Johannesburg offers visiting joggers the opportunity to run along some fantastic routes in an outdoor-friendly climate. There’s no shortage of jogger-friendly parks, and you’ll find yourself running in plenty of good company. But before you start pounding the tracks, there are some precautions you should consider taking to ensure you enjoy the experience. (more…)

Mbulaeni Mulaudzi, Ruben Ramolefi and Khotso Mokoena will be among a host of track and field stars that will be out to shine when Yellow Pages Series athletics fever draws the crowds to Potchefstroom for the third leg of the series on Thursday, March 4 (17h30 start).

Last Friday in Durban, Mulaudzi took the 1500 metres honours in 3 min 43.88 secs having run over 550 metres of the race on his own upfront. This time the world indoor 800 metres champion will return to his favourite 800 metres distance and will be joined by the unlikely figure of Olympic 3000 metres steeplechase finalist Ruben Ramolefi, who will use the outing in Potchefstroom to work on his speed.

Ramolefi ran superbly in windy conditions in Durban last Friday, to win the 3000 metres steeplechase in 8:25.50. (more…)

Whoever said loving your country doesn’t pay, was not a South African! South Africa’s International Marketing Council (IMC), custodian of Brand South Africa, is sponsoring a first-of-its-kind online ad competition to “crowdsource” creativity and insight from around the world to showcase South Africa as a vibrant and competitive nation brand.

“We’re looking for inspired messaging and out-of-the-box advertising executions that capture and convey the essence, attributes and qualities of Brand South Africa,” said Neale-May, who pointed to the country’s growing tourism, trade and economic development success. (more…)

Home of the world-famous Ndebele artistic tradition, this province glories in creativity and feasts on its mysterious and glamorous past. (more…)

Cape Town: Theatre: Swingtime on Broadway

 

 

Award-winning performers Alistair Izobell and Loukmaan Adams tackle the genre of swing music by singing and tapping along to the classics, including Straighten Up and Fly Right, That’s Life, Paper Moon and L.O.V.E.

 

Where: On Broadway, 88 Shortmarket Street, Cape Town

Date: 9 – 27 March 2010

Time: 8.30pm Tuesday – Saturday

Contact number: 021 424 1194

 

Website: www.onbroadway.co.za

 

Booking fee: Entrance is R85pp. Phone to book.

 

 

Cape Town: Theatre: The Train Driver

 

The latest play by the lauded South African playwright Athol Fugard tells the story of a tormented train driver who is compelled to visit a makeshift graveyard to find the unmarked grave of the woman he accidentally killed.

 

Where: The Fugard, Cnr Caledon and Harrington Streets, District 6, Cape Town

Date: 19 March – 11 April 2010, no show on 5 April

Time: 7.30pm Monday – Saturday, 3.30pm Sunday

Contact number: 021 461 4554

 

Website: www.thefugard.com

 

Booking fee: Ticket prices range from R60 – R135pp. Phone to book.

 

 

Cape Town: Theatre: Tales from the Calabash

 

Part of the Out the Box Festival. Eric de Waal performs traditional African folktales using physical comedy, puppetry and audience participation.

 

Where: Arena Theatre, UCT Hiddingh Campus, 37 Orange Street, Gardens

Date: 20 March 2010

Time: 1pm

Contact number: 021 480 7129

Website: www.unimasouthafrica.org/out-the-box-festival-2010/

Booking fee: Tickets are R35pp at the door

 

 

Cape Town: Theatre: The Adventures of a Little Nobody

 

Part of the Out the Box Festival. This piece depicts the magical journey of a Little Nobody who is trying to become a Little Somebody, told through the art of puppetry and physical performance.

 

Where: Rehearsal Studio, UCT Hiddingh Campus, 37 Orange Street, Gardens

Date: 20 – 22 March 2010

Time: 12pm 20 – 21 March, 3pm 20 March, 10am 22 March

Contact number: 021 480 7129

 

Website: www.unimasouthafrica.org/out-the-box-festival-2010/

 

Booking fee: Tickets are R35pp at the door

 

 

Cape Town: Theatre: Just Enough

 

A grandmother creates a quilt for her daughter using collected materials that carry sentimental value.

 

Where: Arena Theatre, UCT Hiddingh Campus, 37 Orange Street, Gardens

Date: 20 – 23 and 26 March 2010

Time: 10am

Contact number: 021 480 7129

 

Website: www.unimasouthafrica.org/out-the-box-festival-2010/

 

Booking fee: Tickets are R35pp at the door

 

 

Cape Town: Theatre: Taxi Magic

 

Part of the Out the Box Festival. This story is a mix of magic, puppetry and shadow theatre, and tells the story of a tour guide who takes Henry the Hilarious Hallucinist on a tour of Cape Town.

 

Where: Playroom Theatre, UCT Hiddingh Campus, 37 Orange Street, Gardens

Date: 20, 21 and 27 March 2010

Time: 12pm 20 March, 11am 21 March, 2pm 27 March

Contact number: 021 480 7129

 

Website: www.unimasouthafrica.org/out-the-box-festival-2010/

 

Booking fee: Tickets are R35pp at the door

 

 

Cape Town: Theatre: Storiesombrero

 

Part of the Out the Box Festival. A storyteller catches stories as they fall from the sky, and offers them to passers-by. In English and Afrikaans.

 

Where: Arena Quad, Playroom Theatre and Rehearsal Studio, UCT Hiddingh Campus, 37 Orange Street, Gardens

Date: 21, 22, 26 and 27 March 2010

Time: 11.30am 21 March, 11am 22 March, 10.30am 26 March, 2.30pm 27 March

Contact number: 021 480 7129

 

Website: www.unimasouthafrica.org/out-the-box-festival-2010/

 

Booking fee: Tickets are R35pp at the door

 

 

Cape Town: Theatre: Indlovu People

 

Part of the Out the Box Festival. Masked elephants reveal their story from their creation to the present day, through the ancient ghost Elephantom.

 

Where: Rehearsal Studio, UCT Hiddingh Campus, 37 Orange Street, Gardens

Date: 21, 23, 25 and 27 March 2010

Time: 10am 21 March, 11am 23 and 25 March, 12pm 27 March

Contact number: 021 480 7129

 

Website: www.unimasouthafrica.org/out-the-box-festival-2010/

 

Booking fee: Tickets are R35pp at the door

 

 

Cape Town: Music: The Piano Duo

 

Award-winning German duo Genova and Dimitrov perform works by Chopin, Mozart and Liszt.

 

Where: Baxter Theatre Centre, Main Road, Rondebosch

Date: 20 March 2010

Time: 8pm

Contact number: 021 685 7880 / 083 915 8000

 

Website: www.baxter.co.za

 

Email: info@computicket.com

 

Booking fee: Tickets are R125pp at Computicket

 

 

Cape Town: Wine and Dine: Franschhoek Vendage Celebration

 

A long harvest table in the town centre offers locals and visitors an opportunity to sample fine wines from the area and a food prepared by some of Franschhoek’s best chefs. Other highlights include live entertainment and grape stomping.

 

Where: Main Road, Franschhoek

Date: 13 March 2010

Time: 4pm – late

 

Contact number: 021 876 2861

 

Website: www.franschhoek.org.za

 

Email: office@franschhoek.org.za

 

Booking fee: Ticket prices range from R450 – R500pp. Phone to book.

 

 

 

Cape Town: Film: Cape Winelands Film Festival

 

One of South Africa’s largest film festivals, featuring a wide selection of documentaries and shorts from more than 30 countries.

 

Where: The Labia Theatre, 68 Orange Street, Gardens, Cape Town

Date: 17 – 27 March 2010

Time: Various, see website for details

 

Contact number: 083 792 4320 

 

Website: www.films-for-africa.co.za / www.labia.co.za

 

Booking fee: Various, see website for details

 

 

Cape Town: Theatre: Disse Fynlyn FM Show

 

Enjoy live fine-line radio at its best with Mr Johann Myburgh, “Foolman” Marius Dippenaar and that other guy, Tommy Dell.

 

Where: Lourensford Wine Estate, Lourensford Road, Somerset West

Date: 17 March 2010

Time: 7.30 – 10pm

 

Contact number: 084 507 6098

 

Email: tharina@radiohelderberg.co.za

 

Booking fee: Entrance is R100pp and includes canapés en winetasting

 

 

Cape Town: Outdoors: Sunset Hike at Delvera

 

Join about 100 hikers walking the circular 9.75km Vineyard Trail. It starts from the Trail Centre on Delvera farm and takes you through the vineyards, a Renosterveld Conservancy and a yellowwood forest to the top of Klapmutskop. Admire the sun setting into Table Mountain with 360-degree views of the surrounding winelands, and see the full moon rise over the Du Toitskloof mountains.

 

 

Where: Dirtopia Trail Centre, Delvera Agri-tourism complex, R44 between Klapmuts and Stellenbosch

Date: 20 March 2010

Time: 6pm

 

Contact number: 021 884 4752

 

Website: www.dirtopia.co.za

 

Email: theteam@dirtopia.co.za

 

Booking fee: Entrance is R40pp for adults and R20pp for children

 

 

Cape Town: Festival: Andreas Wines at Wellington Harvest Festival

 

Andreas Wines will be open for wine tasting and cellar tours.

 

Where: Andreas Wines, Groenendal Farm, Bovlei, Wellington

Date: 20 – 21 March 2010

Time: 10am – 5pm

 

Contact number: 021 873 2286

 

Website: www.harvestfestival.co.za / www.andreas.co.za

 

Email: andreas@ezinet.co.za

 

Booking fee: Entrance is R60pp

 

 

 

Cape Town: Festival: Feast of the Grape Festival

 

Enjoy a fun-filled family day on the lawns of Diemersdal Estate, overlooking the dam and beautiful vineyards.

 

Where: Diemersdal Estate, M53 Koeberg Road, Durbanville

Date: 21 March 2010

Time: 11am – 3pm

 

Contact number: 021 976 3361 / 072 563 0886

 

Website: www.diemersdal.co.za

 

Email: inge@diemersdal.co.za

 

Booking fee: Free

 

 

Cape Town: Theatre: Eleven Forty One

 

This play takes a balanced look at societal problems such as AIDS, TB and alcohol abuse, and demonstrates how a positive outcome can be achieved by applying simple principles.

 

Where: Artscape Theatre, DF Malan Street, Foreshore, Cape Town

Date: 6 – 11 April 2010

Time: Various, see website for details

 

Contact number: 021 421 7839

 

Website: www.artscape.co.za

 

Email: artscape@artscape.co.za

 

Booking fee: Tickets are R50pp at Artscape Dial-a-Seat or Computicket

 

 

Cape Town: Music: Odeion String Quartet

 

Four lead members of the Free State Symphony Orchestra perform works by Mozart, Ravel and Shostakovich.

 

Where: Baxter Theatre Centre, Main Road, Rondebosch

Date: 10 April 2010

Time: 8pm

 

Contact number: 021 685 7880 / 083 915 8000

 

Website: www.baxter.co.za

 

Email: info@computicket.com

 

Booking fee: Tickets are R125pp at Computicket

 

 

 

Cape Town: Festival: Riebeek Valley Olive Festival

 

A feast of wine, art, food and live entertainment, all coloured with country hospitality.

 

Where: Riebeek Valley

Date: 30 April – 2 May 2010

Time: Various, see website for details

 

Contact number: 022 448 1545

 

Website: www.riebeekvalley.info

 

Email: nichola@phatcatz.co.za

 

Booking fee: Various, see website for details.

 

Cape Town: Theatre: London Road

 

An award-winning story of two neighbours from different backgrounds who find solace through their unlikely friendship.

 

Where: Kalk Bay Theatre, the Old Church, 52 Main Road, Kalk Bay

 

Date: 10 March – 10 April 2010

Time: 8.30pm Wednesday – Saturday

Contact number: 073 220 5430

Website: kbt.co.za

Email: bluebottle@iafrica.com 

Booking fee: Entrance is R100pp

 

 

Cape Town: Book launch: Nathan Geffen

 

The former struggle activist launches Debunking Delusions: The Inside Story of the Treatment Action Campaign. Nathan will be interviewed by Cape Times editor Alide Dasnois.

 

Where: The Book Lounge, Cnr Roeland and Buitenkant Streets 

 

Date: 9 March 2010

Time: 5.30pm

Contact number: 021 462 2425

Website: www.booklounge.co.za

Email: booklounge@gmail.com

Booking fee: Free

 

 

Cape Town: Book launch: Breyten Breytenbach

 

South Africa’s celebrated poet and author launches his latest collection of essays and reflections, Notes from the Middle World. Breytenbach will be in conversation with poet Rustum Kozain.

 

Where: The Book Lounge, Cnr Roeland and Buitenkant Streets 

 

Date: 10 March 2010

Time: 5.30pm

Contact number: 021 462 2425

Website: www.booklounge.co.za

Email: booklounge@gmail.com

Booking fee: Free

 

 

Cape Town: Talk: Ashraf Jamal

 

The highly regarded writer and academic discusses his collection of short stories, Shades.

 

Where: The Book Lounge, Cnr Roeland and Buitenkant Streets 

 

Date: 12 March 2010

Time: 5.30pm

Contact number: 021 462 2425

Website: www.booklounge.co.za

Email: booklounge@gmail.com

Booking fee: Free

 

 

Cape Town: Theatre: Don’t Tune Me I’ll Tune You

 

Musician, composer, comedian, sound therapist and recording artist Christopher Tokalon shows off his ability to mimic musical instruments, people, birds and animals. Bring drinks and a picnic basket.

 

Where: The Cottage Club, 26 Mauritius Crescent, Capri Village (off Kommetjie Road) 

 

Date: 12 – 13 March 2010

Time: 7pm

Contact number: 021 785 5052 

Website: www.soundman.co.za

Email: cottageclub@mweb.co.za

Booking fee: Entrance is R80pp

 

 

Cape Town: Parade: 85th UCT Rag Float Parade

 

An annual event to raise funds for the Students’ Health and Welfare Centres Organisation (SHAWCO), a non-profit organisation run by the University of Cape Town. This year’s theme is “A Celebration of Soccer”.

 

Where: Adderley Street, Cape Town

 

Date: 13 March 2010

Time: 10am – 12.30pm

Contact number: 021 650 3525

Website: www.uctrag.com

Booking fee: Free

 

 

Cape Town: Music: Lark

 

Fresh from Ramfest, Lark will perform their unique repertoire ranging from opera to electro, to poetic lyricisms. Other performers in the line-up include The Gods, She Man Lion and Strobe1 vs Storm.

 

Where: The Assembly, 61 Harrington Street, District Six, Cape Town

 

Date: 13 March 2010

Time: 9pm

Contact number: 021 465 7286

Website: www.theassembly.co.za

Email: info@theassembly.co.za

Booking fee: Entrance is R70pp

 

 

Cape Town: Education: Earth Hour

 

Now an annual event with Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu as the global patron, this initiative aims to get 1 billion people to switch off their household lights for one hour in support of efforts to end global warming.

 

Where: Worldwide

 

Date: 27 March 2010

Time: 8.30pm – 9.30pm

Website: www.earthhour.org.za

Booking fee: Free

 

 

Cape Town: Music: Jazz Picnic

 

Bring a picnic basket and enjoy a live jazz band and DJs playing deep house electro-jazz.

 

Where: Castle of Good Hope, Darling Street, Cape Town

 

Date: 5 April 2010

Time: 11am

Contact number: 021 787 1260 / 083 915 8000

Email: info@computicket.com

Booking fee: Ticket prices range from R70 – R150pp at Computicket

 

 

Cape Town: Education: Engineering Open Day

 

Stellenbosch University presents an open day with exhibits and demonstrations that offer insight into the field of engineering.

 

Where: Faculty of Engineering, Cnr Banghoek Road and Joubert Street, Stellenbosch

 

Date: 17 April 2010

Time: 10am – 3pm

Contact number: 021 808 3614

Website: sun.ac.za

Email: aford@sun.ac.za

Booking fee: Free

  

Cape Town: Theatre: Ikhwezi Theatre Festival

 

Now in its 12th year, the festival presents 11 different community theatre productions by some of the Western Cape’s most talented young directors and performers.

 

Where: Baxter Theatre Centre, Main Road, Rondebosch

 

Date: 11 – 20 March 2010

Time: 7pm 11 March, thereafter 10am, 12pm, 1.30pm, 3pm and 7pm Monday – Saturday

Contact number: 021 680 3980 / 083 915 8000

Website: www.baxter.co.za

Email: info@computicket.com

Booking fee: Tickets are R35pp at Computicket

 

 

Cape Town: Theatre: Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards

 

Celebrities and local stars gather for South Africa’s premier theatre awards ceremony. All funds raised from ticket sales go towards the development of the performing arts in South Africa.

 

Where: Baxter Theatre Centre, Main Road, Rondebosch

 

Date: 21 March 2010

Time: 3pm

Contact number: 021 685 7880

Website: www.baxter.co.za / www.capetheatre.co.za

Booking fee: Entrance is R150pp, which includes canapés and wine

 

 

Cape Town: Theatre: Vodacom Funny Festival

 

An annual festival of international stand-up comedy showcasing, among others, Cape Town favourites Riaad Moosa and Alan Comittie, well as United Kingdom star Jason Wood and local heavyweight Trevor Noah.

 

Where: Baxter Theatre Centre, Main Road, Rondebosch

 

Date: 7 June – 11 July 2010

Time: 8pm Monday – Saturday

Contact number: 021 685 7880 / 083 915 8000

Website: www.baxter.co.za

Email: info@computicket.com

Booking fee: Tickets are R130pp at Computicket

 

 

Cape Town: Music: Elton John

 

The legendary pop singer and pianist returns with his hit solo tour, Under the African Skies.

 

Where: Kirstenbosch Gardens, Rhodes Drive, Newlands

 

Date: 24 March 2010

Time: 7pm

Contact number: 083 915 8000

Website: www.eltonjohn.com

Email: info@computicket.com

Booking fee: Tickets are R500pp at Computicket

 

 

Cape Town: Outdoor: Kirstenbosch Garden Fair

 

This annual fundraising event offers a wide range of indigenous South African flora for sale, as well as horticultural advice and musical performances.

 

Where: Stone Cottages, Cnr Kirstenbosch Drive and Rhodes Avenue (opposite Kirstenbosch Gardens)

 

Date: 20 – 21 March 2010

Time: 9am – 4pm

Contact number: 021 671 5468

Website: www.sanbi.org.za

Email: kbranch@botanicalsociety.org.za

Booking fee: Entrance is R5pp

 

 

Cape Town: Theatre: Brothers of Soul

 

Nathan Daniels, Nigel Maloy, Roger Visagie and Denroy Visagie perform hits from the Motown era by artists such as The Trammps, The Temptations and The Commodores.

 

Where: On Broadway, 88 Shortmarket Street, Cape Town

 

Date: 30 March – 24 April 2010

Time: 8.30pm Tuesday – Saturday

Contact number: 021 424 1194

Website: www.onbroadway.co.za

Email: info@onbroadway.co.za

Booking fee: Entrance is R85pp

 

 

Cape Town: Theatre: Making it Up

 

Join Wayne Brady, multi-Emmy Award-winning star of Whose Line Is It Anyway for a night of stand-up comedy, singing and dancing, complete with a three-piece band and a chorus of talented dancers.

 

Where: GrandWest Casino and Entertainment World, 1 Vanguard Drive, Goodwood

 

Date: 19 – 20 May 2010

Time: 8pm

Contact number: 083 915 8000

Website: www.waynebrady.com

Email: info@computicket.com

Booking fee: Ticket prices range from R150 – R350pp at Computicket

 

 

Cape Town: Music: Masters of Rock

 

A supreme rock line-up with performances by Deep Purple, Uriah Heep and Wishbone Ash.

 

Where: GrandWest Casino and Entertainment World, 1 Vanguard Drive, Goodwood

 

Date: 1 June 2010

Time: 7pm

Contact number: 021 505 7777 / 083 915 8000

Email: info@computicket.com

Booking fee: Ticket prices range from R275 – R450pp at Computicket

 

 

Cape Town: Ballet: St Petersburg Male Ballet

 

Valery Michailovsky leads the first all-male Russian ballet ensemble in a repertoire of classical ballets.

 

Where: Artscape Theatre, DF Malan Street, Foreshore, Cape Town

 

Date: 20 – 23 May 2010

Time: 7.30pm

Contact number: 021 410 9800 / 083 915 8000

Website: www.artscape.co.za

Email: artscape@artscape.co.za

Booking fee: Ticket prices range from R135 – R235pp at Artscape Dial-a-Seat or Computicket

 

 

Cape Town: Music: African Songbook

 

Conducted by Graham Scott, the Cape Town Opera and the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra perform a musical tribute to the life of Nelson Mandela. Sung in English and Xhosa with English surtitles.

 

Where: Artscape Theatre, DF Malan Street, Foreshore, Cape Town

 

Date: 17 – 19 June 2010

Time: 7.30pm

Contact number: 021 410 9800 / 083 915 8000

Website: www.artscape.co.za

Email: artscape@artscape.co.za

Booking fee: Ticket prices range from R125 – R300pp at Artscape Dial-a-Seat or Computicket

 

 

Cape Town: Festival: High Street Winter Wine Festival

 

A celebration of red wines, white wines, muscadel, brandy, port and live music. Food and confectionaries will also be available.

 

Where: High Street Shopping Village, off Durban Road, Durbanville

 

Date: 24 – 26 June 2010

Time: 5pm 24 – 25 June, 11am 26 June

Contact number: 021 914 6444

Website: www.highstreet.co.za

Booking fee: Entrance ranges from R60 – R70pp

 

 

 

 

Restaurant menus always begin with a cursory glance at the starter and mains and a serious study of the desserts.  My sweet tooth guides me like a homing pigeon to this section.  (more…)

The Department of Journalism at Johannesburg’s University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) has announced a new dual-degree programme with the Graduate School of Journalism at Columbia University in New York, allowing students to study and receive degrees from both institutions. (more…)

Location: Bloemfontein, Free State Stadium

Street address: First avenue, Bloemfontein

GPS co-ordinates: 29°07 02.25S 26°12 31.85E

Seating: 48000 (more…)

The month of March has great significance in the wine industry, in that it symbolises the celebration of the harvest. With this in mind, make your way to Franschhoek for the inaugural Vendange Celebration (French for harvest) on Saturday, 13 March, where visitors are invited to join in with the celebrations of harvest. (more…)

Talk about cultural alphabet soup: South Africa is a phenomenal mix of cultural diversity, with 11 official languages (and many unofficial) and skin tones that range from the deepest ebony to vibrant, sunburnt pink.

It’s a potjie of culture, with surprising ingredients and delightful surprises, its rich flavour coming from centuries of mixing and melting!

From archealogy to Zulu, take a look at South Africa’s alphabet soup . . . (more…)