoti High School during the final of the Durban South Regional of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge that Toti hosted at the 3 Schools Trust Astro on Saturday 7 March. Pic by Rogan Ward

Drawn in the same pool, the two teams met in the first fixture of the day and wrapped up the challenge, with both results going the way of the hosts. The first score had Toti 3 nil up but their persistent neighbours dug deep, not giving Toti much freedom in their circle. With only 76 seconds on the clock, Toti fired off their first shot but in haste, fumbled her attempt and Kingsway’s keeper, Nosipho Mhlongo easily redirected the shot. 

A minute later, Toti earned their first of two short corners, but both set pieces made no impact to the scoreline. Kingsway gained confidence and turned the possession around, taking the ball up several times into the Toti circle but were unable to penetrate agile keeper, Revthi Singh’s defences. 

Celebrations. Amanzimtoti High School’s Naledi Duma; Revthi Singh (goalie) and Zethu Ngwenya relish their success after Singh kept her opponents, Kingsway High School’s attempts out during the concluding penalty shootout at the Durban South Regional of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge that Toti hosted at the 3 Schools Trust Astro on Saturday 7 March. Pic by Rogan Ward

Nearing full time, Toti had a glimmer of hope when they took the ball up into Kingsway’s circle. A generous umpire allowed advantage when the attacker accidentally nudged the ball with her foot, giving her an opportunity to fire off a shot but, again, Mhlongo pounced on the shot quickly booting it out of danger. The final whistle sounded with the scoreline unchanged on nil nil. 

With the regional final heading to the penalty spot for the decider, Toti stepped up to the spot first. Shayla Schwarz confidently ran the ball directly for the right hand post, nearing the goals she tapped the ball under Mhlongo who was bearing down on her. Diyaru Pillay’s turn didn’t make it past Singh who calmly watched the challenge, acting quickly as the ball made its way towards her, clearing it neatly. 

With their tails up, Toti’s Zibusio Mkhize charged into the goals, wasting no time as she rocketed off her attempt that pummelled into the box. With the mounting pressure, Sisipho Mathenjwa started the do or die penalty, making a beeline towards Singh. Sensing victory, Singh dashed out to confront Mathenjwa, cutting off all angles of attack, the nimble goalie halted the valiant endeavour earning a sensational win for her team. 

This was the second time that Kingsway’s outcome played out in a penalty shootout. In the second semi final they met their next-door neighbours and long-time rivals, Kuswag School. At the final whistle the scoreline was level with no goals being scored, similar to last year’s final where in a dramatic upset – Kingsway walked away winners. The final scoreline this year going 2-1 to the defending champs. In the second semifinal Toti defeated New Forest 2 nil. 

In the third-place playoff, Kuswag took on the hard-working New Forest High School. This is the second time that New Forest have been a fantastic surprise package, having finished second in 2019. This year the underdogs took on a determined Kuswag for the final step on the podium. Having held Kuswag to a 1 all draw earlier in the second fixture of the day, the tenacious team ran out of steam after Kuswag were lucky enough to find the back of the net going 1 nil up. Kuswag battered the New Forest defenders with several well crafted attacks but were only able to double their scoreline, claiming third place with a 2 nil triumph.

Referring in his first SPAR Challenge, Kingsway High School’s up and coming Grade 12 learner, Bayanda Sangweni (12) had a fabulous day with the whistle. Umpiring for next door neighbours, Kuswag, the matric pupil earned the recognition of Umpire of the Day. Durban Academy High School’s Vuyokazi Titus, a Grade 9 won for herself a grand new Princess hockey stick. After winning her prize, the youngster traded in her old stick and played out her remaining games in style. 

The challenge heads inland this weekend with a back-to-back fixture for the two Pietermaritzburg challenges with Epworth School hosting teams for the Pietermaritzburg Central Regional on Saturday St Anne’s Diocesan College welcoming their opponents for the Pietermaritzburg North Regional on Sunday. 

Results

First place playoff

Kingsway High School 0 (0) vs Amanzimtoti High School 0 (2)

Third place playoff

Kuswag School 2 vs New Forest High School 0

Positions

1 Amanzimtoti High School; 2 Kingsway High School; 3 Kuswag School; 4 New Forest High School; 5 Werda Skool; 6 Queensburgh High School; 7 Port Natal School; 8 Durban Academy High School

Realness Institute Strengthens Producing and Writing Skills Development in African Film and Television Industry with New Board and Alumni Advisory Council

Cape Town, SA. 9 March 2026: Cape Town-based Realness Institute, the pioneering organisation that supports the growth of independent African storytellers in cinema and television, has announced the appointment of a new Board and Alumni Advisory Council to steer the organisation into a new era of sustainability.

Since its inception in 2015, Realness has been a driving force in supporting African voices through skills development programmes in writing and producing, and networking opportunities that connect talent to professionals both on the continent and internationally. Its programmes include the prestigious Creative Producer Indaba - a fellowship for producers focused on sustainability and co-financing opportunities that can stabilize their companies and careers, and the AuthenticA Series Lab, which supports the development of episodic content in partnership with StoryBoard Collective and Series Mania..  The institute has empowered 200+ film industry professionals who have gone on to become award-winning producers, writers and directors with premieres and wins at festivals that include Sundance, Cannes, and Venice Film festivals. 

Alongside the appointment of 4 new Board members, 9 alumni from across various Realness programmes will serve on an advisory Sub-Committee to the Board. Drawing on their hands-on experience of the programmes, they will support both the Board and the operational team in contributing to the development of an alumni network offering and strategic direction for the organisation.

The new Realness Institute Board comprises:

·  Dillion Phiri (South Africa,: a filmmaker, founder, and creative entrepreneur known for building platforms and networks like Creative Nestlings that boasts over 100K+ creatives and aims to unlock the power of creative tech to power Africa’s transformation. 

·  Enyinnaya Omeruah (Nigeria), talent manager and film financier who has extensive experience in film production, and distribution.

·  Moussa Sene Absa (Senegal) a painter, writer, musician, and award-winning film director whose works have been celebrated at Carthage, FESPACO, and Berlinale, and whose paintings have been exhibited in Europe and North America.

·  Thabiso Molefe (South Africa) a media and communications professional with experience in television, public sector strategic communication, and political stakeholder engagement across the SADC region.

New board members: Top Left To Right: Dillion S. Phiri (Zimbabwe/Malawi), Enyinnaya Omeruah (Nigeria); Bottom Left To Right: Moussa Sene Absa (Senegal), Thabiso Molefe (South Africa) 

The Sub- Committee comprising Realness Alumni include:

·  Sales agent and independent consultant Berry Hahn (Madagascar,France)

·  Filmmaker and producer Godisamang Khunou (SA)

·  Screenwriter, director,and  producer, Kudi Maradzika (Zimbabwe, SA) who was recently named to Forbes Africa Over 30 Under 50 list.

·  Screenwriter with extensive experience working on live action shows, Omotunde Akiode, (Nigeria)

·  Director, artist, and founder of Kulunga Filmes, Lara Sousa (Mozambique)

·  Filmmaker and producer trained in fine arts, working across documentary and fiction,  Maéva Ranaïvojaona (Madagascar, France)

·  Filmmaker and producer  with extensive experience in production and film financing,, Mimi Bartels, (Nigeria)

·  Director, producer and writer Tapiwa Chipfupa (Zimbabwe)

·  Story development executive and producer Tshenolo Mabale  (SA)

Realness Alumni Advisory Council: Top Left To Right: Berry Hahn (Madagascar/France), Godisamang Khunou (South Africa), Kudi Maradzika (Zimbabwe/South Africa); Middle Left To Right: Lara Sousa (Mozambique),  Maéva Ranaïvojaona (Madagascar/ France), Mimi Bartels (Nigeria); Bottom Left To Right: Tapiwa Chipfupa (Zimbabwe), Omotunde Akiode (Nigeria), Tshenolo Mabale (South Africa)

“Across much of Africa, the near-absence of government support for film and television means filmmakers are left to shoulder every risk alone — and that's simply not sustainable.” says Mehret Mandefro, Managing Director and  co-founder of Realness Institute. “With a committed, skilled, and film-savvy Board now in place, and the deep experience of our Alumni Advisory Council Sub-Committee, we are ready to provide African screen talent with the structural support they deserve — the kind that makes sustainability inevitable."

For more information on the Realness Institute : https://www.realness.institute/

Africa Positions Regeneration at the Heart of the Global Blue Economy Agenda

Durban, South Africa: Ocean Innovation Africa (OIA), in partnership with eThekwini Municipality as host city, will hold its 2026 summit in Durban, from 23 to 25 March at the International Convention Centre.

The Summit is aimed at positioning Africa at the forefront of the global shift from a sustainable to a regenerative blue economy, and brings together policymakers, investors, scientists, entrepreneurs, development finance institutions and community leaders to accelerate implementation, unlock capital and investment, and coordinate tangible action across the continent’s ocean economy.

Photo supplied by Durban Tourism

As host city and main partner, the eThekwini Municipality demonstrates its active leadership in advancing the blue economy by looking towards how to strengthen coastal management, support maritime and port-linked innovation, and align local development strategies with climate resilience and ocean sustainability objectives. By hosting OIA 2026, eThekwini reinforces Durban’s position as an important continental hub for ocean innovation, investment, and policy leadership.

“As climate pressures intensify and ocean degradation accelerates globally, our continent stands at a defining moment,” says Alexis Grosskopf Founder of OceanHub Africa and spokesperson for Ocean Innovation Africa .“With more than 38 coastal and island states and a rapidly expanding ocean economy, Africa has a unique opportunity to lead a regenerative model, one that restores ecosystems, strengthens long-term stability and drives equitable economic growth.”

Photo supplied by Durban Tourism

Unlike traditional conferences, Ocean Innovation Africa operates as an ongoing action platform. 

“We’ve structured the Summit to move past conversation and into real, coordinated action with the right people and organisations,” explains Grosskopf.

The 2026 Summit, will focus on regenerative blue business models and nature-positive growth; blue finance pathways, from aid to local and blended capital, marine protection, economic expansion and community stability, pan-African innovation ecosystems and solution-oriented workshops and curated Business-to-Business matchmaking and investor meetings and dialogues.

Following the public summit, a smaller, invitation-only Ocean Impact Retreat (25–27 March) will convene select stakeholders to deepen alignment across finance, policy, science, innovation and delivery infrastructure. While not open to the broader public, this working session is designed to ensure that momentum generated at the summit translates into practical next steps.

The global ocean economy is valued in the trillions of dollars annually, yet overfishing, habitat loss, pollution and climate change are undermining both ecological stability and economic security. Incremental sustainability is no longer sufficient.

“Africa is setting a new global benchmark for the ocean space and OIA 2026 is designed to coordinate such action - we bring finance, policy, science and entrepreneurs in the same room to ensure that commitments move into implementation. Africa has the opportunity to build a regenerative blue economy from the outset - one that restores ecosystems, strengthens communities and delivers economic growth within planetary boundaries.”, says Grosskopf.

By convening African and international stakeholders under a regenerative framework, OIA aims to move beyond commitments towards coordinated implementation and measurable outcomes.

“We expect that investors, policy-makers, and innovators will join forces and co-ordinate strategies to tackle priority bottlenecks, drive practical collaborations, scale solutions, and reinforce Africa-led regenerative framing within global ocean dialogues.”

With increasing global attention on ocean-climate solutions and post-2030 development pathways, OIA 2026 positions Africa as both contributor and leader in shaping the future of the blue economy.

For more information or to register go to:   www.ocean-innovation.africa

SA Film GOD’S WORK selected for Luxor African Film Festival in Egypt 

The South African film GOD’S WORK, directed and written by Michael James, and produced by Sithabile Mkhize, will have its Middle East and North Africa  premiere in the Long Film Competition at the 15th Luxor African Film Festival in Egypt from 30 March to 5 April.

GOD’S WORK which had its South African premiere at the Durban International Film Festival last year, screened to sold-out houses, and critical acclaim, and is due to be screened at the Joburg Film Festival on Sunday 8 March.

Mbulelo Radebe, Thobani Nzuza and Siya Xaba in God's Work directed by Michael James and  produced by Sithabile Mkhize.

The film is set in Durban where a group of unhoused men are surviving on the society’s margins in a dilapidated building that offers a fragile sanctuary. They are  bound by quiet loyalty. The audience is drawn into their personal journeys as they  navigate a world of indifferent authorities, opportunists, and looming violence. It is their  inner worlds - woven from memories, visions, and ghosts - that hold reality as vivid as the one they fight to live through.

Director Michael James describes the film as an act of bearing witness; and one which forces us to question our understanding and relationships with  unhoused people.

Thobani Nzuza in God's Work directed by Michael James and produced by Sithabile Mkhize.

The film features Thobani Nzuza, Mbulelo Radebe, Omega Ncube, Siya Xaba, Zenzo Msomi and Nduduzo Kholwa with cinematography by Jared Hinde and score by award-winning composer, West-African born George Acogny.

GOD’S WORK is written and directed by Michael James, and Produced by Sithabile Mkhize (SA), Co-Produced by Marco Orsini (USA), Executive Produced by Toni Monty (SA) and Gary Springer (USA). A Maverick Resistance production in association with the KwaZulu-Natal Film and Tourism Authority, the National Film and Video Foundation of South Africa, Amafrika Films, and Mojo Entertainment LLC, supported by the Durban Film Office.

For the trailer, press notes and additional information visit the website at: https://www.godsworkthefilm.com/ and follow on social media: Facebook: @godsworkthefilm Instagram: godsworkthefilm

SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge Durban South Regional - 3 Schools Trust Astro: Saturday 7 March

Amanzimtoti High School hosts the second tournament of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge inviting teams for the Durban South Regional which takes place at 3 Schools Trust Astro on Saturday 7 March.

Eight teams will take on this year’s challenge in the hopes of raising the trophy and advancing to the prestigious Grand Finals where nine other regional winners from around KwaZulu Natal will converge. The Grand Finals concludes the challenge at St Mary’s D.S.G. at the end of July. One team has secured a spot, Our Lady of Fatima was crowned the Durban North Regional champion on Sunday (1 March).

All smiles, teammates Nandy Mseleku and Elihle Ncwane from Kingsway High School gear up to defend their title at the upcoming Durban South Regional. Amanzimtoti High School welcomes teams to the 3 Schools Trust for this SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge on Saturday 7 March. Pic by Val Adamson

Defending champs, Kingsway High School will meet host school, Toti in the first game of the fixtures. The day gets underway at 7.30am with each game lasting a rapid 20 minutes. A victorious team will earn 4 points, with teams that draw sharing the same number of points. A draw with goals earns 2 points, while a goalless draw earns the teams 1 point each. Zero points will reflect on a losing team’s log. For teams that dominate, their tally will be capped at a maximum of 7 goals recorded.

The schools participating have been split into two Pools, with Amanzimtoti and Kingsway being joined in Pool A by Port Natal Skool and Queensburgh Girls’ High School. Pool B will have Durban Academy; Kuswag Skool; New Forest High School and Werda Skool. Once the pool games have concluded, the teams will all get the chance to participate in a positional cross pool play-off. The top two teams from each of the pools will meet in a semi-final, with the losing teams heading to the bronze medal game and the two successful teams clashing for the regional honours.

In the cross pool play-offs, teams ending with a level score will head to a nail-biting penalty shoot-out where three players from each team will have the opportunity to edge their opponents out.

Four teams have represented the area at the Grand Finals, with host school Toti leading the charge with 6 appearances at the Grand Finals. Kuswag have their name engraved on the trophy three times, including the inaugural tournament in 2011and two times since COVID. Sharing the honour of three wins is Durban Girls’ High School, who moved across to the Durban Central Regional in recent years. Adding their name to the list, Kingsway High will be keen to defend their title and claim their second title.

Matrics participating in the challenge will have the opportunity to win a year’s bursary at eta College, a leading Sport Science, Coaching and Management tertiary institution in Durban. The bursary will be awarded at the Grand Finals.

All the games will be livestreamed on the SuperSport Schools app, so if you can’t get to the sidelines, you can catch all the action online.

For more information, follow the tournament on Facebook: SparSchoolGirlsHockeyTournament and Instagram sparkznhockey or TikTok spar.kzn.hockey or use the hashtags: #ChixWithStix; #HeartoftheCommunity; #SuperLocal; #MyKZNSPAR #MySPAR

SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge Durban North Regional - Crawford La Lucia: Sunday 1 March

Securing their seventh title in the Durban North Regional, Our Lady of Fatima return as champions in the opening fixture in the 16th year of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge that took place at Crawford La Lucia on Sunday 1 March.

In a replay of the 2025 final, Fatima took on defending champions, Ashton International College in the concluding game. Having put on a very methodical performance throughout the day, Fatima met a determined Ashton who were keen to keep the trophy they had doggedly won in a hard-fought battle. This year was no different; Ashton put up a valiant fight, faltering Fatima’s dominance. For the first time that day, Fatima’s keeper, Kayla Driver, was on her toes as Ashton edged play into Fatima’s circle on several occasions but were just unable to make any impact.

Charge. Turning around the play, Zoey Seppings from Our Lady of Fatima defends scuppering Ashton International College’s Emmerson van Zijl valiant attempt to break the solid Fatima defence during the final of the Durban North Regional of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge that took place on Sunday 1 March at Crawford La Lucia.  Pic by Val Adamson

 On the other end, Stella Fourie was perfectly poised, slotting in Fatima’s first goal as she pierced her opponent's circle after 150 seconds, quickly gathering herself and punching in a feisty shot, slotting it into the left-hand corner beyond Ashton’s last line - Isabella Baxter. Two minutes later, Fatima’s Charly-Rose Boyle charged down the centre of the field, finding some freedom to drift right as she entered the circle. At pace, she attempted a spirited shot that flew right of the post.

After 12 minutes of play, Rachel Da Sousa was stationed on Ashton’s post. Yet another attack from Fatima found their forwards on the baseline, quickly moving the ball goalward. Da Sousa was there on hand to pounce on the pass, confidently knocking it in identical fashion to Fourie’s earlier goal.

The final eight minutes, Ashton bravely retaliated, with several surges into Fatima’s circle spurred on by vice-captain, Emmerson van Zijl threatening runs, but the advances were shut down by a composed defence. The final whistle blasted with Fatima victorious with their two class goals.

In the build up to the final, Ashton met Reddam House uMhlanga. Reddam who have been growing in stature at this tournament have regularly featured in the top four in recent years. Reddam held Ashton to a nil nil draw after full time. The game being decided in a penalty shootout. After three rounds, the scoreline was level with both teams netting one goal each. The tempo raised with the game now going into a round of sudden death. Reddam were first to go with their attempt sadly going wide. Capitalising on her earlier goal in the penalty shootout, Kimberly Johnson ran the ball in for Ashton, sliding left scooping the ball in, just beyond the travelling Reddam keeper Kaela Magjee, claiming their spot in the regional final.

In the second semi, Fatima met long time rival, and previous regional winners Danville Park Girls’ High. In a display of pure dominance, Fatima bamboozled Danville with an emphatic win of 5 nil.

Eighty two goals were scored in total after 23 games in suffocating heat, with Fatima netting 21 goals in their pool games and seven in the medal games, while Ashton earned 17 in their pool games and another two in their silverware games.

Umpire of the Day was awarded to hard working Tyler Tomset representing Ashton. In the build up to the finals, one young player from each school had the opportunity to win a Princess hockey stick in a fun lucky draw. Participating for the first year in the Ashton first team, Grade 9 Caylea Duncan earned herself the magnificent prize.

Fatima is the first of ten teams to book their berth at the Grand Finals taking place in July. This coming weekend, teams from Amanzimtoti, the Bluff and Queensburgh take to the turf at 3 Schools Trust for the second fixture in the challenge, the Durban South Regional.

Results

Final

Ashton International College 0 vs Our Lady of Fatima 2

Semi Finals

Ashton International College 0 (2) vs Reddam uMhlanga 0 (1)

Our Lady of Fatima 5 vs Danville Park Girls’ High 0

Pool A

1 Ashton International College 13pts; 2 Danville Park Girls’ High 13pts; 3 Crawford La Lucia 5pts; 4 Reddam House Ballito 2pts; 5 Curro Salt Rock 1pt

Pool B

1 Our Lady of Fatima 16pts; 2 Reddam House uMhlanga 12pts; 3 Durban North College 5pts; 4 Northlands Girls’ High School 4pts; 5 Crawford North Coast 1pt

SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge Durban North Regional - Crawford La Lucia: Sunday 1 March

Launching into the sixteenth year, this year’s SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge action unfolds at the Durban North Regional hosted by Crawford La Lucia on Sunday 1 March.

The first of the ten KZN regionals welcomes ten schools from the area. Split into two pools, the teams will take to the pitch for their pool games, followed by the top two teams from each pool going head-to-head in the cross-pool semi-finals revealing the challengers who will meet in the regional final.

Game faces on! Poised and ready to defend their title, Ashton International College’s Anna Angelopolous (captain) and Emmerson van Zijl (vice-captain) hope to lead their team to their fifth victory in the Durban North Regional of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge that will be hosted by Crawford La Lucia on Sunday 1 March.  Pic by Val Adamson

Defending champs, Ashton International College take on the home team, Crawford La Lucia in the first game for Pool A, joining them are Danville Park Girls’ High School; Curro Salt Rock and Reddam Ballito. The second game of the tournament welcomes Our Lady of Fatima and Reddam uMhlanga participating in Pool B. Northlands Girls’ High School; Durban North College and Crawford North Coast have also been drawn into this pool.

A total of 23 games will be played in this regional with all games lasting a quick fire 20 minutes. A successful team will add 4 points to their log, while the loser acquires zero points. In a case of a goalless draw, both teams earn 1 point but if two teams managed to net the same number of goals, they will each earn 2 points.  A maximum of seven goals will be recorded if a team dominates. If the playoffs end with the scores being level, three players from each team will head to a penalty shootout.

Emerging from this regional, the first finalist representing the suburbs north of Durban will head to the Grand Finals where they will meet the nine other finalists from around the province. Four schools have had the honour of participating at the concluding tournament. 

Defending champions, Ashton earned a third place last year, the best result for a team from this region. Ashton have gone on to the Grand Finals four times, sharing this record with Danville Park Girls’ High School. Our Lady of Fatima’s claimed victory in the inaugural regional, and has their name engraved six times on the trophy. Host school, Crawford La Lucia have also gone on to the Grand Finals once and with home turf advantage, will be keen to reclaim the title.

Matrics participating in the challenge will have the opportunity to win a year’s bursary at eta College, a leading Sport Science, Coaching and Management tertiary institution in Durban. The bursary will be awarded at the Grand Finals which takes place at St Mary’s D.S.G. at the end of July. 

For more information, follow the tournament on Facebook: SparSchoolGirlsHockeyTournament and Instagram  sparkznhockey or TikTok spar.kzn.hockey or use the hashtags: #ChixWithStix  #HeartoftheCommunity #SuperLocal #MyKZNSPAR #MySPAR 

Diary Listing: East Coast Radio House + Garden Show 2026

East Coast Radio House + Garden Show 2026

Dream, Create & Live

Saturday 27 June to Sunday 5 July 2026

Out with your diaries! The doors to a myriad opportunities to Dream, Create & Live open on Saturday 27 June to Sunday 5 July at the Durban Exhibition Centre. It’s the 2026 East Coast Radio House + Garden Show - Durban’s high point on the city’s sunshine calendar for décor dreamers and garden schemers! 

It’s the all-under-one-roof home of fresh ideas, the incubator of new concepts, benchmark of global home tech, platform of endless entertainment and celeb cooking dems, plus fabulous family time! 

Kitchen inspirations at the East Coast Radio House + Garden Show

This year’s East Coast Radio House + Garden Show is bursting with innovative ways and means to create, shape and transform your home and garden dreams into a life and lifestyle that’s uniquely yours. Come on in – the mood is magical. Bring us your dreams, and let our skilled home and garden creatives, experts, specialists and artists help turn that dream into something extraordinary.

Discover familiar favourites and wonderfully new innovations, gourmet food experiences, eye-opening local creative talent, stylish indoor and outdoor lifestyle trends, and breathtaking kitchen and bathroom inspirations. From plants to paints, appliances to art, colour to craziness…it’s all here – and more - at the Show.

Decor inspirations at East Coast Radio House + Garden Show

An outing to the East Coast Radio House + Garden Show 2026 promises to be a real tonic! Oodles of eateries, live music, well-organised entertainment and a play area for the kids…while you clear your head (and home) of everything dated, and fill it with lively, contemporary ideas to make your Dream, Create & Live a reality. Come see, feel, taste, buy and bring on the difference! It’s all happening at the East Coast Radio House + Garden Show 2026! 

Save the date: The East Coast Radio House + Garden Show 2026 runs from 27 June to 5 July at the Durban Exhibition Centre. For more information and updates, visit www.housegardenshow.co.za and follow us on Instagram and Facebook @housegardenshow.

Good to Know

Venue: Durban Exhibition Centre

Parking: Secure Parking available at Centrum opposite DEC /Workshop 

Dates: 27 June to 5 July 2026

Show times: Daily 10am – 9pm. Sundays 10am – 8pm

South African Feature God’s Work Selected for Joburg Film Festival

God’s Work, the uncompromising South African feature directed by Michael James, has been selected to screen at the 8th edition of the Joburg Film Festival on Sunday, 8 March at 16:15 at Artistry in Sandton.

Set within an abandoned inner-city building, God’s Work confronts homelessness not as abstraction, but as lived economic exclusion. Hunger, addiction, fractured memory and systemic neglect shape the interior and exterior worlds of men pushed beyond society’s margins. Stark social realities collide with surreal psychological landscapes, creating a film that resists easy categorisation.

Still from the film God’s Work

The film embraces a hybrid cinematic language — blending documentary textures, staged encounters, archival material and symbolic imagery — to question how cinema frames lives that exist outside systems of access and visibility.

“South Africa’s deepening social fractures are no longer peripheral,” says Producer Sithabile Mkhize. “People are being steadily removed from opportunity, recognition and support. God’s Work offers a direct encounter with these realities.”

Director Michael James describes the film as an act of bearing witness:
“This film is ultimately an exercise in empathy. Cinema allows us to dismantle distance — to attempt to see one another without mediation or judgment.”

Still from the film God’s Work

Early responses have described God’s Work as “a film that does not ask for sympathy but demands reckoning” and “a powerful confrontation with the human cost of inequality.”

The film features emotionally grounded performances from South African talents Thobani Nzuza, Mbulelo Radebe, Omega Ncube, Siya Xaba, Zenzo Msomi and Nduduzo Kholwa. Cinematography by Jared Hinde captures the textured physicality of the setting, while George Acogny’s haunting score deepens the psychological and emotional tension of the narrative.

God’s Work is produced by Maverick Entertainment, Amafrika Films and Mojo Entertainment, with support from the KZN Film and Tourism Authority, the Durban Film Office and the National Film and Television Foundation.

Producers: Sithabile Mkhize
Executive Producers: Toni Monty, Gary Springer
Co-Producer: Marco Orsini

God’s Work screens Sunday, 8 March at 16:15 at Artistry, 22 Fredman Drive, Sandown, Sandton.
Tickets: webtickets.co.za
Trailer: https://vimeo.com/1072745582?fl=pl&fe=sh

When archives speak: Immersive exhibitions bring Southern African histories to life

What happens when archives are no longer silent, static, or locked behind glass, but can be walked through, listened to, and felt? From September to December 2026, audiences across South Africa, Lesotho, and Malawi will encounter a series of groundbreaking immersive exhibitions, transforming archival collections into living, interactive experiences.

Futures_Past: Amplifying Memory with Immersive Technologies is a collaborative initiative organized by the French Institute of South Africa (IFAS) in partnership with Electric South and local cultural institutions, archives, and international collaborators. Supported by the Embassy of France in South Africa, Lesotho, and Malawi, and funded by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, the project runs from July 2025 to March 2027.

Following an open call, the project brings together artist teams based in the countries of six selected archives. Over the next eight months, these teams will work closely with archives to co-create immersive digital works that explore and illuminate the stories contained within historical collections using virtual and augmented reality, spatial audio, and interactive installations. The resulting experiences will be presented in exhibitions across South Africa, Lesotho, and Malawi from September to December 2026.

“Across Southern Africa, archives hold collections of profound historical and cultural value, yet many struggle to reach new audiences,” says Jean Spiri, Director of IFAS. “Futures_Past creates space for collaboration between custodians of memory and immersive artists, allowing these collections to be approached with care, technical skill, and contemporary relevance.”

Selected artist–archive collaborations:

!Khwa ttu San Culture & Education Centre — Yzerfontein, South Africa
Linocuts, exile, and San cosmology
!Khwa ttu holds over 600 linocuts by !Xun and Khwe artists affected by displacement linked to the South African Border War. The selected creative team will work with the collection and with community members to explore ways of bringing these linocuts into an immersive, multi-sensory spatial experience. Through processes of community co-creation, the work will foreground lived histories, memory, and San cosmologies, using light, sound, voice, and sculptural elements to activate the linocuts in three-dimensional space. Artist team: Indigene Corefio Harris (N!hunkxa); Faye Victoria Katiiti Khakasa Kabali-Kagwa; Inka Kendzia; Thando Mthembu; Xabiso Vili

Top row (L-R): Faye Kabali-Kagwa, Indigene Corefio Harris Bottom row (L-R): Inka Kendzia, Thando Mtembu, Xabiso Vili

GALA Queer Archive — Johannesburg, South Africa
Activism, care, and HIV/AIDS history
Focusing on the Township AIDS Project (TAP), founded in 1989, the project draws on archival material linked to figures such as Simon Nkoli. The creative team will create immersive, participatory experiences that transform the archive into a space of action, inviting audiences to engage in practices of care, memory, and solidarity rooted in queer activism and HIV/AIDS response.Artist team: Kieran Reid; Tiisetso Tsholofelo Dladla; Tim Flusk; Jordan Green; Kirsten Reid

Top row (L-R): Jordan Green, Kieran Reid Bottom row (L-R): Kirsten Reid, Tiisetso Tsholofelo Dladla, Tim Flusk

Iziko Museums of South Africa — Cape Town, South Africa
Water as memory, science, and spirit
Working with material linked to Iziko’s upcoming Amanzi eAfrica exhibition,  the creative team will develop an immersive project that explores water as a cultural, spiritual, and environmental force. Drawing on archives, oral histories, and ecological research, the work will invite audiences to engage with multiple perspectives on water, past and present.
Artist team: Sarah Frances Summers; Desiré Laurent de Laroche Souvestre; Kyle Donald Marais; Reilly Robynn Cloete; Laurine Platzky

Top row (L-R): Sarah Frances Summers, Desiré Laurent de Larouche Souvestre Bottom row (L-R): Dr Laurine Platzky, Reilly Robynn Cloete, Kyle Donald Marais

Music Crossroads Malawi — Lilongwe, Malawi
Listening to endangered songs and oral traditions
The Music Crossroads Malawi Folksong Archive documents 217 traditional songs covering initiation, agriculture, spirituality, storytelling, and social life. Drawing on this rich heritage, the creative team will develop virtual and physical experiences that invite audiences to enter a living circle of storytelling. 
Artist team: Laura Schuerwegen; Matthew-Lusayo Chawinga; Roosevelt Kasimba Mwandira; Andrew Jere Kanthiti; Thandiwe Phiri; Chikondi Nkhoma; Christopher Ngalu; Kas Mdoka; Andrew Chilonga

Top row (L-R): Christopher Ngalu, Chikondi Nkhoma Middle row (L-R): Kas Mdoka, Andrew Chilonga, Thandiwe Phiri, Laura Schuerwegen Bottom row (L-R): Roosevelt Kasimba Mwandira, Matthew Chawinga, Andrew Jere Kanthiti

National Film, Video, and Sound Archives — Pretoria, South Africa
Reframing apartheid-era images
The Moolman Opnames collection comprises fourteen reels of 35mm film shot between 1960 and 1966. The footage documents everyday life and state activity during apartheid. The creative team will transform these archives into experimental 360°installations inviting audiences to interrogate what the images reveal and what they leave out.
Artist team: Amy Louise Wilson; Francois Knoetze; Kaelo Molefe; Nomandla Vilakazi

Top row (L-R): Francois Knoetze Bottom row (L-R): Nomandi Vilakazi, Amy Louise Wilson, Kaelo Molefe

Royal Archives, Museum and Information Centre — Matsieng, Lesotho
Reimagining royal memory and national history
The Royal Archives preserve records central to the political history and cultural heritage of Lesotho, including official correspondence, royal photographs, and audio-visual material. Drawing on these collections, the creative team will develop a 360° experience that traces the royal succession of Lesotho. The team therefore invites audiences to explore the intersections of monarchy, history, and heritage.
Artist team: Mokhethi Gilbert Phohlo; Phillip Leteka; Telmo dos Reis; Moleboheng Khothatso

Top row (L-R): Phillip Leteka  Bottom row (L-R): Mokhethi Gilbert Phohlo, Moleboheng Khothatso, Telmo dos Reis 

Each selected archive offers a window into stories of resilience, identity, and cultural memory, which the artists bring to life through immersive, participatory experiences.

Reflecting on the collaborative model, Ingrid Kopp, Director of Labs and Partnerships at Electric South explains: “These partnerships are not about overlaying technology onto archives, but about working with artists and institutions to find forms that respect the material and open new ways of participation  and understanding for the public. Immersive tools are used here as a means of interpretation and engagement rather than spectacle.”

The immersive exhibitions will open across Southern Africa from August to December 2026, offering audiences the opportunity to encounter history, memory, and creativity in entirely new ways. 

International mobility and professional training

Two members from each artist team, along with an archive representative, will travel to France in April to develop international relationships and partnerships. This mobility supports professional exchange and longer-term cooperation between Southern African and French cultural and creative sectors.

Emerging producers will also participate in a six-month structured training program, gaining hands-on experience in immersive storytelling, sound design, exhibition development, and archival interpretation. This holistic approach ensures the project not only revives archival knowledge but cultivates a new generation of creative professionals equipped to carry these stories forward.

Alongside the creative collaborations, Futures_Past includes the Immersive Arts Mapping Study, documenting the immersive arts landscape in South Africa, Lesotho, and Malawi, and identifying opportunities for support, training, and collaboration. Practitioners are invited to participate via the online survey link.

“Through this project, archives are no longer just repositories; they become spaces of experience, dialogue, and imagination,” says Sofia Saa, Regional Head of New Media, Film and Television at IFAS. “Audiences will not only see history, but step inside it, connect with it, and feel its resonance today. By situating artist teams in the countries of the archives, and including emerging producers in every stage, we are ensuring a truly local, collaborative, and forward-looking approach.”

Mother City Documentary Screening to Spark Vital Conversation on Housing, Belonging and the Future of Cape Town

The hard-hitting cinematic-documentary Mother City, which interrogates the housing crisis, belonging and the future of Cape Town, will be screened at a special event presented by Cape Talk on Wednesday, 18 February at 6pm at the Labia Theatre.  This will be followed by a robust  conversation hosted by no-holds barred broadcast journalist Lester Kiewit of Good Morning Cape Town.

Broadcast journalist Lester Kiewit of Good Morning Cape Town

The discussion will unpack the social, political and human stakes raised by the film and what possible pathways there could be to talking frankly about building equal cities. 

From 34 global festivals to powerful impact screenings, Mother City has travelled the world leaving conversations and change in its wake. The film has become a catalyst for change - igniting conversations, inspiring communities, and creating opportunities for tough debates.

The documentary follows activists from Reclaim the City, the social movement fighting for affordable housing in well-located areas of the City in their David versus Goliath struggle against entrenched property power. The film exposes the systems of exclusion that continue to define Cape Town, while calling attention to their fight for dignity, access, and the fundamental right to live in the city.

“Amidst the ever-increasing housing crisis in Cape Town, spurred on by a myriad factors including the surge in the short term-rental market, citizens are asking: “Who is the City for?” and we need answers and tangible solutions,” says Kiewit, the host of Good Morning Cape Town  on Cape Talk. “Mother City forces us to confront uncomfortable but necessary questions about power, belonging and who gets to call Cape Town home. These are conversations we cannot keep having in isolation; they need to happen face-to-face, in shared spaces, with room for listening, disagreement and collective reflection.”

The event reflects Cape Talk’s growing commitment to engage audiences beyond the airwaves, and to foster community-centred gatherings that become part of the City’s cultural fabric — spaces people can return to, participate in, and use to build a shared civic imagination.

“This is about taking conversations that matter out of isolation and into collective space,” says Kiewit “It’s about listening together, thinking together, and imagining our City differently. This is not just an invitation into a vital public conversation about justice for the unhoused in Cape Town.”

Event details:

Labia Theatre, Cape Town

Wednesday, 18 February at 18:00

Tickets: R100

Bookings: https://tinyurl.com/MCCapeTalk

FLATFOOT DANCE COMPANY 2026 Schools Touring Programme HISTORY IS A HOME ADDRESS

A choreo-poem inspired by the poetry of Mongane Wally Serote
(For Grade 8–12 learners)

In 2026, FLATFOOT DANCE COMPANY invites schools across KZN to host FLATFOOT DANCE COMPANY as they offer a powerful and moving touring dance-theatre experience that brings poetry, history, and embodied learning into the classroom. HISTORY IS A HOME ADDRESS is a newly created choreo-poem inspired by the writings of renowned South African poet, cultural activist, and public intellectual Dr Mongane Wally Serote.

FLATFOOT Dance Company Pic by Val Adamson

Loosely inspired by the title of one of Serote’s most recent poetry collections, HISTORY IS A HOME ADDRESSresponds to his enduring invitation to reflect on memory, belonging, and the political histories that shape who we are. The dance work asks a vital question for today’s learners: do the words of an anti-apartheid poet still resonate in contemporary South Africa—and how do young people carry history in their bodies today?

FLATFOOT Dance Company Pic by Val Adamson

Created collaboratively by choreographer Lliane Loots and the six dancers of FLATFOOT DANCE COMPANY (Jabu Siphika, Sifiso Khumalo, Zinhle Nzama, Siseko Duba, Sbonga Ndlovu and Ndumiso Dube), the choreo-poem draws on Serote’s iconic early anti-apartheid poems alongside his later writing. Through movement, spoken word, and evocative physical theatre, the dancers explore personal and collective histories, asking what we remember, what we forget, and what continues to live on in our bodies and hearts.

High school audiences are immersed in a rich theatrical experience that weaves poetry, dance, and storytelling into a “spoken-word dance choreopoem”. Celebrated poems such as City Johannesburg and No Baby Must Weep are re-imagined through contemporary African dance, offering learners an embodied encounter with South African literary and political history. The performance honours Serote’s profound contribution to South African culture while making his words accessible and relevant to a new generation.

FLATFOOT Dance Company Pic by Val Adamson

 More than a performance, HISTORY IS A HOME ADDRESS creates space for dialogue and reflection. Each school presentation includes a facilitated post-performance discussion with the dancers and choreographer, allowing learners to engage critically with the themes of history, identity, protest, and belonging. An extended package also offers a practical dance workshop, encouraging learners to respond physically and creatively to the ideas explored in the work.

FLATFOOT DANCE COMPANY is KwaZulu-Natal’s iconic African contemporary dance company, with a national and international reputation for excellence. With numerous awards and international tours, FLATFOOT promises to bring world-class contemporary African dance directly into school spaces—making live performance, critical thinking, and embodied learning accessible to young people.

FLATFOOT Dance Company Pic by Val Adamson

The tour takes place from 10 February to 30 April 2026 on weekdays (with negotiated options on Saturdays). There are two options available for schools: a one-hour performance and discussion at R35 per learner, and a two-hour package which includes, the performance, discussion and an hour’s workshop at R50 per learner.

FLATFOOT will work with schools to accommodate preferred dates and times, subject to availability. Contact  lootsl@ukzn.ac.za for any further queries and for bookings.

This creation of this programme is funded by PESP, the National Arts Council of South Africa, and the Oppenheimer Memorial Trust.

SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge 2026 Date Announcement

Young hockey players are preparing themselves for the eight weekends of jam-packed action at the hugely popular SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge that takes place around KZN in the build up to the Grand Finals. 

Now in its 16th year, the tournament travels to ten regionals where the winner of each qualifies for the prestigious conclusion. The top ten teams head to the Grand Finals which takes place over two days at St Mary’s DSG (Kloof) with the pool games unfolding on Saturday 25 July followed by the cross pool and positional games on Sunday 26 July. 

On track and steaming ahead for a fantastic 16th year of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge, Nozipho Mkhize (Advertising and Sponsorship Manager, SPAR KZN) and Les Galloway (Tournament Director and Head of Hockey, SchoolGirl Sport) are shortly after the dates for the 2026 challenges were announced. Pic by Val Adamson

All challenges will stick to a similar pattern with teams needing to find their groove early on in the quick-fire, fast-paced, thrilling variant with the format either being round robins or pool games. 

Getting the ball rolling, Crawford La Lucia will host the first challenge with teams from the Durban North Regional descending on their astro on Sunday 1 March. Amanzimtoti High School welcomes teams at 3 Schools Trust for the Durban South Regional on Saturday 7 March. 

In the first of two back-to-back weekends in March, schools from around Pietermaritzburg and surrounds gear up for the Midlands encounter. Epworth School’s astro is the venue for the Pietermaritzburg Central Regional on Saturday 14 March, with the Pietermaritzburg North Regional heading to St Anne’s Diocesan on Sunday 15 March. Wrapping up the local tournaments, Westville Girls’ High plays host to the Highway Regional on Saturday 21 March and St Henry’s Marist College will take on teams in the Durban Central Regional at 3 Schools Trust on Sunday 22 March.

After a month-long break, it will be a ‘whistle stop tour’ for the final four regionals to the outlying areas. Grantleigh School will host schools from Richards Bay and Empangeni for the North Coastal Regional on Saturday 2 May. The next weekend, the biggest regional, the Southern KZN Regional gather at Kokstad College where teams from the South Coast all the way through to Matatiele and Kokstad will meet on Saturday 9 May.

Heading inland for the penultimate challenge, Ferrum High School hopes for a home turf advantage when teams from Vryheid, Glencoe, Pongola and Newcastle assemble for the Northern KZN Regional on Saturday 23 May. Completing the tenth challenge, Wembley College greets their opposition from Greytown, Ladysmith, Wartburg and surrounds for the uMvoti and oThukela Regional on Saturday 30 May.

At the conclusion of the 2026 regionals, the tournaments tally rolls over to 140 regionals around KZN, plus 13 Grand Finals since its inception in 2011. Over the fifteen years, 33 schools have earned a spot at the Grand Finals, where only three schools have their names engraved on the magnificent trophy, that of Durban Girls’ College, St Anne’s Diocesan and St Mary’s D.S.G. 

Adding another 10 regionals, and one more Grand Finals to the impressive history of this tournament, will a new name feature on the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge trophy? We wait and see! 

For more information, follow the tournament on Facebook: SparSchoolGirlsHockeyTournament and Instagram  sparkznhockey or TikTok spar.kzn.hockey or hashtags:

#HeartoftheCommunity #SuperLocal #MyKZNSPAR #MySPAR

ENDS

1 March -  Durban North Regional - Crawford La Lucia

7 March -  Durban South - 3 Schools Trust - Toti

14 March – Pietermaritzburg Central - Epworth

15 March - Pietermaritzburg North - St Anne's 

21 March -  Highway - Westville Girls' High

22 March -  Durban Central - 3 Schools Trust - St Henry's 

2 May     -  Grantleigh

9 May    -  KZN South - Kokstad College

23 May  -  KZN North - Ferrum, Newcastle 

30 May - Wembley College (PMB side of Greytown)

25/26 July Grand Finals

15 Filmmakers Gather at Creative Producer Indaba to explore  African Film Content Creation

Fifteen filmmakers from around the globe, who have a focus on African film and television content have gathered for the fifth edition of Creative Producer Indaba, the prestigious audiovisual producers’ professional development programme that strengthens the entrepreneurial and leadership skills of a new cohort of media leaders and builders.

This acclaimed programme is created and designed by Cape Town-based media house, Realness Institute, in partnership with EAVE, the Indian Ocean International Film Festival (FIFOI) and Maison du Cinéma et des Jeux Vidéo, with the financial support of Region Réunion. The programme is also supported by the Brazilian Foundation Projeto Paradiso, Canada Media Fund, Telefilm Canada, the Swiss Foundation for professional training in cinema and audiovisual media (FOCAL), the Austrian Film Institute, the French National Centre of Cinema (CNC), and Institut français Creation Africa.

It kicked off with an online Opening Assembly (12 November) with Guest Speaker Ivana Kirkbride, Media and Tech Executive and current NorthStar Media Group Co-Founder,  who led a discussion on "Leadership".

The cohort includes:

African/Indian Ocean Producers with a project:

Ique Langa (Mozambique), Lova Nantenaina (Réunion/Madagascar), Wame Merafhe (Botswana), Yasmin Hassan Mohamed (Kenya/Somalia) and Shveta Naidoo (South Africa) 

African/Indian Ocean Producers interested in professional development:

Xolani Nhlapho and David Franciscus (South Africa),  Mahelet Gezachew (Ethiopia/USA), Iman Djionne (Senegal), Linda Qibaa (Morocco/France).

International Producers collaborating with African/Indian Ocean  Producers:

Mo Harawe (Austria/Somalia),   Stefan Eichenberger (Switzerland), Soko Negash (Canada), Aswathi Naduthodi (India), and Talita Arruda (Brazil).

The current online sessions for the programme includes a Story Masterclass with Story Expert Tracey-Lee Rainers, award winning entrepreneur and international story practitioner with Story Oasis (Johannesburg);  an International Sales Masterclass with Julien Razafindranaly film sales executive and Head of Sales at Films Boutique, as well as Alicia Petrusa, Media and Entertainment Senior Relationship Manager at Royal Bank of Canada, to discuss corporate strategy, cash flow, and private equity financing.


This introductory session is followed by an in-person workshop in February next year in Johannesburg, where participants will have sessions on financing, PR and marketing, and project development. The cohort will then move to Saint-Paul, Réunion, during the International Indian Ocean Film Festival (FIFOI), in April 2026 where the workshops will focus on legal, organisational development, network management and leadership.

The programme blends seminars, workshops, and mentorship to support creative projects within a business framework. Participants gain practical insights across project planning, financing, legal, marketing, advocacy, organisational growth, and leadership.

Mehret Mandefro, Interim Managing Director of Realness Institute and Creative Producer Indaba Group Leader comments: “Global media systems are going through an unprecedented set of disruptions and in year 5 of Creative Producer Indaba we are focused on equipping producers with future-facing skills that can help them weather the storm and come out stronger.”

Diana Elbaum, award-winning producer, and Creative Producer Indaba Group Leader says, "CPI celebrates producers as bold leaders, changemakers, and vital forces in the vibrant African and Indian Ocean creative landscape. By connecting producers, talents, and ideas, CPI provides the tools and experience to amplify extraordinary voices whose narratives are reshaping global majority storytelling."

For more information go to : https://www.realness.institute/creative-producer-indaba

-ends

Caption to composite image supplied:

TOP LEFT TO RIGHT: Aswathi Naduthodi (India), David Franciscus (South Africa), Iman Djionne (Senegal), Ique Langa (Mozambique), Lova Nantenaina (La Réunion/Madagascar).

MIDDLE LEFT TO RIGHT: Linda Qibaa (Morocco/France), Mahelet Gezachew (Ethiopia /USA), Mo Harawe (Austria/Somalia), Shveta Naidoo (South Africa), Soko Negash (Canada), Stefan Eichenberger (Switzerland).

BOTTOM LEFT TO RIGHT: Talita Arruda (Brazil), Wame Otshepe Merafhe (Botswana), Xolani Nhlapho (South Africa), Yasmin Hassan Mohamed (Kenya/Somalia).

SANParks Honorary Rangers’ Comrades Marathon Race4Charity Fundraiser a Massive Win for Conservation

The SANParks Honorary Rangers (SHR) have demonstrated how the legendary spirit of the Comrades Marathon can be harnessed to protect South Africa’s natural heritage. Through the Comrades Marathon Association’s AmaBeadiBeadi charity initiative, and with the incredible support of Race4Charity runners and donors, the SHR has raised vital funds that will go directly into projects safeguarding South Africa National Parks (SANParks).

As an official charity of the Comrades Association’s AmaBeadiBeadi charity drive, members of the SANParks Honorary Rangers, KwaZulu-Natal Region (l-r) Gavin Abel, John Gale and Brenda Huntley of the SANParks Honorary Rangers.

An incredible amount of R1 588 165 was raised, most of which will be invested directly from the KwaZulu-Natal Region of the SHR into critical SANParks conservation, ranger support and anti-poaching initiatives in national parks across the country. 

Funds raised by the SANParks Honorary Rangers are allocated to procuring or supporting priority conservation needs that have been identified by SANParks through a wish list system. 

The funds raised from the 2025 Race4Charity campaign will be allocated as follows:

•               Kruger National Park: Renovation and upgrade of anti-poaching facilities and kennelling for K9 anti-poaching dogs, and the training of two new dogs for K9 units. This will assist in strengthening anti-poaching measures in Kruger National Park.

•               Mountain Zebra National Park: Procurement of wildlife monitoring, research and protection equipment, including 3 cheetah collars, 1 lion collar, and 3 camera traps.

•               Richtersveld National Park: Installation of new security cameras to strengthen protection measures for endangered succulents, which are vulnerable to poaching.

•               Table Mountain National Park: Assistance with the renovation and upgrade of dog kennels at the K9 unit.

•               Project Embrace: Support for rangers and their families at the frontline of conservation through trauma and stress management programmes and life skills training.

Speaking on the value of the initiative, following the handover from the Comrades Marathon Association on Friday 22 August, Ian Catt Treasurer of the KwaZulu-Natal Region of SANParks Honorary Rangers and Chairman of the SHR Comrades organising committee, said, “The Comrades Marathon is not only a race of endurance, but is also a race of generosity in many ways. Every runner who chose to run for SHR, every person who donated, and the Comrades Marathon Association itself, have helped us take a significant step forward in protecting our wildlife and supporting our rangers and the onerous tasks of protecting our conservation area. These projects will have a direct and lasting impact on conservation.”

Looking ahead, 2026 will mark the 99th anniversary of the Comrades Marathon, a milestone that SHR is proud to be part of. “We are deeply grateful to the Comrades organisers for giving us this platform, to the athletes who carried our cause along the route, and to every runner and supporter who donated,” added Catt. “Together, we are ensuring that the parks, people, and wildlife of South Africa continue to thrive for generations to come.”

For more information, email comrades@sanparksvolunteers.org or visit www.sanparksvolunteers.org.

-ends-

JOMBA! Digital and Live Open Horizons Pick of the Platform Awards

Dance-makers Brenda “BreeH” Cele (Pietermaritzburg), and Mfundiseni Ndwalane (Durban) were awarded the JOMBA! Pick of the Platform for their works in the Digital Open Horizons and Live Open Horizons, respectively this week.

Digital Open Horizons is a curated platform of screen dance films, and the Live Open Horizons platform is an opportunity for choreographers to showcase their works in a professionally supported stage presentation at the Festival. These are both presented as JOMBA!’s commitment to developing and growing contemporary dance in Durban and South Africa.

This year’s Digital Open Horizons jury included Pak Ndjamena, a multifaceted artist based in Maputo (Mozambique), Ivan Barros an award-winning Mozambican photographer and video-maker, Clare Craighead a Drama and Performance Studies lecturer at DUT, a dance writer and academic, and Thobile Maphanga, a Durban-based dancer, dance writer and researcher interested in the histories and narratives of Black women.

Brenda BreeH Cele Pic by Val Adamson

Brenda “BreeH” Cele was awarded the JOMBA! Digital Open Horizons Pick of the Platform for her striking dance film, “Simunye” cited by the jury as a compelling docu-dance film which impressed them with its powerful integration of dance, science, storytelling and activism. Tackling the very urgent issue of climate change through a South African lens it presents a strong conceptual and technical vision which is informative and emotionally resonant. 

This year's JOMBA! Live Open Horizons offered two solo performances and two group works. Jury members were Clare Craighead, (non-voting Chair), Jabu Siphika, dancer and choreographer and a member of FLATFOOT DANCE COMPANY, Tammy Ballantyne, dance writer and journalist, and Hannah Ma, choreographer, and founder of hannahmadance. 

Speaking at the awards after the performances, Tammy Ballantyne said, “The diversity in themes and content was pleasing, with a good mix of choreographic styles and production elements. We used various criteria to assist in selecting the winner, such as artistic and emotional impact; choreographic innovation; performance quality and relevance and resonance.”

Choreographer Mfundiseni Ndwalane receives his JOMBA! Live Open Horizons Pick of the Platform Award from Jury members - Tammy Ballantyne, Jabu Siphika and Hannah Ma at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre on 28 August. Photo: Val Adamson.

The overall winner of the platform was "Sisukaphi?", choreographed by Mfundiseni Ndwalane. Drawing on his own compositions and choreography during his research for his MA at UKZN, the work explores storytelling elements alongside a fusion of African popular music and traditional elements such as amaZulu dance. The jury praised Ndwalane for his cohesive vision in bringing together live music and singing, projections and scenic elements which brought depth to the theme and choreography. “His invitation to the audience to consider one's ancestry as a collective was a powerful visual and aural moment of using the body as a memory tool. His ensemble was focussed, polished and committed.”

Thandeka Maqebula’s "The Silent Voice", performed by Anele Makanya. Photo: Val Adamson.

The jury commended Thandeka Maqebula on the solo "The Silent Voice", performed by Anele Makanya.They commented on Makanya's powerful stage presence and strong physicality. There is opportunity for Maqebula to develop her choreographic voice which displays impressive conviction and focus. 

Tegan Peacock's "Burst my Bubble". Pic by Val Adamson

“Tegan Peacock's "Burst my Bubble" employed humour and a sense of whimsy, particularly with her choice of music. Her use of brightly coloured balloons as metaphors for hopes and dreams that are sometimes popped, shows a unique sense of intuitive timing and even clowning.”

The International School of Performing Art "Echoes of Greatness”, choreographed by Gabriel Youngstar. Pic by Val Adamson.

“The International School of Performing Arts (ISPA) students shone in a large ensemble work titled "Echoes of Greatness", choreographed by Gabriel Youngstar. The work explored rhythmical and often challenging choreography with elements of ritual. Some excellent partnering and strong lifts showed solid technique and use of trust exercises. The group was beautifully costumed and well-lit.”

“It is heartening to see the range of work being offered by young dance makers and a real engagement with physical storytelling on many levels,” said Ballantyne on behalf of the jury.

JOMBA! continues until Sunday 7 September with a range of performances, workshops and talks. For more information and to see the full programme, go to: https://jomba.ukzn.ac.za/

Tickets are R85 and R65 (concessions and groups). Booking via WebTickets. 

 

Ends

Animal Anti-Cruelty League™ Durban & PMB urgently appeals for help to keep doors open

Durban, SA: The Animal Anti-Cruelty League Durban & PMB (AACL) has stood as a beacon of hope for vulnerable animals for decades – but without public support now, this vital organisation may be forced to close its doors.

For decades, this dedicated organisation has been on the frontlines of animal welfare – providing shelter for abandoned pets, rehabilitating and rehoming animals in need, prosecuting cases of cruelty, and facilitating essential veterinary care to underserved communities across the greater Durban area – including Inchanga, Hammersdale, Inanda, Chatsworth, Phoenix & Cato Ridge.

Animal carer Alpheous Shange at the shelter with one of the rescues. Pic Amy Gooden

The AACL’s Inspectors travel hundreds of kilometres each month to rescue animals suffering from injury or disease, enable the sterilisation of cats and dogs to control overpopulation, and administer vaccinations and deworming treatments. These proactive interventions not only prevent needless suffering but also curb the growing problem of stray animals.

As one of South Africa’s longest-standing “no-kill” shelters, the AACL has given thousands of animals a second chance at life. Every dog and cat that passes through its gates receives food, medical care, training, and love – preparing them for adoption into safe, permanent homes.

Animal carer Alpheous Shange at the shelter with one of the rescues. Pic Amy Gooden

With 130 cats and dogs currently in their care, the AACL’s team of just twenty dedicated staff is constantly on call. Their work extends far beyond feeding and sheltering animals—they also respond to all reports of abuse. Above all, their mission is to find loving homes for animals that have endured hardship, offering them a second chance at a happy life. Out in the community, AACL’s veterinary technicians provide vaccinations while educating pet owners on responsible care, helping to create a future where fewer animals suffer.

However, despite this unwavering commitment, the organisation is facing unprecedented financial strain. Rising costs, a surge in abandoned pets, and the broader economic challenges in South Africa have placed the AACL in jeopardy. With no government funding, they rely almost entirely on the generosity of the public to keep their vehicles on the road and their shelter open.

Animal carer Nellie Ngcobo with one of the rescues. Pic by Amy Gooden

“The animals rely on us, and we are honoured to help prevent or treat their suffering,” says Dr Lawson Cairns, Chairman of AACL. “But tough economic times have hampered our efforts. We are reaching out to the public for support so we can continue this vital work.”

In many communities, the AACL inspector is the only source of veterinary assistance, offering affordable care that owners could not otherwise access. For some animals, these visits mean the difference between life and death.

Animal carer Thobeka Ngwenya.with one of the rescues. Pic by Amy Gooden

“Supporting the Animal Anti-Cruelty League is not just about protecting animals — it's about standing up for compassion, responsibility, and the kind of society we want to be,” says Kingsley Holgate, explorer, humanitarian and author. “Every donation helps give a voice to the voiceless and a second chance to those who need it most.” 

“The animals need the sanctuary offered by AACL,” adds Yvette Taylor of the Lawrence Anthony Earth Organization. “Not only do they alleviate animal suffering, they also educate. Caring for animals is foundational as humans – it’s what brings about a kinder world.”

How the public can help
Support can take many forms:

·       Financial donations of any size

·       Sponsoring the care of a specific animal

·       Volunteering time or skills

·       Donating food, blankets, or medical supplies

·       Shopping or donating to the AACL Charity Shop, which sells household items and clothing to raise funds

Every contribution directly impacts the lives of animals in desperate need.

A call to action
For those who believe that kindness to animals reflects the best of our humanity, now is the time to act. The AACL Durban & PMB’s work is not just about rescuing animals – it’s about restoring dignity, health, and hope, one life at a time.

To learn more about how to help, visit the AACL Durban & PMB branch’s website, Facebook and Instagram pages, or contact your nearest branch. Your support could be the lifeline an animal is waiting for today.

Website: https://www.aacl.co.za/branches-durban-pietermaritzburg/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AACLDurban

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aacl_dbn/