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SPAR KZN School Girls Hockey Challenge

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Nine first team girls’ schools will take to the field in the first of the SPAR KZN School Girls Hockey Challenge at St Dominic’s Academy on Saturday 27 February.

The exciting news is the nine teams get to ‘christen’ the recently laid astro-turf at host school, St Doms; the first astro-turf in Newcastle.  The tournament will be the first major action that the turf sees.

“It is fantastic to see how the game is growing throughout our region.” stated Tournament Director, Les Galloway. “Since its inception we have seen turfs being laid at a number of the ‘outlying areas’ which is a very encouraging sign, and just awesome to see that the schools are encouraging the sport to grow and advance.”

Schools that will be joining host school St Dominics Academy are five times winner of the tournament, Ferrum High School, runners up in last year’s tournament Dundee High School and Pionier Hoër Skool who placed fourth last year. Raring to go are Pongola Akademie who were silver finalists in 2014, together with Utrecht High School; Vryheid High School; Newcastle High School and Sarel Cilliers High School from Glencoe, Umzinyathi.

25minute games will be played on two fields with the teams being broken up into two pools with the winners of the pools going into a semi-final format. In pool A are Ferrum; Dundee; Pongola and Utrecht and in pool B are Vryheid; St Doms; Newcastle; Sarel Cilliers and Pionier.

In charge of the games, the schools have nominated their best umpire to represent them. At the end of each regional, an umpire is awarded the status of the Most Promising Umpire.The most promising umpire of each regional receives an invitation for them to expand their umpiring career at the finals in Durban in July.

The umpires this year are T. Van Niekerk from Ferrum High School; L. Rebeiro from Dundee High School; K. Mazibuko from Pongola Akademie; T. Labuschagne from Utrecht High School; C. Boack from Vryheid High School; last year’s Most Promising Umpire Ansie Joubert from St Dominic’s Academy Newcastle; O. Leach from Newcastle High School; D. Pinder from Sarel Cilliers High School and S. Currie from Pionier Hoër Skool.

MD for SPAR, Rob Philipson enthused, “Our tournament has certainly grown and it is truly great to see how every corner of our province has become involved in this fantastic game. I wish the nine teams participating in this regional, and every team taking part this sixth SPAR KZN School Girls Hockey Tournament this year, the best of luck.”

The winner of the Northern KZN Regional will travel down to Durban to participate in the Grand Finals of the SPAR KZN School Girls Hockey Challenge that takes place at St Mary’s DSG over the weekend of 23 and 24 July.

For more info like the Facebook page.

Durbanite
Author: Durbanite

Attractions

Familie Fest 2026

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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.

mrjoelmagic
Author: mrjoelmagic

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Business

Barkies: Homemade Pet Treats

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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)

Shelley
Author: Shelley

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Business

Playtime Rentals: Rent. Play. Repeat.

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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

Shelley
Author: Shelley

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