NWU set to host Purple Con
The North-West University's (NWU's) Vanderbijlpark Campus is set to host Purple Con, a vibrant celebration of anime, gaming and pop culture inspired by the renowned Comic-Con.
Organised by the NWU Anime Student Society in collaboration with the Faculty of Humanities and the Sports department, this one-day convention will take place on July 26.
The convention aims to bring together students and the broader community, fostering an engaging and inclusive environment. 'Our goal with Purple Con is to create a space where creativity flourishes and cultural appreciation takes centre stage. We believe in bringing people together through a shared love for anime and gaming,' says Sibusiso Hlongwane, a representative of the Anime Student Society.
The society has been dedicated to building a vibrant community where individuals with shared interests in anime, gaming and pop culture can celebrate their passions. Since its establishment in 2023, the Anime Student Society has expanded across campuses, recently winning the award for Best Newly Affiliated Society in 2024. They have participated in numerous events, including Comic-Con at the Nasrec Centre, thus proudly embracing their identity as OTAKU.
To raise funds for Purple Con, the society embarked on a fundraising initiative by doing shifts at RocoMamas.
'Through our Shadow Shifts at RocoMamas, we managed to raise a total of R3 146.90 from 10% of the shifts' turnover,' says Sibusiso.
They also held various fundraising events, including a Game Night, which brought in enthusiastic crowds.
Attendees can look forward to a diverse range of activities at Purple Con, reflecting modern anime culture. These will include thrilling gaming tournaments featuring popular titles like FC25, Street Fighter, Tekken and Apex Legends. For those seeking adventure, there will be opportunities for virtual reality experiences, paintball in a military-themed forest setup, and even four-wheel go-karting.
Notably, the convention aims to involve local talent and businesses.
'We are excited to showcase both well-known brands and student-run businesses. It is important for us to provide a platform for young entrepreneurs to thrive,' says Sibusiso.
While specific guests like as voice actors and anime creators, have not been confirmed, invitations have been sent to e-sports teams from various institutions, including the University of Pretoria and Wits University.
Sibusiso says participation is open to everyone. 'Attendees can expect a lively atmosphere filled with gaming competitions, vendor stalls, performances and more. While general admission fees are yet to be announced, the society plans to offer promotions for free tickets, making the convention accessible to all.'
'We hope to deepen the engagement of the local anime community and position the NWU as a leader in inclusive, youth-centred events. We want everyone, regardless of age or background, to feel welcome at Purple Con. It is about celebrating what we love in an environment that encourages collaboration and innovation.'
At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
29-05-2025
- IOL News
Guests outraged after being asked to clean up after wedding reception
Guests had to clean up the hall. Image: Andrew Patrick Photo / Pexels Weddings are often seen as once-in-a-lifetime celebrations where couples go all out to create a memorable experience for themselves and their friends and family. A couple in their mid-40s hosted their wedding reception in a modest hall, opting instead for a completely DIY approach, rather than hiring a caterer or event staff. Friends and family were roped in to decorate the venue, and the evening's meal consisted of pizza and Chinese takeout, which was provided by some of them. Guests, who had come dressed for a formal evening and had generously prepared $200 (about R3,588) per person as wedding gifts, were shocked and disappointed by the lack of planning. While some guests took it in stride, many were caught off guard again when the bride and groom asked everyone to help clean up after the celebration. Women in gowns and heels quietly slipped out to avoid dish duty, while others stayed behind to help tidy up but drew the line at taking out the trash and doing dishes. 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 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. Next Stay Close ✕ The story, originally shared on Reddit's "weddingshaming" forum, left users shocked. Responses from the online community were blunt. One person wrote, 'If you cannot afford to get married, or pay for the wedding you want, without having your guests do any work, then you don't do it! I hope you took $100 out of that card back before you gave it to them.' Another added, 'No one should expect wedding guests to be janitorial staff after the wedding.' Sure, weddings are expensive, and not every couple wants, or needs, a black-tie affair. But when guests are dressing up, giving big gifts, and making time to celebrate you, the least you can do is feed them well, and let them sit back and enjoy the evening.
IOL News
21-05-2025
- IOL News
May 24: What's on in Durban
Pianist and composer Sibusiso "Mash" Mashiloane launches his eighth album at The Chairman next weekend. Image: Siya Meyiwa Markets Shongweni Farmers & Craft Market: Spend time with family (pets included) and friends outdoors. Traders sell everything from fresh produce and deli food to arts and crafts. Walk the short nature trail or have a zipline adventure. Open rain or shine, and wheelchair accessible from 7am to 1pm. Musgrave Market: Head to Berea Park for food, music, arts and crafts. From 9am to 2pm. Buzz Market: Community market at 38 Pitlochry Road, Westville, 9am to 2pm. Ballito Farmers Market: More than 150 traders offer fresh farm produce, cut flowers and a nursery, retail, fashion, kids' entertainment, art, hobbies, crafted goods and lifestyle products. R103 at Umhlali. 7am to 2pm. Harlequins Flea Market: Every Saturday from 8am to 1pm. New vendors welcome. WhatsApp 083 595 7033 or email [email protected] Rotary Uvongo Flea Market: Crafts, toys, bead work, wire work, clothing and food every Saturday from 8.30am to 1pm and Sunday 9am to 2pm, opposite Douglas Mitchell Sports Grounds. Call 082 829 0059. Golden Hours Market: (tomorrow) Family-friendly market at Golden Hours School, 10am to 2pm. Live music and food stalls. Call 083 262 3693. Macnut Farm, Assagay: (tomorrow) Fresh produce market for locals, 11am to 2pm. Sunday lunch, drinks and bar. Call 031 765 2572 or 074 603 0000. uMhlanga Farmers Market: Autumn Drive, Prestondale, every Wednesday from 8am to noon. Call Ethel at 060 303 3957. Hillcrest Antique Fair: Dealers will be selling an array of antiques and collectables including: silver, linen, books, records, porcelain, beautiful murano glass, jewellery etc at Hillcrest Corner Shopping Mall. Saturday May 31 from 9 to 3pm. Call Helen Clementz on 084 241 0241. La Lucia Antiques Fair: Province's premier antiques fair offers a feast of fun, funky and forgotten treasures from yesteryear. From the gloriously grand to the quixotic and quirky. Sunday June 1 from 9am to 4pm on the lower ground floor of the La Lucia Mall. SHOWS Rhumbelow Theatre, Durban: (tomorrow) Comedian Barry Hilton, brings his signature humour to Durban. Don't miss a show full of laughter with one of South Africa's comedy legends. Sunday May 25 at 2pm. Tickets R200 from [email protected] or Webtickets. iZulu Theatre, Sibaya: Carvin H Goldstone is returning by popular demand with his hilarious family show, 'My New Debit Order'. The show humorously explores the experience of Goldstone welcoming a new baby in his 40s. Friday, May 30 at 7.30pm. Tickets R200 from Webtickets or at Pick n Pay stores. iZulu Theatre, Sibaya: KZN Bollywood Idol was founded in 2023 by Risa Raeanne Moodley to allow people to have their moment on stage showcasing their singing talent. A live band, GM Vikings, will back the contestants, as well as Raeanne and her co-singers. Saturday, May 31 at 7pm. Tickets R100 from Ticketpro. Playhouse Opera: Cape Town City Ballet and the KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra present Coppélia a true love triumph in this enchanting fairytale, which features three main characters - the young Franz, his fiancée Swanilda and the mysterious doll-maker, Dr. Coppelius, who creates the life-like doll, Coppélia. May 31 at 2pm at 7pm. Tickets R 150-R210 on webtickets. MUSIC Hue Cafe: Performance by celebrated jazz pianist Melvin Peters at Hue Café on May 24 at 2:30pm. This concert marks the culminating moment of the 2025 Who's Got The Map? series: a jazz initiative inspired by the questioning spirit of South African jazz legend Andile Yenana, in the year that his seminal album of the same name celebrates its 20th anniversary. Tickets from Webtickets. Amberfield, Howick: Pianist Chris Duigan presents Lives of the Piano, a thrilling and diverse selection of mostly classical piano. It features iconic pieces, such as Mendelssohn's 'Rondo cappricioso'' and Liszt's "Un Sospiro," as well as Chopin's Scherzo No 2. May 26 at 3pm. Also May 29 at 3.30pm at Woodgrove, May 29 at 7pm at Amber Valley, June 1 at 3pm at All Souls church in Salt Rock and June 3 at 7pm at St Agnes Church Kloof. Tickets R150 from The Chairman: Acclaimed South African pianist, composer, and scholar Sibusiso 'Mash' Mashiloane is set to release his eighth album, Isigqi, live at the bird's eye, on all digital platforms on May 30. The live launch event is at The Chairman on June 1, featuring a stellar line-up of celebrated musicians. Tickets from Quicket St James Church, Morningside: Baroque 2000 features a programme dedicated with the music of Georg Philpp Telemann on Sunday May 25 at 11:30am. Trumpeter Yosuke Matsui is the soloist in a programme that includes his Suite "La Bizarre", Suite for 2 violins and Trumpet concerto in D major. Tickets at the door R180. Children free. Contact Michel at [email protected] or 082 303 5241 ART KZNSA: New exhibition opened last night. groundWork: 25 Years of Activism for Environmental Justice is a collaboration with activists and professional workers from groundWork, offering a profound exploration of the organisation's rich and impactful history. Curated by Vaughn Sadie, drawing from the extensive resources of groundWork's archive, the exhibition is a powerful testament to community resilience, activism, and advocacy. Ends June 8. Woza Moya Gallery, Hillcrest: The exhibition Behind Closed Doors opened last night. Features the work of artist Sinethemba Ndimande, and photographers Masibulele Nako and Manelisi Nene. OUTDOORS Amblers Hiking Club: (tomorrow) At 2pm on May 25 hike Honey Trails, to some great views, Old Main Road Drummond. R30 entrance. Call David on 072 615 0559. Recycles Group: Meet at 9am on Tuesdays at the parking area behind Pirates life saving club. For a 20 km ride on the promenade. Open to beginners, sociable, safe and an option for a breakfast at Pirates coffee shop. Call Ian to join on 083 675 2125. Retreads walking group: Join for a 3 or 5 km social walk on Tuesdays at 9am on the promenade followed with an option of breakfast at Pirates. Call Michele on 083 779 7443 Mountain Biking Rides: Saturdays at 6am, meet at Dura Cycles, Uvongo. Call 039 315 7359. Events Salt March memorial walk: Ela Gandhi, the Mahatma's grand-daughter will lead a Durban commemoration of the Salt March and all are welcome. It will start at the Gandhi Settlement in Phoenix at 8am on Sunday 25 May and the walk will move at a gentle pace for 5km to the Gandhi-Luthuli Peace Park. (Please leave your car at the Peace Park; transport will be available to take you to the starting point). Umgeni Steam Railway: Take a trip on an old steam engine as it meanders along the Valley of 1000 Hills. This 75-minute trip departs from Inchanga Railway Station to Botha's Hill and back. Browse through the Inchanga Station Craft Market with activities for the whole family and visit the Inchanga Railway Museum. Please bring cash or use Zapper as there are no card facilities. Trains run Sunday May 25 at 9am, 11.30am and 2pm. Bookings at Vuleka Centre, Botha's Hill: The third Garden Fair comes to the Vuleka Conference Centre in Botha's Hill on May 24 and 25. A selection of growers; nurseries; retailers; garden product suppliers; manufacturers; landscapers; and those involved in the garden industry will showcase their wares. Provision will be made to promote water-wise guru, Tanya Visser, will be on hand to give advice. Tickets R30, children under 13 free. Open 8.30am until 4pm daily Well behaved dogs on a leash are welcome. See [email protected] Shongweni Farmers and Craft Market: In conjunction with the Independent on Saturday, join us for CraftFest - a celebration of craftmanship and creativity. Enjoy a taste sensation with craft beer, spirits, artisan food and crafters showcasing their skills. Live local bands all day long and Under 18 tickets include access to the Kids Zone free of charge. Join us this Father's Day for a family celebration. June 15 from 10am to 6pm. Tickets R100 adults, R50 children from Quicket. Send your event details to [email protected] by the Tuesday before publication.
The Citizen
27-04-2025
- The Citizen
Carving Miss SA history one stride at a time
In the bustling university town of Potchefstroom, nestled in South Africa's North West province, Jade Sateria, a 25-year-old trans woman, is gearing up to make waves. She entered Miss SA 2025, not merely to compete, but to redefine what the title can mean. The Miss South Africa Organisation has opened its doors wider, stating on its official site that entrants don't need to have been born female to compete— just meet the criteria by the pageant date and be under 30. For Jade, this isn't just an opportunity; it's a call to action, and she's answering it with the full force of her Potchefstroom-honed spirit. Originally from George, Jade planted her roots in Potch while earning a BA in Communication Science at NorthWest University (NWU). She didn't stop there—she added a Master's Certificate in Journalism from Agence France-Presse and now delivers news as an anchor at the SABC's radio service RSG. But it's her connection to Potchefstroom's community that drives her. 'This place shaped me,' she expressed with a voice ringing with conviction. 'I was a queer student here, finding my way. Now I'm showing this town we can claim any stage—including Miss SA.' The Miss SA 2025 rules ditch old restrictions: no height or weight limits, no rigid age cutoff below 30, and a clear nod to inclusivity for trans women. It's a progressive leap, though not without its skeptics. Jade brushes off the noise. 'I'm not here to plead my case,' she stated plainly. 'The rules let me in. That's all the permission I need.' Her resolve comes from a life of pushing back against a childhood in George, where being gay meant being sidelined, to transitioning in a world that's only now catching up. Potchefstroom has seen Jade's mettle. At NWU, she directed two bold productions with the DIVACO arts society, weaving narratives that demanded attention. Her decade in theatre sharpened her presence, while her work with Pascap Trust since 2012 has built after-school refuges for Cape Town's kids. She also spearheaded the B:630 Education and Discipline Improvement programme at New Dawn Park Primary School in George. 'I've watched kids bloom when someone fights for them,' she said. 'That's why I'm here—for Potchefstroom's youth, especially the ones who feel they don't fit.' Jade's Miss SA run isn't about glamour—it's about purpose. 'Getting to the top 30 is my megaphone,' she declared. 'It's for every trans kid in Potchefstroom, every girl who's been told she's not enough. This town's got its traditional edges, but I'm not backing down—I'm breaking through.' Jade dreams of a South Africa where differences unite rather than divide. 'The crown? That's not it,' she insists. 'I want a future where no one here—or anywhere—can dictate your limits.' When detractors argue a trans woman doesn't belong in Miss SA, Jade's reply is sharp: 'The rules say otherwise. Check them. I'm in.' Her journey reverberates through Potchefstroom—from the Mooi River's banks to NWU's classrooms, into homes where ambition simmers. 'They said I'd never measure up,' she declared, unflinching. 'Now I'm proving this town, and the nation, that standing out beats blending in every time.' Jade Sateria isn't after a title—she's forging a legacy. For Potchefstroom, she's a homegrown force, showing beauty has no blueprint, strength speaks loud, and belonging is nonnegotiable. 'Miss SA 2025 isn't just a contest for me,' she asserted. 'It's a chance to rewrite who gets to rise. I'm doing it for every kid here who's felt locked out.' With the rules in her corner and a community watching, Jade's set to carve history—one fearless stride at a time. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
