What’s on at #joburgsbestdayout 

As one of the oldest and most well-loved events on the South African entertainment calendar, visitors to The Rand Show have come to expect an out of this world entertainment offering, but this year, an added focus on the injection of on-trend and relevant content has really upped the entertainment ante, in fact, there is so much on offer, that visitors should plan to arrive as early as possible to ensure that everything can be experienced. 

Fashion, Beauty and Fitness

See the latest in all thing’s Fashion, Beauty and fitness related and meet some of your favourite fitness fundi’s at the Beauty and Fitness Expo taking place daily on the Main Stage in Hall 5 on weekends and public holidays.

The Fitness Runway Model SA 2019 – South Africa’s biggest  Fashion and Fitness Extravaganza will take place on 20 April at 10am on The Main Stage in Hall 8. 

Pump up the adrenaline!

Experience the 125m long Zipline at the Suzuki Adventure Zone daily from 19-28 April. Along with this there will also be abseiling, trampoline bungy, aqua rollers, paintball and a climbing wall.

Take part in high-octane drifting daily from 19-28 April at the Outdoor Drifting Track. Here visitors can also be thrilled by daily variety shows featuring all the driving tricks and manoeuvres. 

No Business like Showbusiness

Starstruck followers of all things Showbiz can get their fix at Joburg’s Talent Show – With daily rounds at 10.30 am on the Main Stage in Hall 8 from 19 – 22 April.

The final rounds to choose Joburg’s best talent are taking place on the weekend of 27 and 28 April at 10.30 am. 

Live Cook-off

SA’s newest reality based cook off – the JacarandaFM Clash of Ages, will take place daily at the Chef’s Village in the South African Garden and Home Pavilion at 10am from 19-22 April.

The final live celebrity cook off will be sizzling on the weekend of 27 and 28 April at 10am. 

Flowers and Decor

Visit the gorgeous Flower Show in Hall 5 on the Main Stage daily for your chance to win a trip to the breath-taking Chelsea Flower Show 2019. 

Gaming and Cosplay adventures 

A Fortnite Gaming competition will take place at the Gaming Entertainment Pavilion at 10am daily on 19, 20 and 21 April.

Gaming qualifiers will take place daily at 2pm from 23 to 26 April with the Grand Final taking place on 27 April.Daily

Fortnite Dance Competition will take place on the Main Stage of The Gaming Entertainment Pavilion daily.

The Masquerade Cosplay Ball will take place on the first and last weekend of the show in the Gaming Entertainment Pavilion. 

Fun for everyone

Visit the magnificent Animal Kingdom daily at The Outdoor OS2.

The Kalahari Scientist will be wow-ing audiences daily on the Main Stage in Hall 9 with shows throughout the day for the entirety of the Rand Show period.

There will be a daily street parade at 1pm every day.

Watch out for entertainment Buskers performing a variety of acts daily on the Busker Stages.

Don’t miss the Zip-Zap Circus on the Main Stage in Hall 8 at 5pm on 26 April, and then 12pm and 5m on 27 April, or at 12pm on 28 April.

World famous Sword Swallower Murray Malloy will be on the Main Stage at the Outdoor Link on 26 April at 5pm, 27 April at 3pm and 28 April at 1pm. 

Rand Show Favourites

The SANDF display, one of the most beloved show relics, will not disappoint fans this year and will take place from 19 – 22 April at the Main Arena from 11am – 1pm.

The Drum Majorette Gold Cup will take place in the Main Arena on 27 April from 5-9pm.

The Rand Show Museum will be open daily from 10am – 7pm. 

The prizes up for grabs are almost as unbelievable as the entertainment line-up and include a Suzuki Swift which can only be won if you purchase your tickets online, a magnificent Easylife Kitchens home makeover, trips to Twitchcon USA, Chelsea Flower Show UK, Lesotho, Kirstenbosch Gardens and so much more!

All that is left to say is that this is one super-sized family day out that you definitely don’t want to miss. With an entire day’s worth of out of this world entertainment packed into each and every ticket, what are you waiting for? Visit www.randshow.co.za to get yours now!

 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.

Plastics|SA’s Training Division recently hosted a series of well-attended information sharing breakfasts at its regional offices in Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Johannesburg and Durban with the aim of providing details of exciting new learning programmes that it will soon be offering.

Welcoming guests at all four events, Plastics|SA’s Training Executive, Kirtida Bhana, stressed the importance of offering relevant, up-to-date learning programmes that address the changing needs in the plastics industry. “Plastics are an important part of the country’s manufacturing sector. It is therefore critical to ensure that we have the correct skills in place to sustain our growth over the next few years to come,” she said.

According to Kirtida, these annual get-togethers offer their current and potentially new customers the ideal opportunity to become familiar with the Training Divisions offering, culture and values, whilst the training teams are on hand to answer any questions they may have regarding accessing funding, course content or tailoring courses to their specific needs.

Improving local content input and output

During the past financial year, Plastics|SA successfully trained more than 3 000 learners. Whilst the most popular learning programmes are those centred around the actual manufacturing processes (with quality and safety programmes being part of these), the Training Division also launched a National Certificate in Production Technology (NQF2) and Generic Management (NQF5) last year. Another important step forward is being able to run scheduled Pipe and Profile extrusion programmes at each of their regional offices, using their newly acquired extruders. Apart from theoretical grounding, students are now also equipped with much-needed practical experience in extrusion, blow moulding, injection moulding and the various plastics fabrication welding techniques.

“We were also in the fortunate position to be able to send some of our trainers overseas to be up-skilled and trained in the latest techniques. They brought this expertise back to South Africa and developed local course materials in line with international best practices,” Kirtida confirmed.

Exciting new training offerings introduced in 2018

Statistics for the past 3 years suggest that training spend has increased steadily year on year owing to the fact that companies are realising the value that trained staff undoubtedly add to their businesses. In order to keep up with this demand and to expand its service offering, Plastics|SA is now offering various new Learning Programmes that were developed specifically with the local training needs in mind.  These include: 

Scheduled pipe and profile extrusion programme.

After acquiring new pipe and profile extruders in all three factories nationally, these specific extruder programmes have now become part of our Scheduled programmes.

Production Technology NQF L2.

Since the technology of production goes hand in hand with the actual process technology, this offering is absolutely critical in addressing production related skills gaps. training breakfasts two more 2/…

A national certificate in Generic Management NQF L5

This is an exciting new offering that is in the pipeline for the new financial year starting in July 2018. Learners that have Supervisory Management NQF L4 are looking for progression. The Generic Management NQF L5 is the next step for these progressive learners. 

Various online training options for soft skills

These are going to be available for all levels of the workforce including office-based staff and not just factory staff.

Other news of forthcoming programmes include the new Bachelor of Engineering Technology in Materials Engineering in Polymers that will be offered at TUT as from 2019, as well as a new 3-year Setter Trade Qualification (the first ever plastics related trade) launching later this year and will be offered by Plastics|SA.

Digital certification

Keeping up with modern trends, Plastics|SA will be issuing learners with digital certificates instead of hard-copy certificates as from the 1st of April 2018.  One of the biggest benefits of going digital, is that it negates the need for printing of hard-copy certificates which have to be either be collected, posted or courier-delivered to a client’s premises.  It also allows clients to always have access to learners’ certificates via the virtual ‘vault’ created for each client.

“Once learners have been found competent in a learning programme, Plastics|SA creates an original, digital certificate for each learner which is uploaded into an online “vault” - a user-friendly cloud platform from where these certificates can be viewed, e-mailed, printed or downloaded for easy reference,” Kirtida explained. 

Other guest speakers

Guests who attended the breakfast sessions welcomed news of these exciting developments before being treated to a variety of different guest speakers who offered insights on topics relevant to each region. In Cape Town, Raldo Kruger of Green Cape spoke about the city’s current drought plans, the business opportunities that exist for plastic companies and what local companies should do to survive the current crisis.  The Johannesburg session saw Matthews Moatli of Productivity SA and Matshidiso Phala of merSETA explain details about the grants that are available through merSETA and how companies should go about applying for this funding for training of their staff members. Thandolwethu Strydom from East Coast Radio entertained the KZN guests and spoke about the importance of everyone in society and how different skills are deeply valuable to the plastics industry, no matter what rung of the corporate or societal ladder these are played out from.

Each session ended with an exciting lucky draw during which guests won a variety of different plastic products and including training vouchers.

Conclusion

“We wish to thank everybody who took time out of their busy schedules to attend our information sessions and for the very positive feedback we have been receiving. Scenario analysts around the world agree that there will continue to be growing pressure and demands on the manufacturing industry in order to keep up with the demands of the population. We believe we are enabling manufacturers to be in the position where they can continue to reinvent themselves and remain competitive because they have a skilled work force that is able to perform well and do the job at hand. We truly believe that a knowledgeable employee is an asset to any company.  For this reason, training should be seen as the ultimate motivational tool that every company needs to invest in,” Kirtida concluded.

For more information, visit www.plasticsinfo.co.za/training

September 2017: Having worked alongside some of Europe and South Africa’s most acclaimed chefs, Farrel Hirsch now brings his exuberant mix of passion and experience to Joburg with his appointment as chef of the Four Seasons Hotel The Westcliff Johannesburg’s flagship eatery, View Restaurant.The 30-year-old studied professional cookery in Nottingham, and was declared runner-up for that city’s 2008 Young Chef of the Year competition.

After five years of working in the UK, the pull of home proved too strong: he moved back to Durban, where he was born, to join The Oyster Box Hotel’s Grill Room Restaurant. Having worked in the kitchens of the Singita group of luxury lodges, his two most recent posts were in Cape Town where he worked with Peter Tempelhoff at the acclaimed Greenhouse Restaurant. He then worked at The Test Kitchen (awarded Top Restaurant in SA at the Eat Out Awards from 2012 to 2016) seconding Luke Dale-Roberts before becoming head chef at View Restaurant.The restaurant – which following its opening in 2014 fast became a favourite fine dining destination for Joburg’s most discerning foodies – was previously helmed by Dirk Gieselmann, who had previously served as Chef de Cuisine alongside owner Marc Haeberlin at the famed Michelin three-star Auberge de l’Ill restaurant in Illhauesern in France’s Alsace region.Hirsch loves to travel, experiencing different cultures and meeting new people – whether that’s visiting the Dalai Lama’s home in Dharamsala or seeing the ancient pagodas of Burma.

His travels are also an opportunity to broaden his culinary horizons. “I love stepping out of my comfort zone – I’m always excited by the idea of the unknown,” he says. “Nothing beats going to a foreign country where no one speaks English and pointing at the dish being eaten at the table next to you, and order that. Not to taste is not to know.”This curious, adventurous spirit informs his approach back home in the kitchen. “If you look close enough at View’s dishes there will always be a classic thought behind it but pushed out far enough so that it is something completely new,” he says.

“South Africa produces a bounty of high quality ingredients, and so we want our diners to taste the finest this country has to offer,” he says. Changing every week, his menus are an opportunity to showcase the freshest local and seasonal produce in breathtakingly creative ways. Working closely with trusted local suppliers and farmers to provide special ingredients including foraged mushrooms, Karoo lamb and fynbos, Hirsch will also be procuring herbs and vegetables from the hotel’s new food garden.While the unsurpassed vistas of Joburg’s jacaranda-cloaked northern suburbs makes any meal at View unforgettable by default, the sociable Hirsch is committed to serving up much more than great food and incredible views. For him, the personal touch is paramount.“I love meeting the people I’m cooking for, and sharing with them the stories of the food I make” he says. “While I see my role as building on the stellar dining experience created by my predecessor, I do have a few changes of my own up my sleeve,” Hirsch confirms. “The first is the launch of “Preview” – a bar-inspired casual dining experience offering small plates and fantastic drinks.

The emphasis at View, on the other hand, is on taking guests on a culinary journey – with set menus and wine pairings in a more sophisticated setting. When they’re not admiring its legendary vistas, our guests can also witness glimpses of our team at work in the kitchen through its linear window.”www.viewrestaurant.co.za

January 2017 - Celebrating at international culinary treasure, Four Seasons The Westcliff Johannesburg presents a 6 course truffle tasting menu at View complemented by a sophisticated wine selection from January 13 to February 9, 2017, created by Executive Chef, Dirk Gieselmann, from R1,450 per person, and optional wine pairing for R650 per person.

Imported from the best producers in Europe, the Périgord black winter truffle is praised by Chefs around the world.  

Highlights include  

• Brandade with black winter truffle
• Fresh hake mousse with parsley coulis and vegetable chips
• Scallops and asparagus       
• Scallop tartar with asparagus velouté, truffled potato and hollandaise with crispy buckwheat crepe with hazelnut cream
• Truffle Carbonara
• Homemade spaghetti with truffle jelly, wilted baby spinach and confit free range egg yolk with parmesan spume and crispy country bacon
• Stuffed skate wing with sautéed exotic mushrooms and zucchini butternut gnocchi and black truffle cream
• Quail and foie gras
• Oven baked in puff pastry, savoy cabbage and cauliflower textures with Périgueux sauce
• Apple and truffle Maple roasted apple with truffled macaron and almond cream, salted caramel and truffle ice cream

For reservations contact: https://www.fourseasonsevents.co.za/