The College of Magic, Cape Town’s only magical arts organisation, will celebrate its 40th anniversary by welcoming a new generation of aspiring magicians on Saturday 1 February 2020.

Keen magic fanatics are invited to the discover the impossible with the beginner's Course One at the College's mysterious Victorian manor, which is home to Africa's largest magic museum, in Claremont each Saturday.Course One will see the magicians-in-training explore the world of magic through a 15 week exciting and intensive diploma course which the magic wand and includes rope magic, card tricks and coin effects as well as an introduction to the allied arts, namely  juggling, mime, clowning and puppetry.

Celebrating 40 years of  teaching the art of magic and its allied arts as well as vital life-skills to children and adults this year, the College of Magic first welcomed students on 23 February 1980. Graduates of this world-renowned institution include comedians Riaad Moosa, Stuart Taylor and Conrad Koch, actor Francis Chouler and film director Jenna Cato Bass, as well as South African Magic Champion Olwethu Dyantyi.

Founder and director David Gore is excited to welcome the next generation of magical students:

"We are thrilled to kick-start our milestone year by introducing these youngsters to the world of magic and showmanship! Over forty years, we've seen first-hand the positive changes that learning the art of magic has had on thousands of students. The improvement of their confidence levels and social skills is amazing to see and we cannot wait to share this with our 2020 aspiring magicians."

Discover the impossible with the College of Magic:

The entry-level Course One is suitable for learners aged 10 to 13 years old. Course One will run at the College of Magic, 215 Imam Haron Road (previously Lansdowne Road) in Claremont each Saturday for six months from Saturday 1 February 2020  with classes at 09h00 and at 12h00. Fees are R3 200 and include all course equipment and notes, as well as participation in any or all of the allied arts on offer.

Registration for the College of Magic’s 2020 Course One is now open. 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. to secure your booking.

For more information about the College of Magic, please visit www.collegeofmagic.com

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.

The College of Magic, Cape Town’s only magical arts organisation, will transform the Helderberg area into a winter wonderland when it launches its National Lotteries Commission funded ‘Hope in Flight’ community programme, in partnership with the Imibala Trust, as a six week training Juggling and Card Skills course, from Thursday 4 May to Thursday 8 June, 2017.  

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 and the only one of its kind in the world.   Helderberg’s aspiring Harry Potters are invited to get a sneak peek behind the magician’s curtain at the Imibala Trust’s charming base in Bright Street in bustling Somerset West.   H

ere, the College’s voluntary staff, led by renowned South African magician and the face of world-famous beverage brand Coca Cola’s global relaunch campaign, Olwethu Dyantyi,  will introduce the wizarding recruits to the wonder of magic with a two-hour long lesson each week.  

Students from diverse backgrounds, between the age of 10 and 15 years old, will learn all kinds of fantastic effects in these incredible sessions, including the gravity defying effects of juggling which improves hand and eye coordination and the dexterity of card magic. In addition, these lessons offer learners the chance to improve their social and communication skills as well as equip them with employable skills.  

The Juggling and Card Skills course forms part of the College of Magic’s community training programme, a 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 to be commencing the next phase of its ‘Magic in the Community’ programme with the Imibala Trust:  

“The Imibala Trust has a strong community and youth development focus which makes them the perfect partner to help launch this phase of our programme and share the wonder of magic with a new generation of magic students. We look forward to motivating and inspiring the youth alongside them”, says David Gore, director of the College of Magic.   

Clare Jeffrey of Imibala Trust concurs:

“Magic has the ability to unite people, especially children, from all backgrounds. The College of Magic has a proven successful record of promoting diversity and unification through their teaching and we are committed to implementing this practice into our programmes.”  

A portion of the generous NLC grant has been used to appoint Dyantyi, a 2015 South African Magic Championships Grand Prix winner and a charming illusionist from Khayelitsha, who has performed all over the world, including China, USA, UK, Croatia and Italy, as the Magic in the Community coordinator.  

The talented performer can’t wait for the Juggling and Card Skills course to begin:  

“Kick-starting our “Magic in the Community’ project in the Helderberg area is so exciting! I can’t wait to meet my new students and help them develop their self-confidence. I have so much to teach them about the amazing world of magic”, says Dyantyi.  

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.  

“We support the College of Magic’s vision for improving the lives of disadvantaged youth through the art of magic and are proud to be associated with the Magic in the Community and rural programme. We look forward to seeing how these programmes and our contribution can positively influence their futures”, says Ms. Marcelle Musson, the NLC Provincial Manager of the Western Cape.   Please visit the National Lotteries Commission website www.nlcsa.org.za to find out about the NLC mandate and other projects they fund.  

Calling all aspirant mini-magicians in the Helderberg area:  

Youngsters, between 10 and 15 years old, keen to learn the wondrous art of magic, are invited to  join the College of Magic’s Juggling and Card Skills course, to be held weekly for six weeks at the Imibala Trust’s premises in Bright Street, Somerset West from Thursday 4 May to Thursday 8 June, 2017 from 3.00pm to 5.00pm.  

For families who can afford, the fees are R1200 and include notes and magical equipment, which will be provided by the College of Magic.   Registration for the Juggling and Card Skills course is now open. Please email  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 021 852 0418.    

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

Portion of funds to be used to appoint SA magician Olwethu Dyantyi as project coordinator  

The National Lotteries Commission (NLC) has awarded the College of Magic, Cape Town’s only magical arts organisation, a substantial grant of R500 000 to roll out its successful Magic in the Community  project to rural areas in the Western Cape.  

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 like- skills component  to children and adults, is a non-profit organisation and the only one of its kind in the world.  

In addition to boosting the College of Magic’s training efforts, the NLC grant will assist the College in sharing the wonder of magic with youth from poor communities, through its Magic in the Community programme and the development of a new rural areas programme.  

The College launched the Magic in the Community project in 2000 as a means of providing 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 new rural project will see the College grow its reach to the rural areas of the West Coast, Winelands and the Overberg during 2017:  

“The pressing need for innovative interventions to transform and empower our youth, equip them with employable skills and give them hope for the future is well known. Thanks to the generosity of the National Lotteries Commission, expanding this project to the greater Cape is now possible and we are so thankful”, says David Gore, director of the College of Magic.  

Plans for the rural areas programme includes actively recruiting new students from outlying areas,  opening up the possibility of joining the College of Magic’s six year magical training and development programme available to them as well as providing food, transport and equipment support.  

A portion of the generous NLC grant has been used to appoint renowned South African magician and the face of world-famous beverage brand Coca Cola’s global relaunch campaign, Olwethu Dyantyi, as the Magic in the Community coordinator.  

A 2015 South African Magic Championships Grand Prix winner and a charming illusionist from Khayelitsha, who has performed all over the world, including China, USA, UK, Croatia and Italy, Dyantyi is a natural choice for the role. His new responsibilities will include the co-ordination of the Magic in the Community programme and setting up and running the rural areas programme.  

Dyantyi is thrilled with his captivating new role:  

“Learning and performing magic has changed my life and given me the chance to see the world. I can’t wait to share my magical knowledge with eager new students in the community and help them realise their own dreams! ” says the excited magician.  

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.  

“We support the College of Magic’s vision for improving the lives of these disadvantaged youth through the art of magic and are proud to be associated with the Magic in the Community and rural areas programme. We look forward to seeing how these programmes and our contribution positively influence their futures”, says Ms. Marcelle Musson, the NLC Provincial Manager of the Western Cape.  

Please visit the National Lotteries Commission website www.nlcsa.org.za to find out about the NLC mandate and other projects they fund.  

For more information about the College of Magic and its social outreach initiatives, please visit www.collegeofmagic.com or call +27(0)21 683 5480.