Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula has announced his participation in this year's Momentum 94.7 Cycle Challenge, taking place in and around Johannesburg on 18 November, and is encouraging South Africans to join him in his drive for healthy lifestyles.

Mbalula received his cycling gear and race number 26 318 from Primedia Broadcasting group's head of news and talk programming, Yusuf Abramjee, and Momentum's Danie van den Bergh, at Primedia Place in Sandton on Friday.

Speaking after receiving his gear, the minister urged all South Africans to consider participating in cycling as part of a healthy lifestyle.

'Participate in cycling'

"Cycling is great, so we are encouraging everyone ... to participate in cycling. Through cycling, people can fight diseases such as hypertension and diabetes," he said.

Mbalula has set himself a personal goal of finishing the race in three hours.

"I will not be competing to win the race," he added, "but to raise money for my own foundation, so that we can use the money we raise to fund the educational needs of poor girls."

Cycles daily

Mbalula said he cycles about 20 kilometres every morning. "It is a pity that, for security purposes, I cannot reveal my route. The only time I don't cycle is when I am outside the country."

Earlier this year, the sports minister took part in the Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour in Cape Town.

Entries

Van den Bergh said entries for the Cycle Challenge would open in May. The entry price is R299, while the timing chip, which is compulsory for an official result for the race, costs R110.

All route information is still being finalised and will be made available online in May. Race numbers will be available for collection from the Sandton Convention Centre three days before the event.

Source: BuaNews

Once feared as a criminals' haven, downtown Johannesburg's restored buildings, flowing fountains and sidewalk art are attracting an unusual breed of tourist - local pedestrians.

"I was born in Johannesburg, but I had never been to the city centre," said student James van Biljon on a guided Saturday stroll with his family.

Johannesburg's city centre was once the heart of apartheid South Africa. During the 1990s, the central banking district became a no-go area as crime soared and companies fled to safer neighbourhoods.

They left behind empty buildings, sometimes occupied by squatters, falling into ruin.

But massive public and private investment - as well as an army of private security guards - have reversed the trend over the past decade. Old office buildings have been transformed into lofts, facades have been restored, once dry fountains flow again and sculptures now dot the sidewalks.

Locals rediscover their inner city

While big tour companies avoid the Central Business District to shield their guests from crime, smaller operators are springing up and offering walking tours which are catching on with locals looking to rediscover their own city.

"We decided that on a Saturday we would do a tour in the CBD. We hardly advertised and we had 28 people," said Jo Buitendach, who studied archeology but is now a full-time guide.

"Originally, (it was) mainly young people, from here. Young people of the suburbs have never seen their city, the city their parents talked about. But they have never been to it because they were told it's too dangerous."

Foreign visitors, companies join in

Word of mouth piqued the interest of the older generation, and then foreign visitors. Companies have also started booking private tours.

"We have lived in Johannesburg for 22 years. We always drive through the centre, but we never had the chance to walk around," said Hester van Biljon, James's mother.

"And then I read an article on those tours in the newspaper, and I said 'let's do it!' We decided to bring the kids along."

Buitendach knows that her clients, especially from white suburbs, feel like intrepid pioneers.

"It's particularly difficult to sell a tour which is a walking tour, where people are actually walking. It is so unusual here," she said.

Most people who can afford a car drive everywhere, to avoid crime and the spotty public transport.

City's reputation changing

But the city's fearsome reputation is slowly changing.

"When you come to Johannesburg for the first time, you are told: 'don't go, it's too dangerous!' But we wanted to see more," said Gavin Turner, a tourist from London.

Many typical tour companies simply drive through the CBD as they ferry guests to the Apartheid Museum, said Gerald Garner, who also runs walking tours.

"Walking ... is the only way to experience the city," he said. "A lot of my clients come and rediscover their own city."

Many are surprised to find pedestrian streets, sidewalk cafes, stunning renovated buildings and art deco facades. There are some potholes in the pavements, and the homeless are still there.

Strong African flavour

But there's also a strong African flavour in the city's street commerce, making it feel like one of the continent's vibrant cities.

"It is an incredible adventure for local people. It is as exciting as going overseas, since it is a totally other world at your doorstep," Garner said.

"Before starting my tours, I always ask if people have questions. At first, everybody was asking about security issues. And now it's less and less," he said.

The guides say they haven't had any problems, but they also steer clear of pockets where the city's regeneration hasn't yet taken hold.

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The new Nelson Mandela Digital Archive is now live on the web, giving the global public - along with historians, educationalists, researchers and activists from around the world - free access to extensive information about the life and legacy of this extraordinary African statesman.

In 2011, internet giant Google gave a US$1.25-million [R8.6million] grant to the Johannesburg-based Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory (NMCM) to help preserve and digitise thousands of archival documents, photographs and videos about Mandela.

On Tuesday, the resulting online multimedia archive - archive.nelsonmandela.org become a reality.

Rare images, never-seen drafts

According to the NMCM, the archive includes Mandela's correspondence with family, comrades and friends, diaries written during his 27 years of imprisonment, and notes he made while leading the negotiations that ended apartheid in South Africa.

The archive will also include the earliest-known photograph of Mandela, rare images of his cell on Robben Island in the 1970s, and never-seen drafts of Mandela's manuscripts for the sequel to his autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom.

"This digital initiative will make it possible for us to reach the full spectrum of our stakeholders, from the global elite to systemically disadvantaged South Africans," the centre's Verne Harris said at the launch of the archive in Johannesburg on Tuesday.

"Visitors can search and browse the archives to explore different parts of Mr Mandela's life and work in depth: Early Life, Prison Years, Presidential Years, Retirement, Books for Mandela, Young People, and My Moments with a Legend."

Interactive online experience

Also speaking at the launch, Steve Crossan, director of the Google Cultural Institute, said the project "shows how the internet can help preserve historical heritage and make it available to the world.

"We've worked closely with the NMCM to create an interactive online experience with powerful search and browsing tools, so that users can explore Mr Mandela's inspiring life story."

Luke Mckend, country manager for Google South Africa, said the archive currently included over 1 900 unique images, documents and videos, and would grow over time.

"South Africans from all walks of life can now engage with important parts of our country's history," Mckend said. "For example, reading handwritten pages of a letter smuggled from Robben Island in 1977, or seeing warrant documents that sent Mr Mandela to jail, first for five years and then for life."

SAinfo reporter

An international hero ... as well as a son, husband, father and grandfather.

Slovenia has named its strongest possible side to do battle with South Africa in an all-important Euro/Africa Zone Group One Davis Cup tie at the Arthur Ashe Tennis Centre in Jabavu, Soweto from 6 to 8 April.

South Africa will be without its two highest ranked singles players, Kevin Anderson and Rik de Voest, for a showdown that will see the winning team into a playoff tie for a place in the prestigious World Group.

The Slovenian team, which will be captained by Blaz Trupej, includes two players ranked in the top 150 of world tennis, namely Blaz Kavcic (107) and Grega Zemlja (130). The other two men in the line-up are relatively unknown players in Janez Semrajc (668) and Nik Razborsek, who has no world ranking. Kavcic, the star Slovenian player was ranked as high as number 70 in the world six months ago.

'A very competent team'

"This Slovenian team named is a very competent team," SA Davis Cup captain John-Laffnie de Jager said in a statement.

"With two player ranked in the top 130 of world tennis they certainly could be seen as favoured, but two men don't make up a team and, as we have seen on so many occasions, anything is possible at any time in Davis Cup competition.

"My boys are ready for the challenge and are quietly confident too."

The South African team will comprise John-Laffnie De Jager, Izak Van Der Merwe, Raven Klaasen, Ruan Roelofse and Jean Andersen.

No entry fee

"Easter time is tennis time this year and we are not charging an entry fee which will hopefully attract a big crowd to Soweto to support our team do battle with Slovenia," said Ian Smith, the CEO of Tennis South Africa.

"Davis Cup is one of the most exciting team sport events and the players participating in this tie are top class professionals, so there promises to be some great tennis action over the three days."

The two teams have never met in Davis Cup competition and in the latest Davis Cup ranking, South Africa is in 24th position, while Slovenia is ranked 30th.

SOUTH AFRICA v SLOVENIA
Venue: Arthur Ashe Tennis Centre, Soweto

South Africa
Izak van der Merwe, Raven Klaasen, Ruan Roelofse, Jean Andersen
Captain: John Laffnie de Jager

Slovenia
Blaz Kavcic, Grega Zemlja, Janez Semrajc, Nik Razborsek
Captain: Blaz Trupej

SAinfo reporter

Gap Inc. opened two stores in South Africa this week as the global retailer set up a base for expansion into the continent - and said it expected more retailers to enter the country in the next few years as the local retail sector matured.

"We are excited to bring Gap's casual American style and store experience to more customers in South Africa," Stefan Laban, Gap's MD of strategic alliances, said in a statement on Tuesday.

"South Africa is the natural next step for expanding our presence on the continent. The country has a thriving economy and high Gap brand awareness, so we believe there is tremendous opportunity for us in the market," Laban said.

Gap's opened its first store in Johannesburg's Sandton City Mall on Tuesday, followed by a second in Cape Town's Tyger Valley Centre on Wednesday - and according to financial news agency I-Net Bridge, plans to open a third in Pretoria's Brooklyn Mall later this year.

Each store will house product from the international Gap, GapKids and babyGap collections, and the assortment will be customized seasonally to best suit the needs of local customers and the warm South African climate.

Gap's move follows that of Spain's Inditex Group - Europe's largest fashion retailer - which opened its first South African Zara store in Sandton late last year, and its second at the Gateway Shopping Centre outside Durban in March.

Laban told I-Net Bridge this week that, as demand slowed in Europe and the US, more retailers were seeking growth in emerging markets such as South Africa.

Gap sells clothing, accessories and personal care products for men, women, children and babies under the Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy, Piperlime, and Athleta brands.

Its products are available in over 90 countries through about 3 000 company-operated stores, over 200 franchise stores, as well as e-commerce websites. The company's net sales for fiscal year 2011 amounted to US$14.5-billion.

SAinfo reporter

Banking group Absa and the Department of Science and Technology have signed an agreement to collaborate on a range of technology and agricultural business development programmes aimed at stimulating South Africa's growth trajectory.

Speaking in Pretoria on Monday after signing the memorandum of understanding, Science and Technology Minister Naledi Pandor said the partnership was in line with the government's bid to find "sustainable strategies to increase investment in research and development, and also stimulate business to do the same".

Closing the 'innovation chasm'

In terms of the agreement, the department and Absa will work together on human capital development, technology commercialisation, renewable energy technologies, information communication technology (ICT) and agricultural business development.

Pandor said the partnership would help to address the "innovation chasm" in ICT, information security and renewable energy technologies.

Underlying the collaboration was an attempt to create "synergies in the research, development and innovation enterprise," Pandor said, adding that it was crucial for South Africa to promote a prosperous society that derived equitable benefits from science and technology.

Partnerships for human development

Absa's chief executive for retail and business banking, Bobby Malabie, said Absa was committed to helping the government widen access to high-level graduate programmes in science and engineering.

"Our role extends beyond that of a mere bank," Malabie said. "We are a true partner in society as we take a step closer today towards realising the desired partnership with universities to attract quality graduates who will be able to advance the fields of science, engineering and technology.

"It is only through industrial, governmental and educational partnerships that this can be achieved," he said.

Source: BuaNews

There is more to South Africa than Nelson Mandela, as a group of journalists visiting from the Middle East as guests of Brand South Africa are finding out.

The latest Brand South Africa media tour sees a group of journalists from the Middle Eastern region visiting the country.

The aim of these media tours is to expose the international press to South Africa's business environment, as well as its regulatory and policy systems, and to boost positive press coverage abroad.

This is especially important in nations where Brand South Africa has no country manager.

United Arab Emirates

With reporting from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) appearing in publications across the Gulf and well into India, the media there will gain a greater overall understanding of how South African business works and how it has developed.

The tour will emphasise South Africa's progress in the sectors of energy, finance and mining; give journalists a glimpse into the country's diversity of arts, culture and heritage; and inform them of South Africa's well-established Muslim community and the way in which they are accommodated, including specialised Islamic business practices.

The media tour follows a state visit by President Jacob Zuma to the UAE in November 2011. It is hoped that this strategy will help to facilitate business partnerships and investment with entities and those from the UAE and other Gulf states.

At a dinner to welcome the group to South Africa, Brand South Africa CEO Miller Matola said that South Africa has a lot to offer, and there is great potential for business between the country and the UAE.

SA 'a serious player globally'

"South Africa is at the centre of major shifts in the globe," Matola said. "The country is a serious and relevant socio economic and political player globally."

Agro processing, energy, skills and technology have been identified as some of the major sectors where South Africa and UAE could form partnerships.

"We believe there is more scope for investment and to work together," said Matola.

"I am looking for a reason to visit South Africa that is more than Nelson Mandela," said Syrian journalist Bahaa Al awam, reporting for Sharjah-based Al Khaleej, the UAE's top Arabic daily and one that is read by influential people such as government officials and decision-makers in business.

He explained that his first thought about South Africa was of its former president and Nobel Peace laureate, now 93 years old and long retired from public life.

'I realised that Mandela was not fighting alone'

"Then I did some more reading about your history, politics, economy and languages," said Al awam, "and I realised that Nelson Mandela was not fighting alone for freedom, but that there were many people in the revolution."

He said that he didn't know this until just before his trip, but was now keen to know more about the various reasons people visit South Africa.

The country's strong points for leisure tourists are its magnificent wildlife, spectacular landscapes, fascinating heritage, general friendliness of its citizens, and proven ability to host major international events such as the 2010 Fifa World Cup, the COP 17 climate change summit, and many others.

Gulf News reporter Mahmood Sabri said he worked with a number of South Africans who primed him for his tour to the country.

"They all raved about South Africa and made me really look forward to coming here."

For the group of five, it was their first visit to South Africa and each of them showed a keen interest in the country and its history, and said they were excited to be here.

A quick tour of history

However, the tour started off on a very Mandela-centric note, with a visit to Liliesleaf Farm in Rivonia north of Johannesburg. This heritage site was previously an African National Congress hideout and the place where Mandela, posing as a gardener, eluded the authorities until a raid in 1963 and subsequent arrests led to the infamous Rivonia TreasonTrial.

Afterwards the journalists headed for Soweto and the historic Mandela House, where they were treated to a brief summary of Mandela's life after he arrived in Johannesburg in the 1940s.

They were guided around the little house, built in 1945, where Mandela and his family lived amid unrest and fear in the township. Mandela went underground in 1961 but the rest of the family stayed on until they too were sent away.

After Mandela's release the family moved back into number 8115 Vilakazi Street, Orlando West.

Historic suburb of Fordsburg

The historic suburb of Fordsburg was next on the itinerary. This area of downtown Johannesburg was originally set up for workers on the nearby gold mines but eventually came to house Johannesburg's Indian and Muslim communities, as well as coloured, Chinese and Jewish people. This gave the suburb the multicultural sparkle for which it's known today.

One of Fordsburg's well-known spots is the Delhi Palace, where up-and-coming lawyers Nelson Mandela and Oliver Tambo ate in the 1950s. The Fordsburg community fell victim to the forced removals in the 1970s, when many Indian families were transferred to Lenasia, about 30km away.

The journalists rounded off their first day's sightseeing with a visit to the Constitutional Court, where the doors are never locked and the public may freely enter the courtroom, even while it's in session.

Standing around the ever-burning flame of democracy, the group learned more about the history of the site. For much of its life it was a military outpost and prison, known as the Old Fort prison complex, a notorious institution where political prisoners and common criminals, both men and women, were held under the harshest of conditions.

It became the site of the Constitutional Court in the 1990s, and today the site is as much a historical monument as it is a vital part of South Africa's legislative system. The Constitution, which turns 15 in 2012, is viewed as South Africa's supreme law.

First published by MediaClubSouthAfrica.com – get free high-resolution photos and professional feature articles from Brand South Africa's media service.

South Africa and Lesotho will show off their jointly managed Lesotho Highlands Water Project - one of the biggest engineering projects of its kind in the world - at the world's biggest gathering of water experts in Marseilles this week.

The World Water Forum (WWF), held every three years, is set to get under way in France's second-largest city on Monday.

The event -expected to attract 25,000 delegates to its sixth gathering since 1997 - will also likely serve as an opportunity to attract funding for South Africa's big water infrastructure building plans.

As announced in the recent national budget, the country is aiming to spend well over R60 billion constructing new and renovating old water supply and sanitation systems over the next three years.

Representatives from more than 180 countries - including 140 ministerial-level delegations - are set to attend the gathering in Marseille.

The city - home to the headquarters of the international World Water Council, which organises the WWF - bills itself as "the world's water capital".

South Africa's water minister, Edna Molewa, as well as her deputy, Rejoice Mabudafhasi, are expected to attend the five-day forum, which ends on Friday.

On Sunday afternoon, officials from both South Africa's Department of Water Affairs and the joint Lesotho Highlands Water Commission were working to complete their combined display stand, located in an exhibition hall next to Marseille's Parc Chanot conference centre.

Phase II of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project was signed last year. It includes, among other things, the construction of the Polihali Dam in eastern Lesotho, and the boring of a 38km-long tunnel to connect it to that country's giant Khatse Dam.

The total cost of the second phase - at 2010 prices - is estimated to be over R15.4-billion, including R7.6-billion for a pump storage facility and transmission lines.

The estimated completion date is July 2020, at which time the LHWP will deliver an additional 17 cubic metres of water a second to South Africa's thirsty industrial heartland of Gauteng.

South Africa is also set to showcase a real-time water quality monitoring system at the WWF.

An international first, the system is able to keep tabs on water flow and quality across a wide geographical area, allowing planners to better manage the resource.

Sapa

Opportunities, incentives, regulations, assistance.

The 13-episode television series promoting Brand South Africa's Play Your Part campaign, which features inspirational stories of ordinary citizens working to improve their communities, is back by popular demand on SABC 1 at 6pm on Tuesdays, starting on 6 March.

Brand South Africa travelled the length and breadth of the country asking ordinary South Africans how they are playing their part in their communities, in the process uncovering a range of inspirational stories to share with the nation.

"There are a number of opportunities, big and small, where each and every one of us can make a positive difference in the communities in which we live and operate," Brand South Africa CEO Miller Matola said of show.

The TV series is aimed at lifting the spirits, and to "inspire all South Africans with examples of how their fellow citizens are creating a South Africa we can all be proud of".

A new generation of pioneers

The first episode profiles "a new generation of pioneers who, despite adversity, are charting new paths and flying the South African flag high," says Brand South Africa.

These include Nelisiwe Xaba, who explores contemporary issues and provokes dialogue through choreography and dance; David Tlale, who from one sewing machine has built a clothing brand that has graced the fashion capitals of the world; and 20-year-old racing driver Vicki Kemp, who has been on the tracks since she was 10.

Play Your Part is a social movement created by the Brand South Africa to inspire, empower and celebrate active citizenship.

SAinfo reporter

Three-time Dusi champion Andrew Birkett entrenched his status as a Dusi star by winning The Unlimited Non-Stop Dusi on debut on Friday after a breathtaking second half solo charge to set up an 11-minute victory over the first K2 home.

Under-23 stars Kwanda Mhlope and Lance Kime placed second, while Robyn Kime won the women's title, also in a K1, smashing an hour off the old record.

The Unlimited Non-Stop Dusi takes place over one day instead of the traditional three days of The Unlimited Dusi. It is undoubtedly one of the toughest challenges in the world of paddling.

Birkett made a crucial break at a sneak portage that he had found going over Nqumeni Hill, roughly halfway through the 110km race from Camps Drift to Durban, which split up the front bunch and set up his solitary grind into the finish at Blue Lagoon.

"I had planned a lot of my race, but then, four days before the race I got a phone call from a veteran Dusi paddler, who I think knows the valley better than anyone else, telling me about this portage at Nqumeni, saying that this path was worth a minute and a half.

'It looked good'

"I had to race down into the valley after lectures one afternoon to check it out, and sure enough, it looked good," he added.

During that stage of the race Birkett was locked in a fierce tussle with the crews of Lance Kime and Kwanda Mhlope and the pre-race favourites and defending champions Thulani Mbanjwa and Sbonelo Zondi.

"When we came to the Nqumeni Hill takeout I had to hold back so that the other two crews got ahead of me, and I was able to sneak into that path unseen. And yes, it worked!" he said.

Kime and Mhlope managed to stay in contact with Birkett, but Mbanjwa and Zondi fell out of contention, as Mbanjwa battled with a persistent shoulder injury, while technical problems beset their boat.

Widened his lead

Once he got a sniff of the lead Birkett paddled and ran his way to the front and steadily widened his lead, using the impressive conditioning base that had helped him win The Unlimited Dusi title with Jason Graham just a fortnight before.

"None of us had enough time to properly recover from The Unlimited Dusi, but my running was really strong today, which was pleasing. No-one goes through a race like this without going through bad patches. I went through five, and you just have to tell yourself to hang on, and focus on getting to Durban in one day, not about winning or records."

Birkett was within reach of Hank McGregor's K1 race record by the end of the haul across Inanda Dam. However, that dissolved when he overtook the mistimed water release from Inanda Dam after completing a lightning fast portage over the hill.

"My seconds told me that the record might be on, but I completely ignored it," said Birkett. "All I wanted to do was finish the race in one day, and stayed focussed on that.

'More pressure'

"When I overtook the water, it made the race even harder, but I like that. It made it even more of a challenge and put more pressure on me to stay focussed."

Birkett's meticulously worked out strategy for the race involved the use of a particularly light race boat that he was not able to drag on the portages like the other top contenders, and instead he lost some time on the long downhills by carrying his K1.

"It was a gamble all right having a light boat, and I had to nurse it. It was the right decision in the end, and it was a brilliant boat to have for a race like this," he reckoned.

Runners-up

Team Best Kayak Centre colleagues Lance Kime and Kwanda Mhlope were ecstatic with their runners-up finish, and showered praise on the juggernaut K1 performance by Birkett.

"Andy is just a phenomenal athlete and what he's done today is just incredible," said Kime.

"Coming into it, we knew he would be right up there, especially with him being such a strong runner, but we thought we might be able to get away from him on the river, which to a degree we did, but he was just stronger and smarter than us today."

The youngsters had to dig deep in the dying stages of the race as they were reeled in by the flying Trautmann brothers, Kelvin and Matt.

'Blew a gasket'

"We blew a gasket going across the dam and were absolutely shattered towards the end," said Kime.

"At the N2 bridge we couldn’t believe it when we saw the Trautmanns just there. That extra adrenalin rush then got us going again and it was basically a flat out sprint to the finish line from there, and we were very glad to finally get to Blue Lagoon."

The result was another brilliant one for the Trautmann siblings, who ground their way back into the top three in the second half of the race.

"We didn't feel very good in the beginning," said Kelvin Trautmann. "The plan was to try be up there at Guinea Fowl, but the guys flew out the blocks and we were already four minutes behind at Guinea Fowl.

'It's all in your head'

"It's a long race, though, and whilst you're obviously racing against others you’re actually only really racing against yourself. It's all in your head.

"We took out for the Burma Road portage with Craig Turton and Jasper Mocké and by the time we got to the top of Burma we’d caught Thulani Mbanjwa and Sbonelo Zondi!" said Trautmann. "From then on it was all about trying to put the hammer down as much as possible and get out of sight of the others.

"It would have been great to have caught second place, and if it had been a little longer maybe we could have," he added. "But we were taking on water and just couldn’t quite close the gap. We finished second in our previous attempt, but we were definitely quicker this time despite things being a whole lot hotter and there being less water this year."

Women's race

The women's race quickly turned into a lopsided contest as K1 and K2 Dusi champ Robyn Kime staged a superb race to finish 14th overall in a gritty display of well paced paddling and running, which lopped an hour off the previous women’s K1 record set by Hilary Pitchford.

The seasoned K2 crew of Debbie Germiquet and Carmen Blackeney finished second.

Stellenbosch University student Kime stressed that she was focussed largely on finishing her first Non-Stop. "Its great to have won in my first outing, but that definitely wasn’t the focus today. It’s such a tough race, so there’s never a huge ladies field, but just to have gotten to the finish is something I’m really chuffed with," she said.

'A lonely day on my own'

"I went out quite hard in the first five to ten kilometres to try get ahead of the bulk of the field and then I latched onto a group's wave, but they were quite a bit faster than me, so I had to drop off and then it was just a lonely day on my own where I just had to try focus on keeping going," she said.

"Its great, though, because it’s a lot slower than Dusi, so you get to take in the beauty of the valley as you try to settle into a steady rhythm and keep grinding away.

The record field of 121 boats, including a new record 30 K1s, were treated to good water and clear conditions early on. However, as the heat became stifling and the field started catching up to the water releases, the race got tougher and more than two dozen crews either withdrew or failed to make the 14:30 cut-off at the Inanda Dam wall.

RESULTS

SAinfo reporter