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Stuff from Johannesburg

Women Will Add Depth to Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry

History will be made during next year’s much-anticipated Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry, with the confirmation that the Springbok Women would meet New Zealand’s Black Ferns for the first time on South African soil.

This historic encounter will form part of a double-header at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg on 5 September, before the Springboks and All Blacks run out in the third Test of the series.

The Springbok Women and the Black Ferns have only met twice before – at the Women’s Rugby World Cups in 2010 and 2025 – and this Test could kickstart a new rivalry as fierce as any in the women’s game.

Their most recent clash in the RWC quarter-final in England in September was a humdinger, with scores tied at 10-10 at the break, before the six-time world champion Black Ferns pulled away in the second half, securing their spot in the semi-finals and ultimately the final of the tournament. England came out on top in that one in front of close to 82,000 spectators at the Allianz Stadium, Twickenham.

The massive growth in the domestic women’s game will no doubt be boosted by even more by this occasion, while the expected sell-out crowd at FNB Stadium, with a capacity of more than 90,000, will witness history in the making.

SA Rugby CEO Rian Oberholzer welcomed the additional fixture as a confirmation of the growing stature of the Springbok Women, both domestically and internationally.

“We have seen our traditional teams, the Springboks, Junior Springboks and Blitzboks, all win titles in 2025 and it was equally inspiring to see our investment in our women’s game starting to bear fruit,” said Oberholzer.

“Our Springbok Women made history in England with a best-ever World Cup performance and for the first time broke into the top ten on the world rankings.

“For them to be playing the Black Ferns in South Africa for the first time, as a double-header before the Boks take on the All Blacks, is fantastic. I want to thank all involved who helped get this match over the line.”

New Zealand Rugby CEO Mark Robinson said: “This double-header adds extra weight to what is already shaping up to be one of the most significant tours in modern rugby. It gives fans, players and the broader rugby community an unparalleled opportunity to witness the depth, history, and intensity of rivalry between four of our national teams.

“We want Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry to showcase everything that is great about traditional rugby tours, while being like no other, and part of that means offering more for fans to see and engage with. This additional Test is another way for us to bring this to life, and we know fans will be excited the same way we are.”

Springbok Women head coach Swys de Bruin said the Test would be a huge occasion for the players: “We want to become the best by playing the best and knowing that we will face the Black Ferns as part of a double-header with the Springboks and All Blacks in such a wonderful venue like FNB Stadium is massive for us.

“This Test adds a new dynamic to our 2026 season and will provide us a real test of our progress as we start our next World Cup cycle.”

Source – MyZA

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Sophiatown: The Lost “Paris of the Transvaal”

Sophiatown’s golden age was the 1940s and 50s. It was a dense, vibrant, and often dangerous neighborhood, characterized by “backyard” rooms, shebeens (illegal speakeasies), and a sophisticated social scene. It was the birthplace of Kwaito’s ancestors and the legendary “Marabi” music—a blend of traditional African rhythms and American ragtime. The streets were home to the most iconic figures of African literature and music: Miriam Makeba found her voice here; Hugh Masekela received his first trumpet from a local priest; and the writers of Drum magazine, like Can Themba and Bloke Modisane, used the neighborhood as their muse. They dressed in Fedora hats and double-breasted suits, channeling the style of Hollywood gangsters and Harlem intellectuals, creating a world that was cosmopolitain, intellectual, and radically multi-racial.

However, the “Bohemia” of Sophiatown was an existential threat to the National Party’s vision of total racial separation. The government viewed it as a “black spot” in a white area. In 1955, the state launched Western Areas Removal Scheme. On the morning of February 9th, 2,000 heavily armed police officers moved in, forcing families into trucks at gunpoint. They were relocated to the newly established matchbox houses of the South Western Townships (Soweto), 20 kilometers away. The resistance was led by figures like Trevor Huddleston, the Anglican priest whose church, St. Joseph’s, still stands today. Despite the slogan “Ons dak nie, ons pola hier” (We are not moving, we are staying here), the bulldozers were relentless.