Connect with us

News

Illovo Sugar SA sweeten the deal for Durban’s lifesaving heroes

Published

on

Illovo Sugar SA recently handed over 100 sets of new branded kit to one of SA’s leading Lifesaving Clubs – The Suncoast Pirates Lifesaving Club (LC) in Durban. The purchase of sun hats, training costumes, shorts and protective long-sleeved shirts form part of Illovo Sugar’s ongoing sponsorship of Suncoast Pirates and their support of the KZN community as a whole, while promoting a healthy balanced lifestyle.

“The new kit will allow for Suncoast Pirates LC to be instantly recognisable to the Durban community. These heroes work long shifts and their important duties often go unnoticed. We are very proud to support such a wonderful club that provides a great service and necessary water safety to not only Durban residents and visitors, but they also provide valuable training to new lifesavers who service all our beaches and inland water areas,” said Darrell de Wet, Illovo Sugar SA’s Marketing and Communications Manager.

Suncoast Pirates Lifesaving Club has one of the premier positions on the Durban Beachfront and the club also lays claim to hosting the oldest ski race in the world – the Pirates-Mhlanga-Pirates race every June. The local club has a proud history of producing top athletes who have represented their province and country since the club’s inception in 1927. Their latest top performing members include Alexandra Chislett and Seiyuran Perumal who were named the respective female and male top competitors of championships in the U14 age category at the SA Surf Championships and went onto dominate the SA Still Water Champs both breaking SA records.

Seyuran Perumal, Alexandra Chislett and Darrell de Wet

Seyuran Perumal, Alexandra Chislett and Darrell de Wet

Brad Pearse, Club Chairman of The Suncoast Pirates Lifesaving Club explained that although participating and doing well in competitions is an important aspect of the club – the primary focus of the club is to create a healthy family environment and instill a sense of pride and responsibility for providing the service of lifesaving for the community through their duties. “Suncoast Pirates LC is made up of an impressive and diverse group of individuals that all share the same passion, determination and drive. We have lifesavers that have been with us for many years and are an integral part of the community they serve. Although we are exceptionally proud of the members who represent KZN and SA in this sport, we also take great pride in the members at our club that have taken this sport into the disadvantaged communities to teach underprivileged kids and communities the importance of water safety. The reality is that we live in a country where a large portion of the youth are uneducated or come from disadvantaged homes and the Suncoast Pirates LC has enabled a number of these kids to be exposed to lifesaving and water safety. Many of them have gone onto become fully-fledged members of Pirates LC and they see the club as an extended family. Through our various programmes and training we have also been able to provide people with skill sets that result in job creation allowing some people to build a career out of the sport and to travel internationally. However, without the support of our sponsors, Suncoast Casino Hotels and Entertainment and Illovo Sugar SA, none of this would be possible. Running a lifesaving club is financially challenging with all the equipment, training and overhead expenses incurred so we are very grateful for their unwavering support over the years which allows us to keep serving and safeguarding the community,” concluded Pearse.

Durbanite
Author: Durbanite

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Attractions

Familie Fest 2026

Published

on

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

Continue Reading

Business

Barkies: Homemade Pet Treats

Published

on

By

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

Continue Reading

Business

Playtime Rentals: Rent. Play. Repeat.

Published

on

By

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

Continue Reading
Advertisement

We Are Social

Trending