Latest news with #Highveld
The South African
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The South African
These fun Highveld festivals are warming up the region this winter
It may be winter, but these Highveld festivals radiate creativity and warmth. Spanning Gauteng and the Free State, events are taking place across the colder months. There's an emphasis on the arts across both provinces, though you'll also find lots of delicious food on the menu. There's even one that's all about champagne and chocolate… The event programmes are varied, featuring top local performers, as well as a couple of GRAMMY winners. Whether you're for thought-provoking talks or dancing the night away, you can pick and choose from these four festivals. One of a series in events at Constitution Hill, Basha Uhuru Creative Week runs next week. The four-day festival will host print exhibitions, poetry readings and film screenings. Then there's an amapiano showcase and a market for creative brands. A big focus is the industry workshops that span multiple art disciplines. Topics include poetry, hemp and cannabis, and the business of fashion. This is a Highveld festival that creatives in the area won't want to miss. 25-28 June Johannesburg, Gauteng The Vrystaat Kunste Fees, or Free State Arts Festival, is an Afrikaans language festival that aims to collaborate with English and Sotho cultures. The University of the Free State is a key partner, hosting the event on its Bloemfontein campus. This Highveld festival has a multidisciplinary programme that ranges from music to literature. In addition to performances and exhibitions, there's a series of hands-on workshops. These include therapeutic writing and resin pouring. 15 – 19 Jul 2025 Bloemfontein, Free State One more gathering for the Highveld, the Cullinan Champagne, Chocolate & Gin Festival brings a sparkly touch to this winter. The event brings together South Africa's best MCCs, craft gin and artisanal chocolates. In addition to the gourmet goods, the festival also hosts a market of arts and crafts stalls. It's a good excuse for taking a short drive outside Tshwane to Cullinan's old-world streets. 30 August 2025 Cullinan, Gauteng This premier music festival runs across two days outside Tshwane. Music lovers will appreciate that headliners include GRAMMY award-winning artists Doja Cat and Leon Thomas. There are multiple stages across the weekend with a kaleidoscopic variety of artists. With the festival taking place on a farm, this Highveld festival also offers a camping and glamping experience for visitors. 30-31 August Tshwane, Gauteng Let us know by leaving a comment below or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
New Paper
a day ago
- Sport
- New Paper
June 22 South Africa (Greyville) form analysis
Race 1 (1,400m) (1) BLACKJACK RANDALL is knocking at the door and stays the trip. Blinkers on, drawn the best. (4) EASTERN HIGHLANDS showed up well at long odds on debut. Expect a big effort. (5) FLAG CHAMP found good market support on debut and could well be the horse to beat. (7) DIRECTOR finished alongside Flag Champ on debut even if he was the less fancied of the pair. Race 2 (1,400m) (9) CHARGE IT raced green in the soft over the trip on debut. She has come on with the experience. (8) ACT OF GRACE made good improvement second time out and her first in KZN. Go close. (10) ANEMIE has run two fair races over shorter. This trip will suit. (12) SOL NOMARA has the worst of the draws but has not been far back in two starts. Race 3 (1,400m) (3) CASSANDRA finished close up behind Dark Matter on debut. She takes on males and makes her Poly debut but looks the part. (7) QUEEN OF THE AIR was beaten by the trip at her second start. Can go well first-up. (5) BALTIC ASSAYER has been much improved at recent outings and has a money chance, as does (1) THE GOLDEN GOAL who ran on late on the Poly last time. Race 4 (1,200m) (4) FORTRESS OF FIRE won well on debut but has disappointed since in two feature races. Down in class, he may prove hard to beat. (8) MASTER SILVANO has a wide draw but was close-up in his debut. This trip will suit. (3) WAR TALK should come on from her promising debut effort. (6) DUNGEON MASTER improved at his second start and should enjoy the extra furlong. Race 5 (1,700m) (10) WINDOW TO MY SOUL was touched off over a trip and on his Poly first time. Looks the part. (4) TEE DOG has shown some promise of late and stays the trip. The switch to Poly could suit. (7) HUNTERS ARROW has improved form on the Poly and can finish in the money. (5) POSSIBLE BOMBER has not shown much in two sprints but jumps in trip. Watch in the market. Race 6 (1,900m) (1) HAT'S QUEEN looks very well in at these weights and has the best of draws. Hard to beat. (2) QUEEN AMINA has been consistent since her maiden win. She likes the Poly and stays the trip. Biggest threat to the top weight. (7) GIVERS GRACE is well out at the handicap but has only 52kg to shoulder and Muzi Yeni up. (6) AFRICAN DUSK is seldom too far back. With some luck in running, he can make a fist of it. Race 7 (1,200m) (3) AGRADO shows promise and is hardly ever out of the money. He should go well this course and trip. (1) DISTING has some fair form in useful feature company. Drawn one and should go close. (9) SILVER TUDOR is way better than his last effort although not beaten far. Useful Highveld form cannot be ignored. (2) PROUD MASTER is way better than his last two runs would suggest. He looks well weighted here in spite of 62kg. Poly will suit. Race 8 (1,600m) (10) LEGAL COUNSEL is drawn wide in the Breeders Mile but is well in at the weights. Poly suits. (2) CHERRY ANO has been racing against the likes of Dave The King. He runs well in blinkers and should fight out the finish. (3) DANTONFROMSANDTON was narrowly beaten by Cats Pajamas in a feature on July day. Strong chance in this line-up. (6) AFRICAN SKYLINE is up and down in trip but was not far off Dave The King last time and must have a shout. Race 9 (1,600m) (2) WILLOW EXPRESS should be competitive in the KZN Breeders 1,600m. Way better than his last run. (1) ACTOR was returning from a long break when badly in need of the outing last time. He has the best of the draws. (3) RADU has been close-up in recent starts at Scottsville. Big threat. (10) THE GLIDING FISH has the form and experience.
The Citizen
5 days ago
- Sport
- The Citizen
URC report card: How South Africa's franchises fared in 2024
It was a fairly solid showing for most of South Africa's franchises as three of them reached the URC knockouts, and kept their final appearance run going. The Bulls go over for a try during the URC final against Leinster at Croke Park in Dublin over the past weekend. Picture: Seb Daly/Gallo Images The fourth edition of the United Rugby Championship (URC) came to a conclusion last weekend when Irish giants, Leinster, outplayed Highveld juggernauts, the Bulls, in the Grand Final at Croke Park in Dublin, to lift the trophy for the first time. It has been a relatively successful four seasons in the URC for South African teams, with them being represented in every single final, while the Stormers won the inaugural edition, but the Bulls will be distraught having now lost in three finals. Overall it was a decent past campaign for the South African sides, with three making the competition knockouts, two making it to the semis and the Bulls playing in the final. Here is our report card on each team: Bulls: 8 out of 10 It was an impressive season for the Bulls, with them undoubtedly the strongest SA team in the competition. A superb pool phase saw them finish second on the log with 14 wins and four losses, while they only lost once against foreign opposition in pool play, by a solitary point away against Scarlets in Wales. Their one blip was their struggles against local sides, losing twice, home and away, to the Sharks while they were also beaten by the Stormers in Pretoria, and escaped from Cape Town with a single point win thanks to a late missed conversion from the hosts. But they bounced back from that by clinching a solid semifinal win over the Sharks to reach the final. The Bulls could have received a 9 out of 10 if it wasn't for their effort in the final, as their poor mistake-riddled performance, particularly in the first half, was very unfortunate and allowed the hosts to cruise to the title without much trouble. Sharks: 6.5 out of 10 It is hard not to feel underwhelmed when you look at the talent that the Sharks have at their disposal and compare it to their results. Even with a plethora of Springbok World Cup winners in the mix, it was not a surprise when they were unable to make the final. On paper they should arguably only be second to Leinster in the URC. Obviously due to international commitments and resting protocols the Sharks do have to do without their star players at various stages of the season, but it is when those star players are available and they still underperform that it becomes disappointing. Despite all of that the Sharks did still enjoy their best season in the URC to date. They finished third on the log with 13 wins and five losses, hosted a quarterfinal for the first time, which they won in an historic and dramatic penalty shootout, and made it to their first ever URC semifinal. But with the star power in their ranks, which they continue to bolster every season, it is hard to not expect more from them. Stormers: 6 out of 10 It was another tough season for the Stormers as they struggled with injuries and depth, while stalwart Steven Kitshoff was forced into an early retirement. It was also a Jekyll and Hyde campaign, with the Cape side starting off poorly, but finishing off strongly, although they saved arguably their worst game of the season for the playoffs. After 11 games the Stormers were languishing in the bottom half of the log, with four wins against seven losses, putting them in a massive scrap for the top eight. But a superb finish to the pool phase, which saw them win six of their last seven games, lifted them up the table to finish comfortably fifth and send them over to Glasgow for a second consecutive season for their quarterfinal. Despite them being full of confidence due to their top form and Glasgow going into the quarterfinal off the back of three straight pool defeats it was the defending champions and hosts who turned up for the knockout game and powered to an impressive win, which ended the Stormers' season on a very low note. Lions: 2 out of 10 It isn't unfair to call the Lions season an unmitigated disaster, after they failed to reach the competition knockouts for the fourth consecutive season. Although they don't have the depth or star power of the other South African franchises, the Lions had a solid mix of exciting youngsters and experienced veterans in their ranks and were expected to qualify for the playoffs. In fact Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen was so confident of his team's ability that he made the bold declaration that his team were targeting a place in the URC top four come the end of the season. And that might have been the problem. Instead of trying to break into the top eight, which they had never managed to do before, they were arguably aiming too high. The Lions did start brilliantly though, winning their opening four matches of the competition which saw them sitting pretty near the top of the log, but that was as good as it got for their Lions as just four wins against 10 losses in their next 14 games tells the story of their season. Late season home defeats against Benetton and Scarlets, with their season and playoff hopes on the line, were hugely disappointing.
New Paper
10-06-2025
- Sport
- New Paper
June 11 South Africa (Greyville) form analysis
Race 1 (1,000m) (4) NOTHING COOLER raced greenly in a fair debut. She is likely to come on from that. (6) FLYING SOUTH was a well-beaten third last run but may just have needed it. (5) RACEWAY disappointed last run after a much-improved previous effort. Watch market. (3) MOSCOW MISS beat Flying South a neck, but the 4kg claimer is replaced by Andrew Fortune. Race 2 (1,200m) (2) TIME WILL TELL has been knocking on the door for some time now. She goes well over this trip and has first-time blinkers. (8) CAPTAIN CLEVER was much improved first-up after a lengthy break. He now gets 4kg relief. (1) GORGEOUS BOMB was a close-up second over course and distance. Big say. (10) K M V RETROFIT has shown up well at her last two. Can feature. Race 3 (1,400m) (6) LEMON THYME was second-best last run but was narrowly beaten at her penultimate start. (4) CHERRY OH BABY had excuses last run but has been costly to follow. Blinkers on. (2) FASCINATION has not been too far back in her two outings. (5) CONCORDIA has modest form to date but gets first-time blinkers and can surprise. Race 4 (1,400m) (3) FRENCH FLAME made a promising start on the Poly last time and has improved in his last two. He gets first-time blinkers. (2) KITCHAKAL is never far back. He is course and distance suited with a plum draw. (5) CHINABERRY improved last run on the Poly and was not far back from a wide gate. (6) SAVANTRIX is back on the Poly over his optimum trip. Race 5 (2,000m) (4) AZALEAS FOR ALL has shown up well in her last two and was a beaten favourite last time. (3) ENGLISH PRIMROSE has a light weight and is back over her optimum trip. (9) QONDANEKUKHANYENI has improved with each outing and was touched off last run. (1) GRAND OCCASION was not far back to stronger last time. Race 6 (1,600m) (7) NUMZAAN has a big weight but Serino Moodley is back. (8) GRIPEN was a beaten favourite in his local debut. He makes his Poly debut but can go close again. (9) DAWN SURPRISE has consistent form over shorter but may now prefer this extended trip. (2) VIVA DE JANEIRO has consistent Highveld form. Switch to Poly could bring out the best. Race 7 (1,600m) (1) UZWANO is lightly raced and possibly still under the handicapper's radar. (5) GURKHA did not get the rub of the green in the last race. He can do better here. (10) SHOEFELLA has drawn wide but has done well against stronger. (4) OUR LADY FATE has good form on the Poly and is lightly raced. Race 8 (1,200m) (7) ULTRA QUICK has been consistent at recent outings on the turf. The rejuvenated Poly should suit. (5) PRIZED PLATINUM has shown up well in KZN and could prove the pick although Kabelo Matsunyane stays with (4) MARIACHI MADNESS. (3) HIPPOCRATES has a big weight but is a Poly specialist and jumps from a plum gate.
New Paper
03-06-2025
- General
- New Paper
June 4 South Africa (Greyville) form analysis
Race 1 (1,200m) (2) HOLY STAR made a smart debut at long odds behind Gold Medallion hopeful Little Boy Blue, who runs this Saturday. (3) INDIGENOUS has been a beaten short-priced favourite in his two local starts. Both were over further and he may prefer this shorter trip. (6) QUINN'S TIME has been fairly well beaten in both starts but has had experience on the Poly and can improve. Keep and eye on first-timer (5) DIGITAL ASSET. Race 2 (1,400m) (1) OPERA FAN has consistent Highveld form. She was close-up over a mile last time, and this trip from the best of draws could see her home. (9) ALAKAZAM ran second on debut and this trip should suit. But, she has the widest draw to contend with and Muzi Yeni has jumped ship to ride Opera Fan. Yeni will be replaced by Andrew Fortune on (4) SPLASH OF LOVE, who ran on well over the distance last time. (6) TULIP FIELDS is a regally bred first-timer and one to watch in the betting. Race 3 (1,000m) (3) PINETTI has improved steadily in her three outings and looks well primed for this. She was narrowly beaten last time and has the in-form Gavin Lerena aboard. (2) MISS KANSAS made a smart debut but pulled up fatigued at her next start. She can improve. (6) LARIUS LACUS raced green on debut but should benefit from that. Debutante (4) THIRD WINTER is one to watch in the market. Race 4 (1,600m) (10) CHERRY OH BABY has finished second in her last five starts. She was caught late over 1,400m last time, but has a massive winning chance over the longer trip. (6) O SPACE O makes his Poly debut and does seem better than his last two with his best recent effort in the soft. (2) SANBEENEE was narrowly beaten into second over the course and distance last time and should feature again. (7) TAKEYOURBESTSHOT looked held by Cherry Oh Baby on their last meeting but he does appear to be coming to hand. Race 5 (2,000m) (6) RICHARDTHEFEARLESS found good market support last time but lacked finish. He wears blinkers for the first time and can improve. (1) FUTURE SAINT was a well beaten favourite last start. He has been knocking at the door and this trip should suit. (7) BALLY MAGIC has improved with cheek pieces and ran second last time on the Poly. Must include in all exotic bets. (5) KING BAVARIAN looked held by Richardthefearless on their last meeting but he now gets a 4kg claimer aboard. Race 6 (1,400m) (3) ONE PATH improved with tongue-tie last time. This will be her third run after a long break and she goes well on the Poly. (2) MERITORIOUS was rested after a poor run. She has since changed stable and will be at her first outing for Alyson Wright. (5) SKYTRIX was narrowly beaten last start and appears to have come to hand. (9) WE WILL ROCK YOU showed signs of a return to form last time. With a 1.5kg claimer aboard, she could be dangerous on her Poly debut. Race 7 (1,400m) (1) MY TRUE LOVE and (11) SKY VELOCITY meet again. Sky Velocity romped home in her first start for her new stable and had consistent Fairview form before that. However, My True Love is 2.5kg better off and has the better draw, so she can turn the tables. (3) MISS PAGET ran third in that same race and, with a 4kg claiming apprentice aboard, she is 5.5kg better off with Sky Velocity. (2) NOODSBERG finished fifth last time and is 2kg better off with Sky Velocity. Race 8 (1,000m) (4) FUTURE FLO has hardly put a foot wrong since his maiden win and coming back to sprints. He is on his best distance and should put in another bold showing. (8) CONNERY was back to his best when he won last time. He can go in again. (1) IBHELE can surprise. He has a light weight and the best draw. (3) JET LEGACY finished fourth in the race won by Connery last time. They meet on the same terms.
