Vote for your top Hinds Spices Chesa Champion and win!

Hinds Spices is on the hunt to discover Mzansi’s best Shisa Nyama. The proudly South African spice brand known for making meals taste bigger, bolder, and better is turning up the heat this summer as Shisa Nyama’s in Soweto compete for the title of Hinds Spices Chesa Champion. 

The spice rack essential will kick-off the search for Mzansi’s Chesa Champion across key Shisa Nyama’s in Soweto in November. Ten selected Shisa Nyama’s will form part of the Hinds Spices Chesa Championship and voted by consumers who stand a chance to win a share of R10 000 cash vouchers.

“The aim of the campaign is to discover Mzansi’s best Shisha Nyama and give them an opportunity to showcase their flavours in partnership with Hinds Spices and claim the title of Hinds Spices Chesa Champion,” says Shevani Singh - Brand Manager for Hinds Spices, at RFG Foods

“The campaign will be activated across ten outlets over two months with activations allowing consumers to come and taste the bold flavours of Hinds Spices used in authentic South African dishes,” she says. “Consumers can vote for their favourite Shisa Nyama via What’s App and stand a chance to win a share of R10 000.”

“The Shisa Nyama crowned the Chesa Champion will walk away with a grand prize worth R50,000,” Singh adds. “As a brand we always aim to give our valuable consumers something extra to be excited about, while adding flavour to their lives, therefore this campaign is perfectly aligned to us giving our consumers and the community where they live more.”

Maria Soares, head of marketing at RFG Foods, says that the brand is very excited to launch such a proudly South African campaign through a mealtime moment that’s beyond just about sharing great tasting food but is truly a celebration of life and coming together with those closest to you. “We are big on family moments and look forward to growing our Hinds Spices family one plate of Shisa Nyama at a time,” she says.

The championship kicks-off in November so keep an eye on the Hinds Spices social media platforms and pay your favourite Shisa Nyama outlet in Soweto a visit, to see how you can get involved and add some flavour to your well-deserved summer festivities.

Get down one of the participating Shisa Nyama’s to taste their signature dishes and cast your vote:

1. Skype Lounge: 1223 Sofasonke Street Orlando East Soweto 1804 Johannesburg, South Africa
2. 13 November – Zonke Bonke
3. 14 November – Disoufeng: (Meadowlands, 3166 Shinkova, Meadowlands West Zone 10, Meadowlands West, 1803)
4. 20 November – Meat Meet (16137 Marthinus Smuts Drive, Diepkloof Zone 3, Diepkloof, 1862)
5. 21 November – PDL Lifestyle (Modoba St &, Modjaji St, Pimville, 1809)
6. 4 December – Kwa Lichaba (8033 Xorile St, Orlando West, Soweto, 1804)
7. 5 December – Chafphozi (Cnr Chris Hani & Nicholas str, Orlando Towers, Soweto)
8. 11 December – Roadhouse Pub & Grill (33540 Vuzane St, Dobsonville, Soweto, 1863)
9. 12 December – C4 Grill (GL 1 Ormonde Shopping Centre, 18 Crownwood St, Ormonde, Johannesburg, 2091)
10. 18 December – Whitehouse Ndofaya (93A Msimango Street, Meadowlands Zone 5, 1852 Soweto)

For more info visit the Hinds Spice website: www.hindsspices.co.za or Facebook and Instagram pages #CHESACHAMPIONS

The Rand Show is one of this country’s most iconic events on the annual entertainment and exhibition calendar. To continue to deliver an even more exciting offering in 2020, the team has announced not only a new look and feel for the event, but also a brand new, thrilling journey of discovery with something for everyone – from visitors through to exhibitors.

 “In 2020, we aim to surprise people with a brand-new journey.  While we will always celebrate what has made The Rand Show one of the most loved events of the year, added variety will mean each visitor can discover something unique, or of value to them. This positioning also makes the event the ideal platform for exhibitors to showcase and participate, and we are already seeing good uptake from a wide and new range of brands with everything from furniture to perfumes and beauty products, to crafts, services and more. With something for everyone, a day at The Rand Show will be an extraordinary day - creating a great memory” says Craig Newman, CEO Johannesburg Expo Centre. 

Examples of some of the exciting new additions include a highly interactive Kids Zone; a Foodie Zone delivering on-trend produce and experiences such as craft breweries and gin tasting, a coffee and chocolate experience and delicious food tasters; as well as new Lifestyle, Design, Entertainment, Outdoor and Action and Retail zones. In addition, a significant attraction for visitors in 2019 was the incredible competitions and prizes available, something that will be repeated and made even bigger and better in 2020. 

"The refresh of the brand identity and positioning also demonstrates our desire to make the Rand Show experience a personal one for every visitor. Bright, bold, fun colours and happy people – discovering something meaningful, unique and impactful at the show,” concludes Newman. 

This is one super-sized event that you definitely don’t want to miss. With an entire day’s worth of out-of-this-world entertainment and retail packed into each and every ticket, make the 2020 event #myrandshow! 

To exhibit/participate in any way at the 2020 event, please contact Didi Okoro at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  or Willem Jordaan at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

www.randshow.co.za

rAge has secured its spot as one of the most mind-blowing events to take place in Joburg each year. 2018 saw over 34 000 gamers and geeks swarm the TicketPro Dome, and this year visitors will once again cross the threshold to a three-day thrill-fest to get lost in the fantasy-inspired whirlwind of gaming, cosplay, geek culture, tech and gaming merch that is Planet rAge.  

rAge 2019 has been ramped up another level with a brand-new look and feel, with the introduction of an awesome new logo, that rings in a new era of incredible for the event.  

"The industry we're in is always updating things, pushing boundaries and doing something new. We've had the same look and feel for the rAge logo since we started out in 2003, so it was long overdue for a refresh!" Michael James, Senior Project Manager. 

Tickets for the expo are on sale now and tickets to the NAG LAN, Southern Africa’s largest BYOC (Bring Your Own Computer/Console) LAN, will be on sale from 27 July via the rAge website, so keep your eyes peeled because they move like lightning.

The annual rAge expo, now in its 17th year, offers visitors a full weekend of gaming, technology, gadgets and geek lifestyle entertainment. Fantasy fanatics can literally immerse themselves in the culture, explore, touch and try out the latest gaming goods available, and escape reality completely. 

New games to play, the latest gaming hardware to try out, esports play and spectating, locally developed games, show specials, competitions and giveaways – the weekend is going to be so jam-packed with things to do, play and see. Seriously, it’s going to blow your mind. 

Check out www.rageexpo.co.za and come along to Planet rAge – You don’t want to miss this!

 #rAgeExpo2019 #comeandplay #17yearsofawesome #agalaxyofgeek 

EVENT DETAILS:

When is rAge?

Friday 27 September – 10h00-18h00Saturday 28 September – 09h00-18h00Sunday 29 September – 09h00-16h00 

Where is rAge?

The TicketPro Dome, Johannesburg 

How do I buy tickets to rAge 2019?

Online here or at Ticketpro outlets

Day Pass – R160 per person (ticket valid for entry for one day only)

Weekend Pass – R320 per person (ticket valid for entry for all three days)

Children under 6 are free

The following tickets are only available to purchase at the door:

Family Pass – R540 per family (ticket valid for one day for 2 adults + 2 children aged between 6 & 18)

Student Pass – R110 per person (ticket valid for Friday only upon presentation of valid student card) 

How do I stay connected?

To stay up to date with all the rAge announcements and additional info, follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram or go to www.rageexpo.co.za. 

A Feast of Flight’s third annual pole dance production presents a twist on the classic “The Wizard of Oz”, as we follow Doug on a journey to complete transformation after running for number one spot in the Emerald City Drag Race. This July join Doug on a trip down the yellow brick road and meet all the weird and wonderful characters he runs into along the way.

From his encounters with the Scarecrow, the Tinman and the Cowardly Lion, to Glinda the Diva of Oz, the Wicked Witch and the Wizard; Doug experiences a new lease on life when he realises his true self, Doris. A Feast of Flight is a one of a kind extravaganza created and produced by The Pole Project (in Woodstock), presented in collaboration with instructors and students from numerous studios around the city: AIR Fitness Studio (in Bellville), Pole Dance Cape Town (in the CBD), Vertical Secrets (in Table View) and Wild Pole Flow Movement (in Bergvliet).

The first of its kind, A Feast of Flight 2017 was a contemporary play on Lewis Caroll’s Alice in Wonderland, where we followed Alistair down a rabbit hole of dubious choices and bad influences until he eventually slayed his "jabberwocky" demons. In 2018, we met the peculiar confectionary maven, Willy Wonka and his famous Oompa Loompas as we followed five competitors battling it out to be the new “face” of the brand.

This year’s show is set to be just as fabulous as years past and the storyline just as quirky. Director of A Feast of Flight and owner of The Pole Project, Kathy Lee, says; There’s no shortage of familiar classic stories and fairy tales to choose from when we start conceptualising a theme.

The trick is to choose a storyline that can be updated to be made more accessible and relevant to a modern-day audience, but that’s also fun and creative to keep the audience enthralled. This year, ‘The Wizard of Oz’ came to mind”. “Of course, every production has its challenges. Trying to bring a story to life through dance and costumes alone is not an easy task.

Then it’s trying to coordinate routines and intense practice sessions between five different studios and performers who are just everyday individuals with full-time jobs. I believe that it is our extreme passion and determination that allows us to produce such a professional production year after year”, Lee continues.

Of the growing contribution of studios from across the city Lee says, “A Feast of Flight was essentially created in order to promote and showcase the artistic and athletic side of pole dance, because not many people regard the art form as such. And it was an opportunity for our students to show off their strength and abilities in front of a captivated audience. However, the event has grown to such an extent that we now have a number of studios on board that share the same vision. The fact that we have other studios expressing an interest in taking part each year is a real testament to the ever-expanding pole dance community and to what we’ve created”.

A Feast of Flight: Doris and the Wizard of Oz will take place on Friday, 26 and Saturday, 27 July from 7pm at the Joseph Stone Auditorium, corner of Protea and Klipfontein Roads in Athlone. Tickets for the event cost R255 per person and can be bought via Quicket (https://qkt.io/doris). Drinks and snacks will be on sale at the event. There will be secure parking provided around the Stadium. The show contains adult themes and parental guidance is advised.

Follow the event on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/events/2231347646955118/ or follow The Pole Project on Facebook @The Pole Project, Twitter @thepoleproject and Instagram @thepoleproject.

For more information contact The Pole Project on 021 461 0215, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit www.thepoleproject.co.za.

 It’s almost time once again for Joburg’s most iconic and well-loved family day out, and this year it is not simply going to be a show but is guaranteed to be an all-round show-stopper! Celebrating it’s 125th year anniversary, The Rand Show is synonymous with family entertainment on a grand scale, and this year, the injection of on trend content - to appeal to a whole new generation of Rand Show fans - will leave visitors wanting for nothing, except maybe a little more time to soak up the fun!

Early Bird tickets for the show are now open, and we all know that the proverbial early bird catches the worm, with the ‘worm’ being a Suzuki Swift and a tidy saving on the entry fee!

A limited number of early bird tickets are available online with a saving of up to R 70 on the ticket price, meaning that for as little as R 100 per adult and R 50 per child, the whole family can come along.  This great saving includes free entry into the Gaming Entertainment Pavilion, as well as automatic entry for every adult ticket purchased to win a set of adrenaline-charged wheels, sponsored by Suzuki.

Festival goers can get a taste for all the thrills of driving one of these little beauties at the Suzuki Adventure Zone.  Also, in the zone, for true adrenaline junkies, there is a 125m zip line to really get hearts racing.

Aside from pulse quickening adventure activities, the 125th celebration of Joburg’s Best Day Out includes the introduction of a host of family orientated and never-before seen attractions in a new Gaming Entertainment Pavilion. Gaming, Cosplay and Dance are just some of the new additions to the entertainment menu, and gaming junkies will be given their true fix with a Fortnite Gaming Tournament where R 100 000 is up for grabs.

The chance to win big is made even greater with awesome, reality inspired competitions such as the Jacaranda Clash of Ages live reality cooking show, as well as a public Talent Show that each boast R 125 000 in cash to the lucky winners. The list of prizes just goes on and on and includes an Easylife Kitchens home makeover, trips to Twitchcon USA, Chelsea Flower Show UK, Lesotho, Kirstenbosch Gardens and so much more. With all that and more up for grabs you literally have nothing to lose!

Well-loved Show favourites such as the gorgeous Garden and Home Flower and Décor Pavilion, Military displays and of course the fantastic fun fair have all been super-charged with the addition of a world class Fashion, Beauty and Fitness Expo which boasts some of the industries most recognised fitness fundi’s; as well as Cape Town’s famous Zip Zap Circus and the Drum Majorette Gold Cup.

With all this and so much more, the Rand Show has truly come full circle as one of the oldest and longest running lifestyle events in the world! 125 years of entertainment legacy is about to culminate in the biggest and best Show yet – one that South Africans simply cannot miss out on.

To book your Early Bird ticket today visit the Rand Show website or book through Computicket here.

Music lovers will enjoy dual EQ modes, exceptional comfort and hands-free convenience.

Johannesburg, South Africa – 1 May 2018 – Plantronics (NYSE: PLT), an audio pioneer and communications technology leader, recently announced its Plantronics BackBeat GO 600 Series: wireless, over-the-ear immersive headphones featuring unique capabilities for people who put music first, at an economical price point.

To ensure music lovers can create the listening experience they prefer, BackBeat GO 600 comes equipped with dual equalization (EQ) modes, to allow the listener to easily alternate between ‘Bass Boost’ and ‘Balanced’ EQ. Balanced EQ mode is Plantronics’ signature sound, which is tuned to be the most accurate possible representation of the source audio across all genres of music. Listeners can move between modes with a single push of a button – a feature not typically found on headphones in this price range. BackBeat GO 600 is slim and lightweight with an over-ear design and soft memory foam ear cushions that provide the ideal balance of comfort and isolation resulting in deep, rich sound with minimal distraction.

“Our core expertise in headphones, wireless and premium experiences make Plantronics uniquely qualified to give music lovers the best possible immersive stereo experience at an affordable price point,” said Greg Miller, director of portfolio business management, Personal Solutions, Plantronics. “Plantronics’ baseline standard in all of our products is to provide superior audio, consistent with that found in our premium products.” 

Additional BackBeat GO 600 Series features and benefits include:

• A rechargeable battery that delivers up to 18 hours of wireless listening time on a single charge.
• Remaining connected at up to 33 ft/10 m from Bluetooth® compatible smartphones and tablets.
• Ear cups that fold flat for easy storage and transport; ensuring comfort when worn around the neck.
• A carrying pouch, a USB cable for charging and an audio cable for direct connection for listening to music anytime, even if the battery is dead.
• Dedicated on-ear controls that make pause/play, skipping tracks, adjusting volume and taking calls easy.
• A wide band-enabled microphone that ensures voice clarity; answers calls or accesses Siri, Google Now, and Cortana hands-free via voice command. 

Pricing and Availability:

The BackBeat GO 600 Series will be available in South Africa soon through local distributors and partners. To find out more visit www.plantronics.com/za 

About Plantronics

Plantronics is an audio pioneer and a global leader in the communications industry. We create intelligent and adaptive solutions that support our customers’ most important needs: experiencing and facilitating simple and clear communications while enjoying distraction-free environments. Our solutions are used worldwide by consumers and businesses alike and are an optimal choice for open office environments. From Unified Communications and customer service ecosystems, to data analytics and Bluetooth headsets, Plantronics delivers high-quality communications solutions that our customers count on today, while relentlessly innovating on behalf of their future. For more information visit www.plantronics.com.za  

Plantronics and BackBeat are trademarks or registered trademarks of Plantronics, Inc. Plantronics, Inc. registered in the US and other countries. The Bluetooth trademark is owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and any use of the mark by Plantronics, Inc. is under license. Siri is a trademark of Apple Inc. registered in the US and other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

If you were going to make an effort for the Oscars, this Sunday’s one should probably be it - their 90th anniversary.

West Pack Lifestyle will help you set the scene.

But first, popcorn!

In the true spirit of Oscar night, what's the moves without popcorn, right? There's nothing cheaper, or more fun, so create a DIY popcorn bar of different flavours.

The most affordable way to serve them without compromising on your fun movie night feel is in old-school brown paper packets (R23.90 for 50 Brown Paper Packets S08) and stock up on popcorn sprinkles (available in 150g packets, R14.90 each from your nearest West Pack store in flavours like sour cream and chives, fruit and chutney, butter and cheese).

Cajun Popcorn: Combine a pinch each of salt, pepper, ground cumin, garlic powder, dried basil, dried thyme, paprika and cayenne pepper, and add to melted butter. Place air-popped corn in large bowl and toss in seasoning mixture to coat

Parmesan Popcorn: Combine equal quantities grated Parmesan cheese and melted butter with a dash each of Italian herbs and salt. Pour over warm air-popped corn and toss to coat.

Cinnamon Popcorn: Place 8 cups air-popped corn in a baking pan. In a small bowl, mix 1 lightly beaten egg white, ½ cup (125ml) sugar, 1 tsp (5ml) cinnamon and pinch of salt. Add to popcorn and bake in preheated 150°C oven, 20 minutes.

If you're thinking plain popcorn, we'll let you off the hook, but only if you dress it up with fun popcorn themed buckets!

46oz buckets 20 pack R49.9064oz buckets 20 pack R69.90

If you have a thing for emojis, or just want to add some fun to your movie night, you can opt for these fun emoji popcorn boxes instead (buy 12 for R29.90)

There’s nothing more festive than mason jars, so serve your popcorn with juice or cocktails in these fun similar themed mason jars with handles, lids and straws (buy 4 for R59.90).

The final (starry) touches

An Oscars party wouldn't be complete with stars! This recipe for star shaped chips could be used for anything really - just pop into your nearest West Pack store to choose from a variety of star shaped cookie cutters (from R22.90 to R64.90).

Unleash your crafty DIY side with these Starry Sparkles - perfect for decorating your tables, menus or faces - sure your brain is already ticking over with a few ideas (R24.90 for 8 mini bottles).  

Find your nearest West Pack Lifestyle or West Pack Express store on www.westpacklifestyle.co.za or find us on Facebook/westpacklifestyle

Complete your movie viewing with the latest projector, available exclusively from Homemation, the JVC DLA-Z1.

Cutting-edge technology built into every feature. Larger than life, simple to set up and the crispest colour display, puts it in a league of its own and takes home cinema to the next level. You can now fully enjoy beautiful picture quality with a powerful lifelike sense of realism for all types of video content, from movies to sports, music, documentaries, or 3D.

The projector also supports next-generation technologies and video. This new JVC Z1 projector will be the leader in the video entertainment of the future.Price R716 000.Homemation is the exclusive specialist South African suppliers of premium branded audiovisual and home theatre products.

The brands in their stable offer some of the most advanced and sought-after AV and home automation technologies in the world.

Call Homemation on 011-781 8887 for your nearest stockist, or visit www.homemation.co.za ; Facebook ; Twitter and Instagram.

In South Africa, approximately half of the population is under the age of 25. Due to the size and buying potential of the youth market, the segment is of great significance to brands planning to stimulate new demand and reach and engage with a highly diversified collective of young sub-cultures.

Miguel Correia of The Zinto Marketing Group comments, “Research conducted by our team of field marketers indicates that South Africa’s youth want authentic, meaningful experiences and interact with real people in their homes and communities. For this reason, youth marketing has become more about engagement and dialogue and less about pushing product information and talking at them. We realised this trend and adapted our approach and marketing efforts to keep pace with youth culture through active and dynamic engagement and carefully constructed, interactive promotional drives.”  

Brand activation can be used to create new approaches and unexpected, chance encounters between brands and young consumers. An experiential showcase gives youngsters the opportunity to interact with (and be part of) the consumer journey. Correira highlights trends for marketers to consider when targeting the youth market in South Africa:

Participatory culture

The evolution of consumer to creators and disseminators of information means the youth view themselves as extensions of important and popular brands and that they have played a role in creating connections and forming perceptions of well-known brands. The interaction is personal, and rather than imposing product information on them, they expect brands to facilitate authentic connections and real experiences.  

Truth seekers

Real relationships are important to the youth and brands’ consumer promises must be perceived as open, honest and transparent. With an abundance of brands, communication and touchpoints competing for their attention, the youth is growing increasingly sceptical of advertising and media messages and marketers’ attempts to capture their loyalty. The young people are socially aware and will not support brands that contradict their personal values and beliefs – attributes  such as integrity, truthfulness and trust are held in high regard and they will not support brands that are perceived as dishonest or do not live up to expectations.  It is important to achieve a more authentic role in these consumers’ lives using technology and social platforms but understand that young consumers will expose any false claims using  the same communication channels and  networks to make their ‘voices’ heard. 

The power of connection – driving brand and peer engagement simultaneously

Not only is technology a true enabler for Millennials – connection and experiential appeal extends beyond digital mediums and the ability to share with peers and others around them, it also creates a sense of belongingness and relationships within the community.  From a marketing perspective, the brands that have been most successful in capturing young consumers’ attention and imaginations are those that have leveraged and facilitated the sharing of experiences utilising young consumers’ voices and participation. 

For more information about Zinto, visit www.zinto.co.za  

#zajazzawards01 Today we are excited to announce the kick off of the first Mzantsi Jazz Awards (MJAs) season which will culminate with awarding the deserving South African jazz artists.

If you are fan of Jazz, you will know that South African jazz has grown in leaps and bounds and we also know that the jazz music even in its richness doesn’t enjoy the same publicity as its contemporaries within the South African music industry. The purpose of the awards is an effort to remedy the aforementioned situation.

The MJAs will be an annual event that recognises and appreciates Jazz music in the country. Artists and recording companies are invited to submit work produced during 1 April 2016 to 31 March 2017 for an award. Nominations may be submitted online by completing a nomination form on www.zajazzawards.co.za or download nomination form and email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Nominations are open from 19 May 2017 to 7nd of June 2017.
An official announcement of nominees will be made through direct communication with the artist, recording labels, producers and also announcement through media and website publishing by 27 of June 2017.

The AWARDS are scheduled to take place on the 11th of August 2017. All nomination process enquiries can be directed to Douglas Maximus at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 012 751 7608.