Events

Johnnie Walker®, a corporate partner of the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes Team, will be exhibiting the car as part of their responsible Drinking Campaign at Canal Walk from the 14th to the 21st of June. In 2005 Johnnie Walker® took another stride on its journey of global success, when it made the pioneering move of being the only spirit sponsor of a high performance Formula 1 team. This partnership with the hugely successful Team McLaren Mercedes has provided a unique platform for promoting their responsible drinking agenda.   The Johnnie Walker® Striding Man® adorns the stylish, sophisticated black and silver colour scheme of the iconic team’s cars however; the significance of the partnership runs much deeper, mirroring the depth and complexity of the world’s number one whisky brand. Johnnie Walker’s® Sponsorship of the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes F1 Team successfully links an iconic team and sport on a global scale. The sport and the team epitomise the essence of Johnnie Walker®: pioneering, progressive, stylish and sophisticated. The Partnership with Vodafone McLaren Mercedes has enabled Johnnie Walker® to promote responsible drinking messages to a broad audience, an initiative at the heart of Johnnie Walker® activity in Formula 1.  “Johnnie Walker® is committed to promoting a ‘never drink and drive’ message and our association with Vodafone McLaren Mercedes allows us to demonstrate the importance of always being in control. Control is one of the most critical capabilities needed by racing drivers to succeed,” says Vimal Vaghmaria, brand manager Johnnie Walker®. Johnnie Walker® is giving consumers at the exhibition a chance to win Mercedes-Benz Dynamic Driving Courses. “These driving courses are just another way in which we can communicate a positive and responsible attitude to driving and get consumers to think and act responsibly when getting behind the wheel of a car.

Johnnie Walker®, a corporate partner of the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes Team, will be exhibiting the car as part of the Loxion Motor Show at Maponya Mall from the 25th to the 30th of May. In 2005 Johnnie Walker® took another stride on its journey of global success, when it made the pioneering move of being the only spirit sponsor of a high performance Formula 1 team. This partnership with the hugely successful Team Vodafone Mclaren Mercedes has provided a unique platform for promoting their responsible drinking agenda. The Johnnie Walker® Striding Man® adorns the stylish, sophisticated black and silver colour scheme of the iconic team’s cars however; the significance of the partnership runs much deeper, mirroring the depth and complexity of the world’s number one whisky brand. Johnnie Walker’s® Sponsorship of the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes F1 Team successfully links an iconic team and sport on a global scale. The sport and the team epitomise the essence of Johnnie Walker®: pioneering, progressive, stylish and sophisticated. The Partnership with Vodafone McLaren Mercedes has enabled Johnnie Walker® to promote responsible drinking messages to a broad audience, an initiative at the heart of Johnnie Walker® activity in Formula 1.  “Johnnie Walker® is committed to promoting a ‘never drink and drive’ message and our association with Vodafone McLaren Mercedes allows us to demonstrate the importance of always being in control. Control is one of the most critical capabilities needed by racing drivers to succeed,” says Vimal Vaghmaria, brand manager Johnnie Walker®. Johnnie Walker® is giving consumers at the motor show a chance to win Mercedes-Benz Dynamic Driving Courses. “These driving courses are just another way in which we can communicate a positive and responsible attitude to driving and get consumers to think and act responsibly when getting behind the wheel of a car.

The Johnnie Walker® Celebrating Strides annual Awards, will pay tribute to nominated individuals in four categories namely design, business, environment and the arts, who will be adjudicated by an independent panel as well as through public voting. The four winners will be chosen from a shortlist of 12 nominees for demonstrating entrepreneurial flair and drive, creativity, initiative, substance, strength and leadership. The winners will be announced in May 2010. The finalists in the arts category are Zulu literary star, renowned playwright, choreographer and entrepreneur, Welcome Msomi; the international acclaimed principal dancer and founder of ‘Dance for All’ and InSPIRAtions Dance Academies Philip Boyd; and famous musician, anthropologist and musical activist, Johnny Clegg.   In the environment category, the finalists are ‘Mr. Permaculture’ Joe Matimba, a community developer and a project manager at Food and Trees For Africa, environmentalist and photographer Joanne Lee Rolt as well as environmentalist and urban designer, Simon Nicks,  whose aim it is to design places that are pleasant to live in with minimal impact on our planet's resources. The finalist in the design category are architect Mokena Makeka, a force behind the redesign of the Cape Town station, jewellery designer Given Nkuna renowned for his coin wallets made from China bags, and ceramic designer, art gallery owner and creative force, Andile Dyalvan, whose love for ceramics was born from river mud forms he created inspired by the Nguni cattle he herded for his father. The Business category is represented by Max Maisela, a fearless fighter for financial rights whose company NBC helps protect retirement rights for workers; Ernest Kekana a young pilot turned operator for one of Africa’s leading Aviation Companies; and Chicken Licken magnate, George Sombonos.   An independent panel of judges including entrepreneurs, business consultants and members of the public will select a winner from the three nominees in each category. The winners will receive prizes of around R500 000. Tracey Kirsten, Johnnie Walker® Marketing Manager says the Celebrating Strides Awards initiative recognizes and honours individuals who have made strides to achieve their dreams, on a personal or business level and who through their success inspire others and empower their communities. “The nominees for each category have done extremely well in their particular field. We have instructed the judging panel to looking at the impact they have made on their chosen industry as well as their involvement in community development programmes. Johnnie Walker® will recognize these individuals who have gone the extra mile to attain incredible achievements in their fields, which may have been both challenging and extremely rewarding. “The awards will recognize these achievements and the bursary prize will hopefully act as a catalyst for aspiring entrepreneurs, artists and South Africans dreaming of a rewarding future to embark on their own journeys. “  The winner of each category receives R125 000 in cash to be used towards either a bursary fund or to benefit a registered institution or initiative associated with the category for which they have been nominated. The chosen establishment must benefit people who are 18 years of age or older. The R125 000 prize money is advanced solely for the benefit of the establishment and it will not be used for any other purpose.   Public voting will also take place on the dedicated website www.celebratingstrides.co.za and will account for 30% of the final scores.

From thousands of hopefuls there can only be one Class Act. An innovative new reality show that will put the spotlight on South Africa’s film industry will see 10 of South Africa’s best aspiring actors put through their paces when Episode 3 screens on SABC 1 this Saturday (27 March 2010) at 6.30pm. 

Class Act will test all 10 contestants’ passion for acting and their commitment to success in a series that will have viewers glued to their TV sets - gritting their teeth in anticipation as they follow an emotional journey with some of South Africa’s best acting hopefuls.  

In the past seven weeks, thousands of wannabe actors queued from the early hours of the morning at the audition venues in Durban, Cape Town, Johannesburg and Pretoria. Amongst those who were brave enough to audition, many had talent but few had the exceptional talent that would help them to succeed in the world of acting. 

The first episode of Class Act showcased some of the best and worst of the auditions in Durban. Last week further unraveled the tears of defeat and joy, tantrums and bursts of emotion as experienced by hopeful actors at the Cape Town Auditions. This Saturday, Class Act will showcase the Johannesburg and Pretoria auditions and  announce the five finalists that will round off the top 10. Audiences will be riveted as they watch the judges; Casting Agent Moonyeenn Lee, Actor Rapulana Seiphemo and producer Tendeka Matatu send those who didn’t cut it to the cutting room floor. During the auditions, the judges were ruthless, demolishing the talentless and the unprepared in a wave of biting criticism. But when talent outshone the spotlight, they were supportive and relieved.  “After the successes of Durban and Cape Town, we were expecting great acting talent in Johannesburg and Pretoria,” said Rapulana Seiphemo. “We were not let down and we saw some really great actors shine through, but at the same time, there were some really funny moments.” After this week’s show, all 10 finalists will be known and over the coming weeks they will act their way to what can ultimately be the biggest break in their amateur acting career, one that will catapult them to professional stardom. 

Week 4 will play out the first live broadcast of the top 10 and will be aired on Saturday April 3rd. This is when viewers can start casting their votes as to who they’d like to see in the role of SA’s Class Act.  Through sms voting, viewers stand a chance of winning weekly prizes consisting of airtime and a Bose Theatre System – just for voting! One lucky voting viewer will also win an Audi TT Coupe at the end of the Class Act season.  Each week, one contestant will go home. Ultimately only two actors will be left standing and audiences will be treated to a grand finale on the 5th of June. The winner will receive an MLA agency representation contract, 8 weeks in the USA at the New York Film Academy learning from the best in showbiz and the lead role in an Amstel TV commercial.  Watch SABC 1 on Saturday 27th March at 6.30pm. For more information please visit www.classactsa.co.za and follow the action on Face Book.

The new state-of-the-art Sedibeng Brewery, south of Johannesburg, was officially opened today (Thursday) at a function attended by more than 200 international and local guests. The Sedibeng Brewery, owned 75% by Heineken with Diageo holding a 25% stake, was built at a total cost of R3,5-billion (approximately €344  million). Together with Namibia Breweries Ltd, Heineken and Diageo are shareholders in Brandhouse Beverages (Pty) Ltd, the parties’ cost sharing joint venture in South Africa and one of the country’s  leading marketing, sales and distribution company for premium alcohol beverages.

Sedibeng brews and bottles a range of premium beers – including Amstel, Heineken and Windhoek Lager – for the local market.  The facility will also be responsible for the supply of leading Ready To Drink (RTD) brands Smirnoff Spin and Smirnoff Storm. The Sedibeng facility is built on an 83 hectares site comprising the brewery, production plant and a warehouse managed by brandhouse.  With an initial capacity of 3 million hectoliters, the brewery is already being expanded to further increase capacity by 1 million hectolitres by September 2010 in anticipation of growing demand for the premium brands.

Johan Doyer, Managing Director of the brewery noted that the brewery had been constructed three months ahead of schedule. This enabled the brewing of Amstel to begin in September 2009, while the brewing of Windhoek began in October and Heineken started in December.  “Each of our premium beers are brewed under the watchful eye of Heineken, Amstel and Windhoek brewmasters, in accordance with the original recipes and the highest international brewing standards. All of the South African staff has received training locally, with a large number also being trained overseas,” said Doyer.  

Sedibeng employed around 3500 people on site at the height of the construction and more than 225 permanent jobs will have been created at the brewery by the end of 2010.  It is estimated that the brewery will generate an additional R1-billion (just over €100-million) for the local economy through the indirect employment of 100 support service workers and through the local purchasing of packaging and raw materials. The Sedibeng Brewery has also allowed brandhouse to re-introduce Amstel Lager in a “returnable” bottle format, to replace the existing one-way bottles.  Gerald Mahinda, Managing Director of brandhouse, commented: “The returnable quart segment comprises the overwhelming share of the local beer market, and our ability to offer our customers our premium product in this format will enhance our capacity to meet consumer demand”. Tom de Man, Managing Director of Heineken Africa described the new brewery as one of the most advanced in the world and has been built with due care for the environment.  “Heineken is the number two brewer in Africa & The Middle East and the significant investment that we made in the Sedibeng brewery with Diageo, one of the largest private investments in South Africa in the past year, shows our commitment in South Africa.

With the start of local production, the economics of the venture will now start to deliver. I’m proud that we made big progress in South Africa which will further enhance Heineken’s global growth profile.” Nick Blazquez, Managing Director of Diageo Africa, said that the new brewery will help support the strength of the brandhouse partnership between Diageo, Heineken and Namibian Breweries.   “South Africa continues to present significant opportunities for growth in premium alcohol beverage categories. Against this backdrop, we believe that brandhouse is extremely well poised to continue to grow its share and further extend its position as the leading supplier of top quality beers and spirits in the country. Sedibeng represents the next step in what has already proved to be a very successful and mutually beneficial association between our companies.”