Latest news with #Stellenbosch
The Herald
8 hours ago
- General
- The Herald
Junior Boks put Gqeberha heartache behind them
After the disappointment of ending third at the four-team U20 Rugby Championship in Gqeberha in May, the Junior Boks are ramping up preparations for the World Rugby Championship, which kicks off in Italy on June 29. Two training sessions against a visiting senior Kenyan side have been included in a three-week training camp which starts in Stellenbosch on Monday. The meetings with Kenya will be match simulation exercises, with the first set for June 9 and the second five days later on June 14, in Stellenbosch. Junior Bok coach Kevin Foote has included three new players in a training squad. He has welcomed back several familiar faces who are back from injury and United Rugby Championship duty in addition to three newcomers in Rambo Kubheka (loosehead prop), Shaun Schürman (hooker) and Ian van der Merwe (flyhalf). Returning to the squad are locks Jaco Grobbelaar and Arno van der Merwe, No 8 Stephanus Linde, and outside backs Jaco Williams and Alzeadon Felix. ' Rambo, who played for the SA U18s last year, has been doing very well for Hollywoodbets Sharks in the SA Rugby U21 Cup, while Shaun and Ian, a very good game driver and left-footed kicker, have also been in good form for the Vodacom Bulls U21s,' Foote said. 'Jaco Grobbelaar, who played for the Junior Boks last year, is back from his Vodacom URC duty with the Vodacom Bulls and will join us in week two, and Stephanus, who toured with us to Georgia earlier this year, returns after he picked up a knee injury in the FNB Varsity Cup. 'It's also good to welcome back from injury Jaco Williams, who has been training with the Sharks' URC team, Alzeadon Felix, who had a good Varsity Cup campaign, and Arno van der Merwe.' Foote said HB Odendaal (hooker), Neil Hansen (lock), Divan Fuller (flanker), and Matt Romao (flanker) have been ruled out due to injury, while JC Mars (fullback) would join the squad as soon as he had shrugged off a hamstring niggle. 'We're a very settled team now, with some guys coming back from injury and unfortunately some players being injured while on duty for their provinces in the SA Rugby U21 Cup,' Foote . 'We've kept the core of the squad together for a long time now; they're a great team off the field and have a good connection, which we think is very important for us going into the World Championship, also understanding how we want to play and our game model. 'There has been a lot of work done over the last few camps, including the tour to Georgia and the U20 Rugby Championship. 'Though we didn't get the results against Australia and New Zealand in Gqeberha, we've taken a lot of good learning from those experiences, and we feel we are very close to where we want to be.' Junior Springbok training squad: Props: Simphiwe Ngobese (Sharks), Ranon Fouché (Bulls), Oliver Reid (Western Province), Kubheka (Sharks), Jean Erasmus (Bulls), Tebogo Nkosi (Cheetahs), Herman Lubbe (Western Province). Hookers: Juandré Schoeman (Bulls), Siphosethu Mnebelele (Bulls), Shaun Schürmann (Bulls). Locks: Jaco Grobbelaar (Bulls), Riley Norton (Western Province), Arno van der Merwe (Cheetahs), Morné Venter (Lions), JJ Theron (Bulls), Zuko Phoswa (Western Province). Loose forwards: Xola Nyali (Western Province), Thando Biyela (Lions), Batho Hlekani (Sharks), Stephanus Linde (Cheetahs), Wandile Mlaba (Western Province). Scrumhalves: Haashim Pead (Lions), Ceano Everson (Sharks), Erich Visser (Cheetahs). Flyhalves: Vusi Moyo (Sharks), Ian van der Merwe (Bulls). Centres: Albie Bester (Sharks), Demitre Erasmus (Bulls), Gino Cupido (Western Province). Outside backs: Jaco Williams (Sharks), Siya Ndlozi (Western Province), Cheswill Jooste (Bulls), Gilermo Mentoe (Lions), Alzeadon Felix (Lions), Scott Nel (Sharks). Utility back: Dominic Malgas (Western Province). The Herald
The Herald
2 days ago
- Business
- The Herald
Pinotage celebrates a century of its place among SA's home-grown essentials
How apt that two distinctive home-grown essentials of South African culture both celebrate 100th anniversaries this year — Afrikaans marking its centennial as an official language and our signature wine grape pinotage celebrating 100 years since its first experimental seeds were planted. Pioneering Stellenbosch University viticulturist Prof Abraham Izak Perold crossed the French varietals of pinot noir and cinsaut (then known locally as hermitage, hence the name pinotage), seeking to combine pinot's elegance with the hardy, robust growth properties of cinsaut. He planted the first seeds in 1925, mainly as an academic project, at the university's Welgevallen experimental farm, those first four seedlings kick-starting a fascinating history for a once-maligned grape that now holds its own on the global wine stage. (Read more at In this year of celebrating innovation in SA wine, a winemaker known for his innovation in winemaking and marketing celebrates two global accolades for none other than pinotage. Bruce Jack scored a place in the 2025 Drinks Business Master Winemaker 100 as one of just three South Africans named in the list of the world's top 100 winemakers. The wine that secured him the spot was his flagship Heritage Flag of Truce Pinotage 2022. Pinotage is known for its versatility, producing wines that can be full-bodied, rich and bold, dark-fruited, with savoury-umami, sweet and smoky flavours, through to softer-bodied styles that lean more to bright red fruits and floral notes wrapped around the savouriness. Some of the lighter, fresher styles of pinotage can be almost pinot noir-like, a nod to its roots, while pinotage also makes some lovely dry rosés with distinctive spiciness. Intensely toasting the insides of barrels (rather than illegally adding coffee grounds or chocolate chips as some assumed) produced another innovation in the popular coffee-chocolate style pinotage. I'm not a fan of these, so the Daily Brew Pinotage in the Bruce Jack Lifestyle range (around R80, Tops at SPAR) came as a pleasant surprise, with subtle coffee and chocolate complementing abundant juicy red cherries, ripe plums and a soft creaminess to the mouthfeel. Definitely one for a braai with lamb ribbetjies (the wine will cut through the fat) and anything with a tangy-spicy marinade. Also in the great value Lifestyle range, the Pinotage Malbec is a regular in my shopping basket, an unusual red blend that Jack describes as 'black cherry pie with a pinch of thyme' — an apt description for a deliciously plush wine with fresh cherries, dark chocolate, vanilla and oak spice. The Bruce Jack Reserve Collection Pinotage 2023 (about R150) is next-level, showing that versatility of pinotage — this one dark, brooding, velvety. Black cherries, plums, dark chocolate and warm spice move from nose to palate with a frame of toasty oak. There's a creamy richness to the wine, bringing to mind roasted fruit served with crème fraiche. Pinotage is a volatile character that can be tricky to work with in the cellar, to avoid the unwanted pungency of nail polish remover or burnt tar that gave the wine a bad rap in the 1970s. Which is probably why Jack describes his journey of pinotage-making as 'a tightrope between ambition and humility, between resilience and empathy' and perhaps inspired the name of Heritage Flag of Truce Pinotage 2022 (R570), which nails pinotage as it should be. From a single vineyard in the Breedekloof, considered SA's best pinotage-growing terroir, the wine is smooth and silky, fruit purity in dark ripe berries, a distinctive but subtle garam masala spice, a background layer of vanilla and chocolate in a complex, finely balanced wine. An elegant, eminently drinkable pinotage, but with a backbone that reminds you it could take a bit of lying down to fully develop. Appropriately on the proudly SA theme, pinotage is great with a braai, especially things with spicy-tangy marinade or Asian flavours like hoisin and barbecue pork. Jack also suggests it as an unusual and delicious partner to sushi — definitely one to try! All the wines can be ordered at The Reserve Pinotage is at Makro and selected Tops at SPAR, while the Lifestyle Range is exclusive to Tops. The Herald
The Herald
2 days ago
- General
- The Herald
‘Justice not served': Family outraged as student who urinated on Babalo Ndwayana's belongings walks free
The family of Babalo Ndwayana has expressed deep disappointment after the acquittal of former Stellenbosch University student Theuns du Toit, who was caught on video urinating on Ndwayana's belongings in a university residence in 2022. Du Toit was cleared this week of charges of crimen injuria and malicious damage to property, bringing a three-year legal process to a controversial close. The Stellenbosch magistrate's court found there was insufficient grounds to convict him. The incident, which went viral on social media at the time, drew national outrage and sparked renewed debate on racism and privilege in South African institutions. Ndwayana's father Mkuseli Kaduka, told TimesLIVE the family was devastated by the Stellenbosch magistrate's court's decision. 'Babalo and myself are both disappointed and devastated by the outcome of the case. Justice was by no means served at all,' said Kaduka. Stellenbosch University said it considered the process fair and closed. Meanwhile the SU convocation lamented the damage caused by the case to the university's reputation and called for an apology to Du Toit.
The Herald
4 days ago
- General
- The Herald
Erasmus, Conrad forge new culture of unity in SA sport
In the heart of Stellenbosch's rugby country, where scrums thump like thunder and lineouts rise like prayers, a new kind of Springbok playbook was being written — one that included googlies, yorkers and a few cricket bats. Last week Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus opened the doors of his second alignment camp to Proteas head coach Shukri Conrad and Cricket SA's high performance management team, planting a flag for cross-sport collaboration the likes of which South African fans have rarely seen. The Proteas, preparing for the colossal ICC World Test Championship final against Australia at Lord's next month, didn't just stop by for coffee and a handshake. They rolled up their sleeves, shadowed Springbok strategists and soaked up the culture that's powered two Rugby World Cup wins in a row. The day was as much about tactics as it was about tribal connection-building one sporting nation under the green and gold. 'They may bowl with leather and we drive with muscle,' Erasmus said with a grin, 'but when you strip it down, we're both trying to win for the same flag. Whether it's a tryline or a third man boundary, it's the same heartbeat.' The seeds of this unlikely union were sowed not in a boardroom but over a braai. Earlier this year, during the Proteas' second Test against Pakistan at Newlands, Erasmus and Conrad met for the first time under smoky skies, where meat sizzled and ideas simmered. 'There's nothing quite like a good braai to break the ice,' Conrad chuckled. 'Rassie and I started talking about culture, pressure, leadership, and before the boerewors was done, we both realised we were playing the same mental game, just on different pitches.' It wasn't long before the idea was born — why not bridge the two disciplines, not in theory, but in practice? On Thursday that dream came to life. The camp began with the usual focus of values, systems and structures for the coming season, with Erasmus and his coaching team setting the tone for a crucial year ahead. But it was the presence of the cricketing minds that gave the day an extra dimension. Alongside Conrad were CSA's high performance managers, who observed how the Boks manage detail, pressure and player identity. The Springbok assistant coaches each presented their areas of expertise, from breakdown tactics to backline structure, while engaging with their cricketing guests about what translates across the codes. 'It was fascinating. The language might be different — rucks versus reverse swing — but the messages are identical — play for the badge, trust your process, execute under pressure,' Conrad told . 'We're a week out from flying to London for our biggest final ever. 'Being in that room with Rassie and his coaches gave us a mental sharpening. You see what makes champions tick, and it rubs off on you.' This wasn't a one-way masterclass. Erasmus made it clear the Boks had just as much to learn from the Proteas, especially in the psychological realm of endurance sport. 'A Test match lasts five days. That's five days of being scrutinised, second-guessed, sledged and still needing to stay mentally sharp,' Erasmus said. 'That's not just skill, that's spiritual stamina. 'There's a lot for us to gain from how they manage that pressure cooker.' The respect was mutual, and it highlighted a growing vision across SA sport — sharing excellence. 'Vincent Tshituka, Ntokozo Makhaza and Juarno Augustus were new faces in our environment,' Erasmus said. 'And just like them, the cricket guys walked in as guests and left as teammates.' In an era where silos often dominate national sports systems, Thursday's session was a rare act of unity. Both Conrad and Erasmus signalled their intention to turn this into more than a one-off. 'We've got more in common than not,' Erasmus said. 'The more we lean into each other, the more chance we have of both standing tall on the world stage.' For the Proteas, the road leads to London. For the Springboks, it's the Barbarians clash on 28 June, followed by a stacked season. But for SA's sports lovers, the hope is that this bond continues to grow, where tactics are shared over tackle bags and insights traded like match-winning partnerships. Because in the end, whether it's a ruck or a run chase, the goal remains the same — to write victory stories that make the nation sing. — SportsBoom
News24
5 days ago
- General
- News24
Stellenbosch urination saga: Court finds Theuns du Toit not guilty
Former Stellenbosch University student Theuns du Toit, who caused uproar three years ago when he urinated on the belongings of another student, was found not guilty of two criminal charges in the Stellenbosch Magistrate's Court on Tuesday. Du Toit was charged with crimen injuria and malicious damage to property. He had pleaded not guilty. National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila confirmed that Du Toit was acquitted of the charges. The charges stemmed from the 2022 incident, caught on camera, that showed a drunken Du Toit urinating on the belongings of fellow student Babalo Ndwayana at the university's Huis Marais residence.
