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 ultimate battle of the teenage wands, the 2018 Western Cape Junior Magicians, will transform Cape Town's Bergvliet High into an epic magical battleground on Saturday 8 September 2018!

Proudly presented by the College of Magic, the Mother City’s only magical arts organisation, the Championships will see nine of the province's top teen wizards go wand to wand in the dexterous art of Close-Up magic and stunning illusions of Stage magic for the Junior Magician titles and top honours.

Dazzling preparations have been underway at the College of Magic’s mysterious Victorian manor base in Claremont as the excited teenage competitors, Grant Best, Anele Dyasi, Liam Hewitson, Emma Hutchison, Luvo Mrolota, Siphesihle Ndayi, Sahil Samlal, Duncan Shelver and Dion Wabanie, hailing from Khayelitsha to Goodwood, work hard on their unbelievable acts to impress spectators and judges.

Celebrating its 38th year of teaching the art of magic and its allied arts as well as vital life-skills to children and adults in 2018, the College of Magic, a non-profit organisation and the only one of its kind in the world, is delighted to once again host the Western Cape Junior Magician Championships:

“To host a fantastical spectacle of this prestige year after year is a great honour. The Championships not only gives our young contestants the opportunity to put their performance prowess to the test against their peers but also allows us to share the wonder of magic with a greater audience. We look forward to welcoming everyone to THE magical battle of the year! “, says Yolandi van Jaarsveldt, CEO of the College of Magic.

See the magical action up close:

The public is invited to witness the wondrous combination of showmanship and competition the likes of which they’ve never seen before at the 2018 Western Cape Junior Magician Championships this September!Tickets for the Championships at Bergvliet High School on Saturday 8 September 2018 are available from R 100 with special discounts for group bookings. The Close-Up magic contest will be held at 4pm while the Stage magic contest will follow at 7pm. Book  your tickets TODAY at Quicket or by calling +27(0)21 683 5480.

For more information about the College of Magic and the Championships, please visit www.collegeofmagic.com or send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The College of Magic, the Mother City’s only magical arts organisation, welcomed the Jive Cape Town Funny Festival’s international performers Mooky Cornish and Raymond Raymondson to its sprawling and wondrous Victorian manor in Claremont on Saturday 21 July 2018. 

With it being the first day back at the College of Magic after their winter school holiday, the organisation’s more than 200 students were excited to be re-immersed into their beguiling training which includes lessons in magic and its allied arts of juggling, mime and clowning, puppetry and ventriloquism. The Festival performers’ visit was a thrilling treat for the students! 

Mooky, a Canadian comedienne best known as the former lead clown for the renowned Cirque du Soleil, is a pianist, puppeteer, mask maker, accordion squeezer and chicken trainer!  Frenchman Greg Lackovic, who performs as Raymond Raymondson, began studying the art of magic and illusion at age 14. A gold medalist of the visual arts of the stage and music in 2014, this lauded artist shares his special brand of magic at festivals, cabarets and theatres worldwide. 

After a whirlwind tour, led by the non-profit organisation’s CEO Yolandi van Jaarsveldt, of the College of Magic’s century-old building and facilities which include Africa’s largest magic museum and the Magic Shop, South Africa’s only brick and mortar magical supplies store; the dynamic duo joined the Mime and Clowning, Puppetry and Juggling classes.  Mooky imparted some well-earned tips for entertaining audiences and how to step up a puppetry performance with the learners, while Raymond dazzled them with his gravity-defying juggling feats. 

Celebrating 38 years of teaching the art of magic and its allied arts as well as vital life-skills to children and adults in 2018, the College of Magic, the only organisation of its kind in the world, regularly hosts international artists for visits and guest lectures at its charming Victorian mansion: 

“What an absolute treat for our students to learn from and be inspired by international performers who have achieved immeasurable success in magic and its allied arts of clowning, puppetry, juggling and busking! We truly appreciate the support of the Jive Cape Town Funny Festival and their commitment to having their star global acts visit us each year. Thank you to Mooky and Raymond for sharing their entertainment expertise with us!”, says van Jaarsveldt. 

The Jive Cape Town Funny Festival runs at the Baxter Theatre in Rondebosch until Sunday 5 August, 2018. Please visit www.funnyfestival.co.za for more information about the Festival. 

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

Joshua Naicker (22 months old) from Midrand, Johannesburg, was born at only 33 weeks old with challenging circumstances. The circumference of his head measured 45 cm, a length greater than his body, due to tremendous fluid on his brain.

Proud parents, Phillecia (29) and Bradley (36) were elated to welcome their first born into the world after 5 years of marriage and with uncomplicated family medical history, they could not have anticipated the difficult road ahead.Baby Joshua was diagnosed with congenital Hydrocephalus, more commonly known as “water on the brain”. This relentless and incurable disease currently affects 1 in every 500 babies globally.

At only 10 days old Joshua had already undergone his first brain surgery and spent the first two months of his life in Neonatal ICU, where he received a number of plasma blood transfusions to compensate for hemorrhaging large amounts of blood. He has since been fitted with a shunt (a thin piece of plastic tubing with a catheter), which drains the fluid from his brain to his stomach.

As a result of this rare disease Joshua has developed a number of serious conditionsnamely Cerebral Palsy (Hemiplegia), severe Cortical Visual Impairment, Hip Dysplasia, Epilepsy, Chiari Malformation, Scoliosis, missing Septum Pellucid, global developmental delay and hypertonia.

“He has had a total of 5 operations in his short existence, 3 of them being brain surgeries, uncountable hours of therapy and doctors appointments. His daily activities are so challenging and he cannot perform any tasks independently such as sitting, standing, crawling, playing, eating or drinking.” – says Bradley.

Despite his challenging circumstances, Joshua is described as a bubbly child, who loves affection.“He has the most beautiful smile, a smile that can capture anyone's heart. He exudes love and happiness. He has the true heart of a warrior.” – says Phillecia 

“He has come such a long way and is getting very close to sitting and crawling each day. He is beating the odds and with the right treatment and therapy has a chance at developing normally.” – adds Bradley

With unexpected mounting medical costs, Joshua’s parents have appealed to the public for support and set up a campaign on donations-based crowdfunding platform, BackaBuddy hopes to fund raise a total of R400 000 for Joshua to undergo Stem Cell Therapy at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina.

“Stem cell treatment will help him have a better quality of life and we are hoping it will specifically help with his vision, as he is practically blind. Stem cells have the ability to regenerate and repair the damaged brain cells. Duke University has performed thousands of stem cell infusions specifically for children born with this condition. We are hopeful that the procedure will eliminate at least one of Joshua’s conditions” – says Bradley

Breakdown of medical costs:

• The estimated total cost of the first stem cell treatment will be around R344 700 allowing for exchange rate fluctuations or an approximate 10 per cent increase.
• Banking and processing the stem cells for infusion: R20 460HLA-typing of both siblings to confirm a match: R6 507Transporting the stem cells to America: R26 300
• Infusion of stem cells: R216 100
• Transportation and accommodation in America: R44 000

“From the time Joshua was born we have done our best to manage this extremely difficult and expensive situation on our own, but the financial toll on our family has been overwhelming and we need help. We cannot express our gratitude to everyone who has supported out BackaBuddy campaign. Donors have given our boy a chance at a life where he will encounter far less challenges” – says Phillecia. 

Joshua’s campaign has thus far raised R45 498 towards his fundraising goal of R400 000 with contributions from 64 donors.Contribute Joshua’s medical campaign by donating here: https://www.backabuddy.co.za/hope-for-joshua

Participate in the Global Giving Survey to empower Charities in South Africa here

BackaBuddy a proudly South African crowdfunding platform where individuals have the opportunity to raise funds for causes they feel passionate about.BackaBuddy has raised over R65.6 million various causes and charitable organizations in South Africa.T

Take a look at our Website site https://www.backabuddy.co.za

For additional information, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. / 082 602 0735

Magic fans to be dazzled by SA’s biggest magic show and charming school holiday programme

For Immediate Release

The College of Magic, Cape Town's only magical arts organisation, is gearing up for a fantastical June with two of its signature mega magical events - the Imagine!Family Magic Spectacular at the Artscape Theatre on Saturday 2 June 2018 and its awe-inspiring school holiday offering, the 2018 Traditional Children's Magic Festival from 27 to 30 June 2018.

The only one of its kind in the world, the College of Magic will provide the young, and the young at heart, with a wondrous escape into a world of fantastical make believe and guaranteed winter family fun with the following must-attend shows:

• The Imagine!Family Magic Spectacular, South Africa’s BIGGEST magic show returns to the charming Artscape Theatre in the Mother City on Saturday 2 June 2018 at 12pm and 2h30pm with an all-new conservation theme: Imagine a Magic Future. Prepare to be captivated as a cast of over 50 enthralling illusionists, jugglers, mimes, clowns and more perform never-before seen feats and dazzling classic illusions in this magical extravaganza.
• The 2018 Traditional Children’s Magic Festival invites Cape Town’s families to escape from the freezing cold into a fantastical world of magic at the College of Magic’s warm and mysterious Victorian Manor in Claremont from 27 to 30 June 2018. Magical hijinks are the order of the day as the cast take Festivalgoers on a whirlwind tour of the century-old Manor with jaw-dropping magic shows, hands-on interactive workshops, thrilling games, magical photo opportunities and more!

Celebrating 38 years of teaching the art of magic and its allied arts as well as vital life-skills to children and adults in 2018, the College of Magic is excited to celebrate a month of magic with Cape Town’s families:“We’re taking magic to the stage and a theatre-going audience and inviting them back to our home of magic for a peek behind the wizard’s curtain over the course of a month. It really is the perfect blend of family entertainment and bringing people of all ages and areas together. Magic is the ideal entertaining tool for expanding consciousness and furthering holistic education beyond our immediate personal day-to-day life. We look forward to sharing this magical experience with our audiences in June.” says Yolandi van Jaarsveldt, CEO of the College of Magic.

Witness the impossible made possible with the College of Magic this June:

Tickets for the College of Magic’s incredible June events are vanishing fast so be sure to book yours at www.collegeofmagic.com/tickets.

The Imagine!Family Magic Spectacular tickets are R165 with discounts for family bookings.Tickets for the 2018 Traditional Children’s Magic Festival are R100 with discounts for family bookings.

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

The world-renowned College of Magic, Cape Town’s only magical arts organisation, welcomed a record number of 64 new students to its introductory Course One and Course Magic and Showmanship classes at its incredible Victorian manor base on Saturday 3 February 2018!

Bright-eyed youngsters from all over the Mother City, keen to start their enchanting magical education, were treated to a special assembly with David Gore, the College of Magic’s founder and director, and a whirlwind tour of the organisation’s mysterious building which is home to Africa’s largest magical museum, the continent’s premier magic shop and the wondrous Imagination Centre where the College’s popular festivals and events are held.

With the strike of the College of Magic’s enchanting gong to signal the start of lessons, it was time for the new recruits’ very first magic lesson. In their inaugural peek behind the wizard’s curtain, the new students learnt an introductory magical effect, received their first wands and joined in a recital of the Magician’s Code - a promise to never ‘spoil the wonder’ by revealing the secrets of magic to the public.

In 2018, the College of Magic, the only organisation of its kind in the world, celebrates 38 years of  teaching the theatrical performing art of magic and its allied arts as well as vital life-skills to children.The organisation is thrilled with the fantastic sign-up for the first day of lessons:

“It’s been incredible to see how eager Cape Town’s youngsters are to learn the art of magic! In nearly 40 years, this is one of the largest intakes we’ve been privileged to have and we are excited to lead our new students on this educational journey of wonder!”, says Gore.

Registration for the second intake of Course One for the year will open in July 2018. For more information about the College of Magic, please visit www.collegeofmagic.com or call +27(0)21 683 5480.

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.

First year township magic student makes community proud

Eleven-year-old Anathi Fodo, Gugulethu’s rising young juggling star held parents, students and guests at the College of Magic’s 2017 Annual Graduation ceremony at St Anne’s Primary in Plumstead in thrall with his gravity-defying act on Saturday 25 November 2017.

Now in its 37th year, the College of Magic is the only organisation of its kind in the world and offers a six year on campus diploma that covers all aspects of the magic theatrical performing arts.Each year, the College of Magic, based in Claremont, honours its exemplary students at two graduation ceremonies, one for the junior and one for the senior students.A highlight of these ceremonies is a performance by its most accomplished students in magic and its allied arts, including juggling.

When Fodo enrolled for his first year of magical studies at the College of Magic in January 2017, it was quickly apparent that he had an innate ability for juggling. Over the past year, that extraordinary natural talent, sparked by Sinethemba Bawuti and further nurtured by Michael Barta, the College’s juggling instructor of more than 20 years, has seen this shy but mischievous youth grow from strength to strength.

The impressive Fodo, who can now balance as many as three balls and clubs for long stretches of time, has participated in some of the College’s mega magical events including his amazing juggling and impressive clowning feats the Imagine! Family Magic Spectacular at the Artscape Theatre in June and, together with juggling partner Ayabonga Tshofuti, was awarded the Colin Marshall Memorial Trophy for their clowning and juggling in the Imagine! show.

The youngster was exhilarated after performing and wowing the crowd alongside his fellow jugglers on stage at the junior graduation ceremony:

“Juggling is a difficult performance method to learn but when I am out there, balancing my props in the air, it makes me so happy. I spend most of my time practicing and it is wonderful to be recognised for how hard I work at this art.”

In 2018, the College of Magic will welcome a new generation of would-be magicians. When asked what his advice to new magical recruits hoping to follow in his wondrous juggling and magical footsteps would be, Fodo replied:

“Study magic and its allied arts because you love it and pay close attention to everything you are taught in class. The College of Magic is a wonderful place to learn all of these amazing things.”

In addition to the Junior Graduation, the College of Magic hosted a senior ceremony for its older students who are progressing to the next captivating level of their wizardry training and the 2017 Course Six graduating class.

Learn the art of magic at the College of Magic in 2018!

Registration for the College of Magic’s entry level Course One for budding magicians is now open. Course One will commence on Saturday 3 February 2018 and fees are R520 per month or R2 850 for the entire course (Includes lessons, notes, magical equipment and allied arts such as puppetry, juggling and mime and clowning sessions).

For more information, please visit www.collegeofmagic.com or call +27(0)21 683 5480.

In the spirit of continuing Women’s Month celebrations, a group of female magicians, from Claremont’s College of Magic, donated their time, skills and 34 care packages to young children at the St George’s Home for Girls in Wynberg on Saturday 2 September 2017.

Nine of the College of Magic’s students and graduates spent an afternoon treating the Home’s wards, aged between 3 and 15 years old, to card tricks, balloon modelling, rope magic effects and stories about how studying magic has changed their lives, before doing an official handover of the care packages to the Home’s manager Graeme Cairns.

The care packages, filled with treats and female necessities, were lovingly and creatively decorated at the College of Magic’s Ladies of Magic event, an annual celebration held for the organisation’s female magicians, in August 2017. 

St George’s Home for Girls, a non-profit organisation providing nurturing care and a home for young girls, was delighted and thankful for the College of Magic’s support:

“We aim to provide our girls with the best care and help them to know that there are people out in the community who care about them. We thank these ladies of magic for spreading a little bit of joy and putting a smile back onto our girls’ faces ”, says Cairns. For more information about the Home, please visit www.st-georges.org.za.

Michelle Gore and Linesri Thaver, graduates of the College of Magic and organisers of the Ladies of Magic event and donation drive, are passionate about spreading love and magic to girls and women in disadvantaged communities:

“The Ladies of Magic event began as a means of empowering young women and fostering a sisterhood in an otherwise male-dominated performance art.Over the past four years, we’ve seen how magical and important that sisterhood and support for our girls has become and we wanted to share that with others. The St George’s Home for Girls was the perfect fit for us. We thank them for welcoming us and allowing us to share the wonder of magic with them”, says the enthusiastic duo.

Celebrating its 37th year of teaching the art of magic and its allied arts as well as vital life-skills to children and adults in 2017, the College of Magic is a non-profit organisation and the only one of its kind in the world.For more information about the College of Magic and its social outreach initiatives, please visit www.collegeofmagic.com.

The College of Magic, Cape Town’s only magical arts organisation, honoured its graduating 2016 class and exemplary students in a dazzling ceremony held at Rondebosch Boys’ High School on Saturday 19 November, 2016.

The College of Magic, now in its 36th year, is the only organisation of its kind in the world and offers a six year on campus diploma that covers all aspects of the magic theatrical performing arts. Following six years of learning the mysteries of magic, including how to entertain audiences around the world and meeting internationally renowned performers, 17 teenagers from across the Mother City, finally bid farewell to their magical studies at the glittering Senior Graduation event.

The 2016 Course Six class has been fortunate enough to be a part of a very successful year for the College – one that has included spectacular gala shows like the Imagine! Family Spectacular at the Artscape Theatre in May, sold-out public performances, a week-long Spellbound Show at the V&A Waterfront in October and incredible trips to international magic conventions.

For 2016 Senior Student of the Year, Qaqambile Mnqika (15), from Khayelitsha, who represented the College and South Africa at the Magic Live Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada in August, it’s been a whirlwind of fantastic moments:

“What a great journey…phew! Studying magic has introduced me to a world of possibilities and the belief that with magic, I can do anything I set my mind and wand to. Thank you to the College of Magic! ”

This year’s Silver Medallion award winner is Aaron Simon (18) from Plumstead. The Silver Medallion is the highest accolade awarded to a graduate of the College of Magic who has perfected his craft to an excellent level of performance.

“I can hardly believe it! It is such a huge honour to be recognised for my magical craft with a Silver Medallion,” said the excited teen.

Each year, the College also honours staff, students and graduates for long service, community service and excellence in magic theatrical performance and its allied arts. The 2016 honourees included Odwa Bauti, Grant Best, Xolile Dyani, Olwethu Dyantyi,Jamian Fortune, Vuyolwethu Foslara, Anela Gazi, Caitlin Hutchison, Faris Jacobs, Mpumelelo Makeleni, Nokutenda Masiyanise, Sonwabile Mekuto, Qaqambile Mnqika, Zaakia Mohammed, Siyamthanda Mzangwa, Siphesihle Ndayi, Tamarin Philpott, Duncan Shelver, Aaron Simon, Yonela Sipoko, Grant Staniland, Hayley Tomes, Seshen Thaver, Yonela Toni, Ian Van Niekerk and Fazielah Williams.

In addition to the Senior Graduation, the College of Magic hosted a junior ceremony for its younger students who are progressing to the next captivating level of their wizardry training. Exemplary honours were awarded to 13 year-old Sesona Gagana as 2016 Junior Student of the Year.

Registration for the College of Magic’s entry level Course One for aspiring Harry Potters is now open. Course One will commence on Saturday 28 January, 2017 and fees are R490 per month or R2 700 for the entire course (Includes lessons, notes, magical equipment and allied arts such as puppetry, juggling and mime and clowning sessions.)

For more information, please visit www.collegeofmagic.com or call +27(0)21 683 5480.