In 2023, the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Centre for Creative Art’s JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience reaches its 25th anniversary year and as part of celebrating this longevity as South Africa’s longest-running dance festival has formed a partnership with the Market Theatre to collaborate in sharing, a smaller and carefully curated “JOMBA! @ THE MARKET” following the Durban festival which takes place from 29 August - 10 September 2023.

Selected local and international dance companies will travel onto Johannesburg and the Market Theatre and will feature in a week-long celebration of some of the world’s most profound and provoking dance makers and dance companies. Gauteng and Market Theatre audiences will have an opportunity to revel in the performance excellence of this carefully curated contemporary dance platform between 12 – 17 September 2023. The 2023 JOMBA! festival curatorial theme (or provocation) is “(in)tangible heritages” and of special interest will be new work by Mamela Nyamza, who has been named the JOMBA! 2023 Legacy Artist.

JOMBA! curator, Dr Lliane Loots says, “Nyamza’s cutting edge and deeply interrogated dance work spans over two decades of dance making in South Africa and internationally, and as JOMBA! hits its iconic 25th year, we can think of no better artist to celebrate as our JOMBA! Legacy Artist. We celebrate Mamela for her vision and practice, and for significantly contributing to our country's rich critical contemporary dance history and legacy”. 

Alongside a fascinating special bouquet of dance work on offer, “JOMBA! @ THE MARKET” will also be offering a series of workshops and masterclasses that will be offered to support dance skills development and training, and will include a special focus on workshops/masterclasses for lighting dance. 

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

Pictured here: Mamela Nyamza in GROUNDED (JOMBA! 2022).

Photo by Val Adamson

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Days at FreeMe Wildlife can start early...

This is especially the case when we need to transport animals for long distances. Cool temperatures are comfortable to work in, and are vital for the comfort of the animals in transport crates. 

At six months of age, these two Black-backed Jackal were ready to be taken to their soft-release enclosure at a site selected for their release. They will spend a further six months in a large soft-release boma which will allow them to acclimatize to their new surroundings, which includes the presence of large predators.

But first... there's work to be done.

Image on RHS: The ear is tagged, as well as rabies and distemper shots given, thank you Dr Jennifer Lawrence (Wild Vet Connect Services), for your assistance with this.

Image at Top: Then safely into a comfy transport crate.

Once we have tied down the crates and made sure air flow in optimal, checked we have the permits from our conservation authorities, we set off for Zululand.

We love what we do, and how we do it.

But we can't do it alone. Please visit our website for ideas on how you can help: www.freemewildlife.org/support-us

More about FreeMe Wildlife

'We are open and trading, we will need a few days to get restocked but the doors are open Yay!!! We are confident the shop will be even better when we are done. We are so grateful to Otto from O&S electrical and Noogs from warrior contracting for dropping absolutely everything and assisting us in getting the basics working . A heart felt thank you from all Hopewell staff to our friends , family, customers and suppliers for being so understanding and helpful. We have had countless messages , meals , phone calls and help from absolutely everyone we know. The community of Howick are second to None when it comes to support and love , and we are incredibly blessed to be a part of the amazing town . Once again we are so overwhelmingly grateful for everything. Much love . The Hopewell Team' shared this intrepid team.

Well done!

'To all our valued clients. Hopewell was ravaged by fire last night. All is not lost, but we are going to need some time to rebuild and get going again.

Please bear with us over this difficult time. Your support and understanding is greatly appreciated. Regards Howard and the Hopewell Team.' shared Hopewell Supplies on Monday morning, 27 March 2023.

The ever popular Hopewell Supplies is a general dealer located at 3 Harvard Street in Howick, uMngeni. This retailer provides a wide range of agricultural, home and garden supplies for the greater KZN Midlands community. Please be patient as they recover from this setback to reopen swiftly, stronger than ever.

'We know that the best line of defence against all online harms is active, involved, engaged, aware parents - so I’ve recorded an up-to-date parent talk of all the current issues. From screentime for little ones to parental control apps, sextortion, cyberbullying, privacy, defamation and sharenting, I cover it all!

Tickets to watch the recording are available for a week and can be purchased here - https://qkt.io/NkEeDq

Any teachers who want access, let us know and we’ll send you a free link x' shared social media law expert Emma Sadleir Berkowitz.

This beautiful citrus swallowtail butterfly has taken up residency in the lavender outside our Pietermaritzburg office. Working in our industry can be incredibly tough, and we always need to look for the joy around us, as recalled in this story from owner, Dallas Gilbert, about funeral directing being a calling:

“I have often heard people refer to certain professions as a calling, and I wholeheartedly believe that being a funeral director is one of them. When asked why I chose this career, my answer has always been simple: it chose me. Allow me to elaborate.

Growing up and starting out in life, I was completely unaware of what happened when someone passed away, let alone that there were people who made a profession out of helping and caring for those in grief. Initially, the thought of working in an environment that dealt with death and grief seemed completely abnormal and macabre to me. In fact, during my first week in the funeral home, I remember feeling that this was not the career path for me.

However, as I walked through the funeral home one day, I came across a beautiful spray of flowers resting on a coffin. The vibrant colours and fragrant aroma were a stark contrast to the somber surroundings. In that moment, I heard an inner voice that said "you can't, but I can." This experience steadied me and allowed me to see the beauty that can arise from ashes.

Given another chance at life and any occupation of my choosing, I would still choose to be a funeral director. It has been a privilege and a joy to serve and help those in need during some of life's most difficult moments.

With much love,
Dallas Gilbert”

On Saturday, 11 March Howick High School’s Eco Club, joined the One Planet SA Team and 117 teachers, learners and supporters from the Sustainable Schools Programme KZN to celebrate, reflect, and receive recognition for their environmental achievements over the last year.

One Planet SA, a local Howick NGO supports 26 schools on their sustainability journey through interactive classroom lessons, hands-on practical projects and opportunities to explore and connect with our natural heritage.

Pictured Left to Right: Raeesa Surtee, Lily Cowden with Mrs Summers.

'I'm a young woman who is motivated and results-oriented. I took a course in administrative management while also completing my National Diploma in Nature Conservation.

I've been employed by the Grootvadersbosch Conservancy as a field officer, and I've focused on freshwater conservation, which has given me a lot of expertise with sampling techniques and data processing. In addition to working there, I also received extensive training in GIS, MAPP, Microsoft, weather forecasting, and reporting and management planning at The Eastern Cape umbrella fire protection association.

I'm now pursuing a degree in administrative management because I can adapt to both the office and the field.

I am so very passionate about Conservation and open to work.' says Zaniel.

If you have a vacancy that Zaniel may fit, please view her CV here.

The Treverton Prep Grade 6 paddling trip down the Bushmans River was spectacular. Two days of paddling and tons of skills learnt. The biodiversity of the river was discovered and explored.

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From the 27th of April 2023 to the 1st of May 2023, a group of "weekend warrior" mountain bike cyclists from Wesley Methodist Church will embark on a 5 day cycle tour in order to raise funds, and awareness, for the Benjamin Generation Childcare Centre. (https://benjamingeneration.org).

This organization looks after abused and abandoned babies, and young children. The Childcare Centre is situated out in the quiet little village of New Hanover in KwaZulu-Natal. They currently receive no government funding and rely solely on the generosity of people like you and me.

Over the past two years the cycle tour has raised in excess of R200,000 which has been used to fund the completion of a Pre-School on the property. This has only been possible because of the generous donors who sponsored the cyclists.

In August 2022 they were finally able to open their doors to the community and this year they have an intake of over 50 children. They desperately need funding for their three Early Childhood Development (ECD) teachers.

This Pre-School is the only one in the area and will serve their children, as well as those from the local, poverty stricken, community that is situated nearby.

The goal this year is to raise R180,000 to help them fund the salaries for these three teachers.

We all know how important the formative years are for children and so this Pre-School will give the children of the area a firm foundation for their future - one which they might never have had!

For further information on how to be part of this event or how to make a difference, please visit the tour website at: or contact Mark Duncan at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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Treverton Preparatory School announes girls selected for the uMgungundlovu U13 District Hockey Squad

Congratulations to Abigail Crawford and Robyn Purdon from Treverton Preparatory School who have both been selected for the uMgungundlovu U13 District Hockey Squad.

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Thanks to our awesome sterilisation team, we were able to sterilise another 14 dogs yesterday. Thank you Dr Lee Pachonick from Midmar Vet Clinic and the awesome team of assistants, Diana Santoro , Debbie Cooke and the Funda Nenja team consisting of Nomonde, Bongani, Hlamulo, Jabulile and Sbusiso. Our driver, Aubrey, had a busy day driving all the kids and dogs home after the dogs had recovered from their surgery. We are blessed to have such and amazing team.

The Tortoise Project

And... the time had come for yet another release...

But first, we needed to have a vet clearance check done, so a special thanks to Dr Martin De Scally and his team at Hilton Vet Hospital, with their amazing new CT scanner!! This incredible piece of equipment does away with the old x-ray route and is just that much more effective in checking these Tortoises from the inside out. 

This time we were planning to release a Speke's Hinge Tortoise. Once cleared by the vet, we can plan the trip taking this Tortoise back into the wild where it belongs. 

Do you love what we do, and how we do it... 

If you would like to be a part of The Tortoise Project, please consider sponsoring a Tortoise to get back home in the wild where it belongs.

Banking details on our website: https://freemewildlife.org/support-us/donate

Reference: Tortoise

Treverton College team once again sets out to do the Drakensberg Grand Traverse with the first girls to partake

The Drakensberg Grand Traverse is the highest, hardest, and longest hike in South Africa. It stretches along 250km of the Drakensberg escarpment from the Sentinal Car Park in the North (near Harrismith) to Bushman’s Nek in the South (near Underberg). Hikers climb over 11,000 vertical meters, ascending as high as 3480 m above sea level and sometimes descending below 3000 m; the average altitude throughout the walk is 3000m/a/s/l. We will also summit the five highest peaks along the escarpment, namely: Mont-aux-Sources (3281 m), Champagne Castle (3377 m), Mafadi (3450 m), Giants Castle (3319m) and Thabana Ntlenyana (3489 m).

In 2022, Treverton College was the first school team to complete the Drakensberg Grand Traverse. Jarred van Alphen and Kai Broom managed to complete the traverse in 10 days. This year, the aim is to have the first school girls in a school team complete the traverse from the 25th of March 2023 to the 8th of April 2023. Karijn Kooy and Georgie Thompson are both Grade 12 girls with a number of years of experience walking in the Drakensberg. They will form part of a 10-person team made of three school boys (Alexander and Konstantino Giokos, Daniel Jonck), Mr Kean Broom (the school Headmaster), Mr Derek Brown, Miss Chanelle Oosthuizen, Mr Shaun Robertson and our cameraman Ethan Lundy. The goal is to complete the traverse over 15 days.

Having enough food for 15 days is a challenge and necessitates two ‘food drops’. The first will be hiked up the Organ Pipes Pass by a separate team of Treverton College hikers on Day 5. To reduce the weight of this food drop for those bringing it up to us, we have chosen to go with dehydrated food provided by the Trail Food Company. The second will be driven up to Sani Pass Pub on Day 12 where we look forward to having a hot meal. You can follow their progress on the link: https://maps.findmespot.com/s/GM5H

Matric boys attempt 100km unassisted run over the Traverse

Although Jarred van Alphen and Kai Broom are not part of the Drakensberg Grand Traverse trip this year, they are partaking in a 100 km run from the Northern Traverse accompanied by experienced trail runner Pierre Jordaan. Carrying their supplies, they hope to achieve the 100 km run along the escarpment within 30 hours, starting at 5am on the 27th of March. The group will be unsupported; however, using a tracking device, they can be followed. The link for this is here: https://maps.findmespot.com/s/842Y

Altogether this trip promises to be a physical and mental challenge. We will need to rely on each other in order to navigate the many challenges that we are likely to face. One of the main factors will be the mountain weather, which is often temperamental and adds to the adventure and difficulty. To help us navigate the many challenges and make our experience that much more enjoyable, the following companies have partnered with us and helped to sponsor kit and transport; Skull Candy; Cold Storage Management Solutions; Performance Brands (First Ascent and SCS worldwide logistics who donated Cape Storm bags); Berkshire Meats; Halfway Toyota; Tecmed Pharma; The Trail Food Company; and Van Buul International (VBI); Angel Fish Public Relations and Events. We are incredibly grateful for the assistance.

Article by Shaun Robertson, Treverton College teacher.

Pictured Above

Seated: Kai Broom, Jarred van Alphen
Front Row: Karijn Kooy, Georgie Thompson
Back Row; Alex Giokis, Konstantino Giokis, Mr Shaun Robertson, Daniel Jonck

Pictured Below

Front Row; Karijn Kooy, Georgie Thompson
Back Row; Alex Giokis, Konstantino Giokis, Daniel Jonck

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PADCA and HADCA, two of the largest organisations focused on serving the older adults of the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, are set to merge after their members voted unanimously for this union.

Both have impressive track records in the field and bring strong individual qualities to the table. There is a long-standing congenial relationship, which has culminated in this collaboration.

“As non-profit and public benefit organisations, it is important for us to ensure our sustainability for the long-term because it gives confidence to those in our communities. Through our person-centered approach, we meet the needs of older adults while balancing the lifestyle they want to have, their health, and their finances,” commented PADCA CEO, Trevor Clowes. “By merging, we can better adapt to the changing environment, remain relevant in an increasingly competitive market, and ensure that we continue to empower ageless living. Our continuum of products and services, and our approach will remain at the heart of what we do. Our community service team will guide residents through this merger. For most residents in PADCA or HADCA villages, the transition will be an easy process, with their day-to-day experiences remaining much the same”.

John Hughes, CEO of HADCA, remarked “I am confident that with this merger, our two long-standing organisations serving older adults in this area, will now grow from strength to strength. There are good reasons why the Kwa-Zulu Natal Midlands is the current retirement Mecca in South Africa and we are excited to have our excellent facilities, in this special part of the world, as part of this new organisation.”

The synergy between HADCA and PADCA will increase their geographic and market share in an increasingly competitive space. Pooling resources and skills will improve and expand the service and product basket offered. The new organisation will leverage the opportunity for growth in affordable villages for older adults in the Pietermaritzburg, Hilton and Howick areas - a hotspot for this kind of living, which is especially appealing to those who are semi-grating from big cities in South Africa to the KwaZulu Natal Midlands.

Pictured here: Prof Mark Lang (Chairman of PADCA), Trevor Clowes (CEO of PADCA), John Hughes, (CEO of HADCA) and Malcolm Powell, (Chairman of HADCA) working on a smooth transition.  

Enrica Van Der Linden from EVDL Architectural Design, and Kim Williams from Kim Williams Design, haven’t quite got their heads out of the clouds just yet.

At the end of last year, the formidable duo was internationally recognised with four honourable mention awards at the International Design Awards (IDA) for their Enamel Clinic Design Project titled Organic Harmony. The celebrated Cape Town based interior designer and her architectural-genius associate were collectively tasked with transforming 1000m2 Enamel Clinic space in the mother city into something that was comforting, soothing to the soul and a world away from the sterile unattractiveness typically associated with dental practices.

Work began during the height of the pandemic and despite this placing additional pressure on the entire team, their bespoke and sustainable, never-seen-before concept has quite literally been the talk of the design world. It earned them a place in the official selection of projects for the IDA and even a finalist position for the coveted Loeries Award in the Interior Design subcategory.

They share their fantastic achievements with their client, Enamel Clinic, who undoubtedly have been the biggest winners. Not only does their beautiful and enticing new space create a unique customer experience, but it has also improved employee morale and created a four-fold increase in revenue.

There have been several plusses for the professionals too, who explain that entering any type of competition, whether local or international, is a dream come true for any designer worth their salt.

“Not only is it a wonderful opportunity to showcase to the world our creativity, hard work and passion for our craft, but it gives us recognition and helps set us apart from others in the industry,” says Van Der Linden.

It’s a sentiment echoed by Williams who credits confidence as the biggest takeaway from their fantastic win. “For designers like us, being acknowledged and being able to showcase our work on the same platform as some of the best in the world is a huge achievement and a lifelong dream. It just boosts the confidence our clients have in us and our designs.”

Sprinkling magic from the very beginning
The Enamel Clinic was a very special project from the get-go and one that doesn’t come around often for designers.

“The client gave us complete design freedom to execute our vision for their space and once they had seen the visualisation of the design, they were exceptionally excited by what it could do for their brand,” says Van Der Linden.

There were plenty of challenges along the way, especially with regards to technical equipment which had to be positioned correctly but most of these tend to be unnoticeable to the naked eye.

A lot of thought went into creating a space that was not just functional but was soul comforting. Using curves instead of straight walls, floors and ceilings, and rounded shapes, as well as sustainable elements and décor pieces from local artisans, they transformed a space giving it an organic and harmonious feel, making clients feel more connected to nature and leading them out of a defensive state - a central behavioural psychology strategy.

Whilst it was overwhelming and daunting to submit all the required documents for the awards, the process did give the duo a welcome chance to reflect on how beautifully their design and décor ideas married together.

“This entire process validated our holistic approach; from understanding the client, their brand, and the experiences they were trying to create, and then translating that into a visual and sensory experience with interior elements that enhanced our clean, organic, and very minimalist design,” says Williams.

Looking ahead, the future for this creative partnership looks incredibly promising. “Often as a designer, it is challenging to motivate your clients into a new way of thinking and shift their vision towards something they are not accustomed to seeing every day. The awards demonstrate to our clients that they can trust our design vision for their spaces.”

To close, Williams and Van Der Linden share the following five top tips for any budding designers who have their sights set on earning a gong or two in the next few years:

1. It’s never about you – the core of any good design is being able to understand what someone else is trying to achieve and the experience they want to create.
2. Be as unique as you can: good design is never a cut and paste and so try and bring something unique to the project that will make it special.
3. Don’t compromise – no matter how small the budget is, never compromise on a sustainable design concept.
4. Be fearless: Keep pushing boundaries and taking risks. That is when the most beautiful designs come to life.
5. Show up for your client – give it your best always. Hard work pays off.

To read more about architectural designer, Enrica van der Linden, visit www.enricavanderlinden.co.za, and for more about interior designer and behaviour strategist, Kim Williams, go to www.kimwilliams.co.za

Pictured here: Enrica on the left with Kim on right.

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March 2023 sees Knight celebrate its 34th Birthday. We are incredibly proud of our dedicated Team of staff, many of whom are long-serving and committed to community safety, making sure we continually deliver quality service to our clients and our community. Congratulations to Gary Preston who installed the very first alarm in Howick in 1989 and now owns KSS and continues to give back to our community.

“Meet the Team”
We will be sending out “Meet the Team” updates over the next few months. This is a great way for our clients and the community to get to know some of the faces and K9 Team who work tirelessly behind the scenes to make our community driven company successfully tick over.

Keyholder information
Please update your residential and business key holder information regularly so that the KSS Control Room always has updated information, as well as accurate opening and closing times. Please call the Control Room on 033 330 5911 and one of our controllers will assist you.

More about Knight Security Solutions

'We are delighted to congratulate our Engineering Graphics and Design educator, Mr Carl Kobus, who was recognised at the uMgungundlovu District NSC Awards Ceremony yesterday for achieving 100% with Quality Pass in the 2022 NSC examinations. This was based on the ratio of distinctions achieved by learners in his class. Age Quod Agis, Mr Kobus!' said Howick High about this proud moment.