News

Close shave for missing Dusi pair

Published

12 years ago

13 February 2014

Tee

Dusi Bridge – The opening stage of the 2014 Dusi Canoe Marathon proved to be a case of hurry up and wait for the pair of Bob Harvey and Tony Ferguson as they were left stranded on a rock on a unpaddled stretch of river, off the conventional race course for four hours before finally being airlifted to safety by the race’s safety helicopter.

Safely back on dry land with nothing much more than a bruised ego, Harvey, with seven Dusis under the belt already, and Ferguson, a Dusi novice in 2014, may be enjoying a few frosties now but their day could easily have ended in far worse fashion.

“Shortly after the Campbell’s portage put-in we got accidentally pushed into the banks by another boat which ended up in us wrapping our boat around a rock,” explained Harvey.

“We tried to splinter it with branches and tape but we just kept taking on water. We thought that if we could just get ourselves to the Guinea Fowl portage take-out then we could try get someone to fiberglass our boat and we could see how we went from there.

“Somehow, though, we missed the take-out and ended up swimming down a nasty rapid, onto a large rock island in the middle of the river.”

“We couldn’t go back up the rapid, we couldn’t carry on swimming down, we were completely stuck!”

Ferguson explained how the two summed up their options and soon realized there was little left to do other than sit it out and wait for help to arrive.

“We tried to figure out what the right thing to do was. We tried to get out but we just couldn’t so eventually decided to just stay put and wait,” said Ferguson.

Fortunately for the pair, swift work by the event’s administrators shortly after the final paddlers crossed the line meant the search for the missing two commenced immediately and the unchartered waters were eventually explored after the usual stretch of river was scoured numerous times by air.

“It was a huge relief to finally see the helicopter!” said Ferguson. “We had just been sitting on that rock waiting for hours!”

“Fortunately the rock we were on was just big enough for the chopper to touch down and, with some really good aerial skill, they dropped down and picked us up,” added Harvey with a grateful giggle.

Despite initially being a little shaken up, the pair were soon spotted enjoying a couple of the sponsors’ product and having a good laugh at their earlier experience.

“We’re already onto our third long-tom Hansa!” laughed Harvey. “Everyone always has a few paddling stories to share around the campfire and now we’ve got one of our own!”

“I can’t quite believe it but I guess it’s just one of those things,” he added.

While slightly worried about their health at the time, that wasn’t what concerned the pair the most during their time astray.

“The Dusi is such a fantastic organization so we knew they wouldn’t leave us out there,” said Harvey.

“We were more worried about the reaction of our wives,” he chuckled.

“The event had had such a great atmosphere in the build up to the race,” added Ferguson however the novice decline to commit just yet as to whether he would be back again in 2015.

“It’s a little early to say. We’ll have to see in a little while,” he laughed.

More information can be found at www.dusi.co.za

Author: Tee

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Attractions

Familie Fest 2026

Published

2 months ago

5 February 2026

mrjoelmagic

Familie Fest 2026 Brings Live Music and Family Fun to Hillcrest

Everything You Need to Know About Familie Fest 2026

Familie Fest arrives in Hillcrest for a full weekend of live music, family-friendly entertainment and relaxed festival energy, taking place on Friday 29 and Saturday 30 May 2026 at NU Driving Range.

Designed as an all-ages outdoor music festival, Familie Fest brings together South African artists, open space, activities for kids and adults, and a format that allows families and friend groups to spend the entire day together without feeling rushed.

Event Details

Date: Friday 29 & Saturday 30 May 2026
Venue: NU Driving Range Fields, Hillcrest
Time: From 10am daily
Age Restriction: All ages
Bar Area: Over 18s only

Tickets available via:
• Familie Fest Website
• Webtickets
• Utickets

Ticket Pricing

• Kids under 4: Free
• Kids 4–12: From R129
• Teens 13–17: From R145
• Adults: From R199 to R245

Group Ticket Specials

• Buy 5 tickets, get 1 free: R1,250
• Buy 9 tickets, get 1 free: R2,100

Group tickets are limited and valid for adults or kids.

Camping add-ons are available separately and include access to a secure camp zone with toilets, showers, lighting and security.

Line-up (More to Be Announced)

The initial line-up includes a mix of established and popular South African acts:

• Francois van Coke
• Kurt Darren
• Van Pletzen
• Veranda Panda
• Appel

Friday features acoustic-focused sessions, while Saturday hosts the main acts. Additional artists will be announced closer to the event.

What to Expect

Familie Fest is structured as a full-day festival rather than an evening-only concert, with gates opening at 10am and activities running throughout the day and into the evening.

Across the festival grounds, attendees can expect:
• Live music performances
• A dedicated kids zone
• Arts and crafts activities
• Food and drink vendors
• Potjie competitions
• Access to the driving range
• Putt putt, go-karts and paintball
• Optional secure camping facilities

The layout allows families to spread out, relax and move between music, activities and rest areas at their own pace.

What You Can and Can’t Bring

Allowed:
Umbrellas, camp chairs, blankets, gazebos, bags, towels, baby gear.

Not Allowed:
Cooler boxes, outside food and drink, weapons, fireworks, sound systems, pets, sports or play equipment, bikes or braais.

Camp Zone Only:
Cooler boxes, food and drink, and braais are permitted within the designated camping area.

Why Familie Fest Works

Familie Fest positions itself as a genuinely inclusive festival, catering to families with young children, teens, and adults who want to enjoy live music without the pressure of a late-night-only format. With space to move, activities beyond the main stage, and a line-up that appeals across age groups, it offers a different kind of festival experience for the KZN calendar.

For families looking to introduce kids to live music, groups planning a social weekend, or anyone wanting an outdoor festival that runs at a comfortable pace, Familie Fest ticks all the right boxes.

Author: mrjoelmagic

Business

Barkies: Homemade Pet Treats

Published

4 months ago

9 December 2025

Shelley

Freshness You Can Trust, Impact You Can See! 🐾
Looking for treats that are genuinely good for your furry (or hoofed!) family members?

Welcome to Barkies—where every treat is baked with love, fresh ingredients, and a commitment to animal welfare.

We believe in complete transparency. Our treats are always homemmade with fresh, natural ingredients, and we are proud to tell you exactly what goes into every single bite.

✨ Year-End Combo Special: Spoil Your Pup! ✨
To celebrate the year, we’re making it easy to spoil your dog with the best of Barkies:

Item Details
12 Pupcakes Choose your dog’s favourite flavour!
500g Fresh Dog Treats Choose your flavour!
Combo Price R220

This is the perfect package for holiday gatherings, puppy parties, or just showing extra love!

🌍 Treats with a Heart
We’re not just about delicious treats; we’re about giving back. Barkies donates 20% of every single sale to incredible animal charities right here in Durban. When you buy from us, you’re directly helping local animals in need.

🥕 Simple, Delicious & Safe
Our treats are simple but delicious and contain no nasty preservatives. Please store all Barkies products in the fridge or freezer to keep them fresh.

We make treats for dogs, cats, and horses!

🎉 BARKIES YEAR-END COMBO IS ON! 🎉

Get 12 Pupcakes + 500g Dog Treats (Flavours of your choice) for R220!

✅ Homemade, Fresh & Natural
✅ Treats for Dogs, Cats & Horses
✅ 20% Donated to Durban Animal Charities!

ORDER NOW: WhatsApp Bianca on 076 190 0442 (Collection or Delivery available)

Author: Shelley

Business

Playtime Rentals: Rent. Play. Repeat.

Published

7 months ago

6 October 2025

Shelley

Tired of spending a fortune on toys your kids play with for five minutes, only for them to get bored? We get it! That’s exactly why Playtime Rentals was born, a smarter, more affordable way to keep playtime fun, fresh, and exciting for your little ones.

Based in Ballito and serving families from Ballito to Durban North, we provide premium, sanitized toys that you can rent instead of buy.

What We Offer:

Playtime Rentals provides a wide range of high-quality toys for boys and girls aged 3 to 7 years.

From:
– Pretend-play sets for little imaginations
– Balance bikes and ride-ons for active adventures
– Party rentals like bubble machines & toddler coasters

We’ve got fun covered, without the clutter or cost of constantly buying new toys.

How It Works:

✔ Browse our toy catalogue on WhatsApp or download it from our website
✔ Book your toys by completing the short booking form & submitting documents
✔ Pay & Play. Make full payment + refundable damages deposit
✔ Collect in Ballito or book delivery straight to your door
Then… play, return, repeat. It’s really that simple!

Why Parents love Playtime Rentals:
– Save money on toys kids outgrow
– Reduce clutter and reclaim your space
– Swap toys monthly with a fun toy rotation system
– Encourage sustainable play (less waste, more fun!)
– Keep playtime exciting with something new each month

With Playtime Rentals, your kids enjoy endless variety, and you enjoy less stress and more savings.

Check them out here:
www.playtimerentals.co.za