The battle lines have been drawn, their wands polished and their captivating magic acts perfected as Cape Town’s most charming teen magicians prepare to face off at the ultimate provincial magical showdown, the 2019 Western Cape Junior Magician Championships, at Bergvliet High School on Saturday 7 September 2019!

This annual battle of the wands is held by the prestigious College of Magic, Cape Town’s only magical arts organisation, and sees the Western Cape’s top magical teens face off in two categories: the intimate and bespoke art of Close-Up magic and the spectacular grandeur of Stage magic.

This year’s line-up of magical competitors include Alfred Baba, Liam Hewitson, Eneo Hollenbach, Luvo Mrolota, Sahil Samlal and Jenna Shorkend.

 Now in its 39th year of teaching the art of magic and its allied arts as well as vital life-skills to children and adults, the College of Magic, a non-profit organisation and the only one of its kind in the world, is ecstatic to once again present this popular annual charming event:

 “The Western Cape Junior Magician Championships is the first opportunity for our students and contestants from around the province to get a taste of the real-life competitive spirit of professional magic and showmanship. I’ve had a sneak peek behind the wizard’s curtain to see what the contestants have prepared and I can guarantee the judges and spectators that they are in for several incredible treats. Join us this September and see the wonderful magical sports for yourselves!”, says David Gore, director and founder of the College of Magic. 

Come and support your magical champions at the 2019 Western Cape Junior Magician Championships: 

A ringside seat ticket to all of the incredible action is available at R100 per person with discounts available for family bookings. The Close-Up magic contest will be held at 4pm while the Stage magic contest will follow at 7pm.

Remember – buy one ticket and it is valid for both shows – how magical is that?! 

An early bird special ticket for magic fanatics is available at R75 per ticket until 10 August 2019. 

Don’t miss THE magical battle of the year - get your Championship tickets TODAY at Quicket. 

For more information about the Western Cape Junior Magician Championships and the College of Magic, please visit www.collegeofmagic.com, call +27(0)21 683 5480 or follow them on Facebook @thecollegeofmagic.

An atmosphere of euphoria and cries of jubilation were felt and heard by all as Khayelitsha’s terrific township duo Anele Dyasi and Dion Wabanie were crowned the 2018 Western Cape Junior Close- Up and Stage Magician champions, respectively, at Bergvliet High School on Saturday 8 September 2018.

The Championships, hosted annually by the College of Magic, Cape Town’s only magical arts organisation, tests the competitors’ mettle in showmanship, visual appeal, presentation, technique, originality and entertainment value.

Going wand to wand with seven of their equally talented teenage peers, Dyasi (20) and Wabanie (20) pulled out all the stops to thrill audiences with an elegant money-centric close-up magic act and a hilarious sponge ball manipulation and comedy act.

Dyasi, a student at Northlink College and an experienced international magical contest competitor, having competed in the 2015 South African Magic Championships and at the International College Magic Convention in Beijing, China, is ecstatic to finally clinch the Close-Up title:

“I’ve been competing in the Western Cape Junior Magic Champs since 2011. This is my fifth competition and I have finally won. I am so very excited!”, says the happy champion.

A stunned Wabanie, a captivating performer with aspirations of cooking up all kinds of culinary wonders as a chef someday, is in awe of his Stage magic champion award:

“This was the second time I entered to compete in the Championships and I won! I am so honoured and encourage other teen magicians to enter too. It is amazing!” says the proud winner.

In addition to their Western Cape Junior Magician titles and awards, the  young champions were each awarded a much coveted performance slot at the prestigious Cape Town Magic Club, which opens the seventh season of its Monday Night Magic series at the Artscape Theatre on Monday 1 October 2018, by Club producer and founder Marcel Oudejans.

In a tense and exciting battle to charm audiences and judges alike, this year’s Championships’ runners-up, in Close-Up Magic, Siphesihle Ndayi (20), from Khayelitsha, and Luvo Mrolota (18), from Nyanga in Stage Magic, missed out on the titles by just half a point and 1 point in their respective categories.The dazzling duo, who astounded audiences with a wondrous original paper cup, ice-block and pizza close-up routine and a breath-taking classics of magic Stage illusion performance, are in high spirits and proud of their runner-up trophies:

“To see months of hard work and preparation come to life on stage, to know that we gave it our all and still be recognised for it, is a huge honour. We look forward to going for gold again in 2019!”, say the thrilled youngsters.

This year’s Supreme Up-and-Coming Supreme magic Trophy, which recognises the most promising contestant with successful performance skills and great potential, was awarded to Sahil Samlal. The 15-year-old from Century City will soon be representing South Africa on a magical tour of Las Vegas and New York, the entertainment and magic capitals of the world.

“2018 has already being such an incredible year, having been selected to meet my magical heroes in the USA and now being recognised for my passion and progress in the art of magic! I am beyond excited to see what the rest of the year holds”, says the aspiring professional magician.

The people’s choice award, the coveted 2018 Street Magician of the Year, went to an excited 13 year old from Khayelitsha, Mbalentle Mahlasela.

Each year, a panel of esteemed judges from across a multitude of entertainment fields, adjudicate this ultimate teenage battle of the wands. Stuart Taylor, a renowned South African comedian, an award-winning magician and a graduate of the College of Magic, was delighted with the standard of magic acts seen at this year’s Championships:

“What an amazing show these young kids put on for us! The standard of magic performances was really high - so well done to the finalists.I know how tough these magical competitions can be because I used to compete in them. My advice to aspiring contestants is to experiment with their acts, be true to who they are and try many things - you never know what will impress future judges!”, says the celebrated entertainer.

The College of Magic, now in its 38th year of teaching the art of magic and its allied arts as well as vital life-skills to children and adults, has hosted the Championships for more than 30 years.

 For more information about the College of Magic and its programmes, please visit www.collegeofmagic.com , call +27(0)21 683 5480 or follow them on Facebook.

The world famous College of Magic is set to welcome a new generation of would-be magicians to its mysterious Victorian manor base in Claremont in 2018.Registration for its entry levels courses, which commence on Saturday 3 February 2018, is now open.

Cape Town’s eager young learners are invited to come and learn the thrilling art of magic at the College of Magic, the only magical organisation of its kind in the world, through its beginner programmes:

• Course One, a 15-week introductory tour through the world of magic for budding young magicians from age 10 to 13.
• Magic and Showmanship course, an intensive 30 lesson programme providing high school students with a solid introduction to magic.

The ever-popular lessons will be held on Saturdays at the College ‘s enchanting century-old building, where, in addition to commencing their magical studies, new students will also have access to Africa's largest magic museum, a multi-purpose Imagination Centre, a magical library, the Magic Shop and more

In 2018, the College of Magic celebrates 38 years of teaching the theatrical performing art of magic and its allied arts as well as vital life-skills to children and adults. The organisation is excited to welcome its new recruits:

“Magic provides a wonderful new way of learning for students, imbuing them with confidence, the ability to perform and captivate an audience and hope to realise their dreams. We look forward to sharing these positive effects with our aspiring magicians and we cannot wait to share the wonder of magic with all of you! ”, says David Gore, director of the College of Magic.

Learn the art of magic:

The Course One and Magic and Showmanship courses will commence on Saturday 3 February 2018 and will run at the College of Magic (215 Imam Haron Road, Claremont). Fees for Course One (half year course) are R520 per month or R2 850 for full payment, and for the Magic and Showmanship course (full-year course) fees are R520 per month or R5 210 for the entire course. Fees include lessons, notes, magical equipment and allied arts such as puppetry, juggling and mime and clowning sessions.

To register, please call +27(0)21 683 5480 or send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

For more information please visit www.collegeofmagic.com.

The bustling town Piketberg in the Western Cape is now the proud hometown of nineteen of the brightest young magic stars who have graduated from the College of Magic’s Juggling and Cards Skills course at the awards ceremony, held at Steynville Primary School on Tuesday 19 September 2017. 

The Juggling and Cards Skills Course, a six-week training programme, which ran from Tuesday 15 August to Tuesday 19 September, forms part of the College of Magic, Cape Town’s only magical arts organisation’s Hope in Flight rural community project, and is funded by the National Lotteries Commission (NLC). 

The thrilling and interactive six-week course has seen the eager-to-learn youngsters, who are all learners at Steynville Primary School. successfully master basic card tricks and the hand to eye coordination necessary for juggling, under the magical tutelage of their course instructors Anele Dyasi and Olwethu Dyantyi.

 Dyantyi, a renowned South African magician and the face of world-famous beverage brand Coca Cola’s global relaunch campaign, is also the proud programme coordinator and is in awe of the new graduates: 

“It has been amazing to see how learning the art of magic has changed these students’ lives in such a short period of time. Their renewed sense of purpose and confidence are a great indication of how necessary the Hope in Flight programme is in rural communities and I hope to continue its success to other areas next year.” 

One student who is on a promising magical studies trajectory is 10-year-old Patricia Links. A studious young girl who impressed her course instructors with her willingness to be the first routine performer in class each week, Links is thrilled with her diploma:

 “I really enjoyed the challenge of learning a new magic effect and performing it for my classmates! I’m so keen to learn more about magic and visit the College of Magic in Cape Town someday”, says the thrilled learner.

The College of Magic, now in its 37th year of teaching the magic theatrical performing arts and its allied arts (including juggling, puppetry, mime and clowning), with a social and life- skills component to children and adults, is a non-profit organisation, based in Cape Town, and the only one of its kind in the world. 

The Juggling and Card Skills course forms part of the College of Magic’s community training programme, the Hope in Flight project, funded with a grant of R500 000 from the National Lotteries Commission (NLC) which supports disadvantaged students. The ‘Hope in Flight’ community programme is an extension of the College’s successful Magic in the Community programme, which provides young people from poor communities with the opportunity to participate in an innovative performing arts training and development programme and promote a platform for the understanding and affirmation of South Africa’s cultural diversity. 

The College of Magic is thrilled with the programme’s success: 

“It’s been an exciting year for our organisation as we’ve rolled out the Juggling and Cards Skills course to learners across the Western Cape, with the generous support of the National Lotteries Commission. Seeing the remarkable difference learning the art of magic has made in these youngsters’ lives and giving them hope for a better future has inspired us to double our efforts in continuing the Hope for Flight rural community project in 2018” says David Gore, director of the College of Magic. 

The NLC relies on funds from the proceeds of the National Lottery. The Lotteries Act guides the way in which NLC funding may be allocated. The intention of NLC funding is to make a difference to the lives of all South Africans, especially those more vulnerable and to improve the sustainability of the beneficiary organisations. Available funds are distributed to registered and qualifying non-profit organisations in the fields of charities; arts, culture and national heritage; and sport and recreation. By placing its emphasis on areas of greatest need and potential, the NLC contributes to South Africa’s development. Please visit the National Lotteries Commission website www.nlcsa.org.za to find out about the NLC mandate and other projects they fund. 

Dates for the 2018 Juggling and Cards Skills course will be announced soon. 

For more information about the College of Magic and its social outreach initiatives, please visit www.collegeofmagic.com.