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The South African
19-06-2025
- General
- The South African
South Africa's iconic King Protea heads north as climate warms
On his farm two hours north of Johannesburg, Nico Thuynsma gestured towards thousands of orange, yellow and pink proteas in flower and thriving 1 500km from their natural home at the southern tip of Africa. 'They're all different,' the 55-year-old farmer said of the assorted blooms from the diverse Proteaceae family that has more than 350 species in South Africa, from firework-like 'pincushion' varieties to delicate 'blushing brides'. He picked out a majestic pink and white crown, nearly the size of his head, that has taken four years to reach its impressive size. 'The King Proteas are very slow to grow,' Thuynsma said. The largest of the proteas, the King Protea, is South Africa's national flower. It has lent its name to the national cricket team and countless brands. It features on the currency and is the logo for South Africa's presidency this year of the G20 group of leading economies, which convenes a summit in November. It is also the country's largest flower export with more than 10 million stems sent abroad last year, worth close to R275 million, according to the Cape Flora industry organisation. Its status offers the King Protea some protection but almost half of South Africa's other protea species face extinction because of pressures on their native habitats in the mountains of the Cape, according to South Africa's National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI). These include habitat loss to agriculture, the proliferation of invasive alien species and 'changes to natural fire cycles', SANBI said in a 2021 report. 'People come to South Africa to see proteas,' Nigel Barker, a professor in plant sciences at the University of Pretoria, told AFP. 'It's the plant equivalent of the elephant or the lion.' The protea has lent its name to the national cricket team, features on the currency and is the logo for South Africa's G20 presidency. Image: Phill Magakoe / AFP Most proteas are endemic or semi-endemic to the Cape Floral Kingdom biome of 'fynbos' ('fine bush') that stretches across the southern tip of South Africa and is one of the world's richest flora biodiversity hotspots. But climate projections predict 'hotter, drier conditions', Barker said. 'We'll be looking at a completely different vegetation type in the future, semi-desert almost in some places.' 'Many species, because they're so range-restricted, will probably go extinct under those scenarios,' he said. 'People come to South Africa to see proteas,' says Nigel Barker, a professor in plant sciences at the University of Pretoria warned. Image: Phill Magakoe / AFP 'The only solution we have is to cultivate them artificially… in greenhouses or farms where you control irrigation,' Barker said. An example is Thuynsma's farm in the grasslands of the north, where he began planting proteas three decades ago. Here, winters are dry and frosty, and the summers rainy – conditions very different to those in the far south where the proteas are at home. Through trial and error, Thuynsma has been able to cultivate close to 200 protea varieties, including some long forgotten and abandoned by farmers in their original habitats. In his latest experiment, he has planted 36 varieties with just two litres (four pints) of saturated gel for irrigation. Through trial and error, Thuynsma has been able to cultivate close to 200 protea varieties. Image: Phill Magakoe / AFP 'I hope to unlock the power of some of these varieties,' Thuynsma said. 'They come from the Western Cape out of very harsh conditions, so they do have it in them.' 'I learn from them, I learn with them. And, hopefully, in the future I can advise my nursery public – and even estates – how to plant this lovely fynbos without irrigation,' he said. 'I don't think I have a solution for climate change,' he joked, crouched over a small seedling in freshly turned soil. 'But I do have a solution: to plant proteas.' A few metres (yards) away, in a warm nursery, thousands of protea sprouts awaited their turn in the soil. 'I love them, I protect them, I collect them,' Thuynsma said. 'The protea is part of South Africa's DNA.' Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news. By Garrin Lambley © Agence France-Presse
The Citizen
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
WIN! 5 double tickets to the Ben Vino Wine Festival up for grabs
WIN! 5 double tickets to the Ben Vino Wine Festival up for grabs Cheers! Prost! Cin Cin! Gesondheid! Whichever language you raise a glass in, the fourth Ben Vino Wine Festival is calling! Benoni's very own distributors of handcrafted fine wines, Val Di Terra, will once again host the event at the stunning 114 on Waterhouse (Benoni AH). Make sure to save the date — July 12 is not to be missed! Get a free glass on arrival then delve into unlimited tastings with 200-plus wines from 24 wine estates. Savour the body and bouquet of some of the best wines SA has to offer while soaking up the lively atmosphere next to a bonfire. Enjoy live entertainment throughout the event — and because we can't live on wine alone, there will be plenty of tantalising foods on offer too! See you there! Let's make greater memories right here in Benoni! What else you need to know: Safe off-site parking is available. Ben Vino Wine Festival is a cashless event. Tickets are R275 per person. This great day out can be enjoyed from 10:30 to 17:00. FOR MORE INFO FOLLOW BEN VINO WINE FESTIVAL ON FACEBOOK / WHATSAPP 073 365 2527 COMPETITION! ENTER NOW! To stand a chance of winning one of five double tickets to the Ben Vino Wine Festival, answer these two easy questions and email your answers to benonicitytimes@ with Ben Vino in the subject line. Entries close at 10:00 on July 7. Good luck! Who is hosting the Ben Vino Wine Festival? How many wine estates will be there? Only one entry per person will be considered. The winners will be selected in a lucky draw. The hosts of the event will send the winners their tickets via email. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
IOL News
10-06-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Racket and Ball set to host fourth P4G Men's show this month
TOP PLAYER Lena-Lisa Bester has been one of the stars of the Padel4Good brand, picking up various title wins and continues to shine on Padel courts across the Mother City. Picture: Keith Lyle/Cape Town Sport Photography The Racket and Ball Club in Bree Street, Cape Town, will soon need to apply some major Q20 spray to its front doors, as Padel enthusiasts regularly frequent this popular venue, which serves as one of South Africa's elite indoor centres. Since its establishment in 2023, the Racket and Ball Club continues to build itself as a prime spot for Padel players with a healthy community of over 3000 players per month, even during the colder months, which is a testament not only to the venue's hospitality and catering facilities but more importantly the commitment of the players and the growth of the sport in South Africa. The top-class venue, which includes four indoor Padel courts, has hosted various Padel players at different stages of their sporting journeys as the arena hosts several shows, including seasonal leagues. Not too long ago, Racket and Ball hosted the Aston Martin R275 000 cash tournament sponsored by PokerBet in March. Just this past weekend, Racket and Ball successfully rolled out the Maximos Cup which saw the Hungarian national Padel team touch down in Mzansi for the time to compete against RBC's (Racket and Ball Club) national team.
IOL News
31-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Durban and Pietermaritzburg prepare for Comrades Marathon 2025
The eThekwini and Msunduzi Municipalities are conducting their final inspections of their road and other infrastructure in anticipation of the 98th Comrades Marathon on Sunday 8 June. 2025. The eThekwini and Msunduzi Municipalities are conducting their final inspections of their road and other infrastructure in anticipation of the 98th Comrades Marathon on Sunday, 8 June. This is the 49th down run, that will start at the Pietermaritzburg City Hall and finishing 12 hours later at Durban's People's Park. The eThekwini Municipality stated that they are excited to host about 24,000 runners from around the globe and 35,000 anticipated spectators of the marathon, regarded as the Ultimate Human Race. EThekwini Municipality Mayor, Councillor Cyril Xaba said hosting a race of this magnitude continues to position Durban as the most preferred sporting destination. Xaba said he is looking forward to welcoming the influx of tourists and roll-out the red carpet for runners and spectators. Xaba said events of this magnitude provide exposure to national and international media platforms, which further profiles destination Durban. 'It is a strong indication that we are among other international cities known for successfully delivering memorable sporting events. We will continue to leverage on such events as they boost the local economy and drive tourism,' said Xaba. Xaba said hosting the event will have a direct spend of R275 million with 1,800 jobs expected to be created. The Msunduzi Municipality Portfolio Chairperson of the Infrastructure Committee, Deputy Mayor, Mxolisi Mkhize held an important meeting with the Comrades Marathon Association and municipal departments to conduct a route inspection within the Msunduzi jurisdiction. Mkhize said that they discussed the urgent work that needed to be done, such as fixing potholes, cutting of the grass, marking the roads and repairing of street lights. This all to ensure route safety for runners and a pleasant experience for tourists coming into the city at this years' down run. Mkhize also touched on the importance of collaboration and working together to ensure the success of the race. The Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) announced a change for the 2025 Comrades Marathon with the introduction of two staggered race starts. This approach aims to enhance the race experience for all participants, with a separate start for each of the two groups of athletes in this year's race from the Pietermaritzburg City Hall. According to the CMA General Manager Alain Dalaisthe, the first wave of runners will begin at 5.45am followed by the second wave 15 minutes later at 6am. This staggered approach will help manage the flow of runners and reduce congestion on the course.
IOL News
27-05-2025
- General
- IOL News
Trees replanted in Newlands amid beetle infestation
Quercus nigra trees (water oaks) are planted in Kildare Circle parking area, which are non-reproductive hosts for PSHB. Image: Supplied Six trees at a Newlands public square have been removed due to a polyphagous shot hole borer (PSHB) infestation, as the invasive beetle continues to threaten Cape Town's urban forest and agricultural crops, potentially causing R275 billion in economic damage over the next decade if uncontrolled. It is for this reason that Claremont ward councillor, Mikhail Manuel, joined forces with Deputy Mayor and mayco member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Eddie Andrews, along with other departments and agencies, to carry out a tree planting ceremony on Monday in Newlands, where five quercus nigra trees (water oaks) were planted in the Kildare Circle parking area, which are non-reproductive hosts for the PSHB. Originating in southeast Asia and identified in South Africa in 2017, the PSHB has spread to eight provinces and infests over 100 local tree species. Identifying infestations is difficult due to the beetle's 2mm size. The City of Cape Town reported a PSHB-infested boxelder tree in Newlands in January 2023, advising neighbors to inspect their trees. The initial infestation in Somerset West in March 2019 was contained until the Newlands sighting. The City said it was thanks to the combined efforts of the Parks and Recreation, Roads and Infrastructure, and the Energy Departments, that the replanting project came to fruition this month. Andrews said the event raised awareness for residents. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ 'The combined efforts of three different directorates are a testament to our commitment to managing the spread of PSHB infestations in Cape Town. It is important that we plant new trees to replace those lost to PSHB beetles. I want to encourage all residents to familiarise themselves with the list of trees which are reproductive hosts of the PSHB,' he said. 'If you suspect an infected tree, please contact our invasive species unit so we can act to mitigate the spread of the beetle.' Manuel said it was the first replacement of planting of trees infected by the PSHB beetle in the southern suburbs. 'Trees are a significant feature of our area's character, so we must do everything possible to continuously plant new trees every year. We are grateful for the offers of assistance from our community partners, most notably Newlands CID and TreeKeepers,' he said. Get your news on the go, click here to join the Cape Argus News WhatsApp channel.
