Nobuhle Modise

South Africans are very good at being tourists. Just not necessarily in South Africa. Give us a passport and suddenly we’re travel experts. We’ll research restaurants for six months, save 47 places on Google Maps, buy an outfit specifically for the trip and announce that we’re “living our best life”. But suggest a weekend somewhere two hours from home and suddenly it’s: “Eish, that’s far.” Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille thinks we might need to change that. At the launch of Tourism Month in Durban, she reminded South Africans of a rather simple idea: “Tourism begins at home.” And honestly, she might be onto something. Because if you live in Durban or anywhere else in KwaZulu-Natal, there’s a decent chance you’ve spent more time telling visitors what they should see than actually seeing some of it yourself. Nobuhle ModiseTourism Minister Patricia de Lille speaking at the Tourism Month launch in Durban. The Durban problem Durban has a particularly funny version of this problem. We know the beachfront. We know the curry spots. We know where to go for a sundowner. We have strong opinions about which side of town has the best food. But ask a Durbanite when they last stayed in a hotel in their own city and you may be met with a long silence. And when was the last time you actually planned a weekend here? Not because family was visiting. Not because someone had a birthday. Not because you had tickets to a concert. Just because you wanted to be a tourist. Exactly. KZN is practic

For Sandulela Asanda, becoming a filmmaker was never part of the original plan. She studied economics and law, while continuing to write, act and perform in theatre. Film was always somewhere in the background, but she says she simply didn’t see filmmaking as an option for herself growing up. That changed after she watched Daughters of the Dust, Julie Dash’s acclaimed 1991 film. She recalls the moment she realised she wanted to tell stories through film: “I really want to be able to do that for both myself and for others.”  That was around 2016/2017. Almost a decade later, Asanda is celebrating the release of her first feature film, Black Burns Fast, while navigating an industry where women are still fighting to be heard, taken seriously and given opportunities. FilmmakerSandulela Asanda, director of Black Burns Fast. Learning to take up space Asanda says being a woman in the film industry has taught her to fight for the work she believes in, rather than relying on her personality or profile to sell it. “My selling point might not necessarily be who I am, but the work that I do can sell much better than me,” she says. She has also had to navigate the sexism that comes with being a woman directing in predominantly male spaces, including the subtle ways women can be labelled difficult for speaking up. Her response has been to stop worrying so much about being perceived as difficult. “I’ve actually learned how to just be okay with being difficult,” she says. “For me, it’s rath

Durban’s tourism story has long been closely tied to its beaches, but the city is looking to broaden the experience it offers visitors by bringing more heritage, township and community-based experiences into the mainstream. Speaking to Time Out Durban at Princess Magogo Stadium in KwaMashu, where the Hollywoodbets Sharks XV took on the Sanlam Boland Kavaliers in a Carling Currie Cup fixture, eThekwini Mayor Cyril Xaba said the city’s focus is shifting towards expanding its tourism appeal and ensuring the benefits reach communities beyond the traditional tourism hubs. The rugby fixture formed part of a wider Durban Tourism experience that took visitors through some of the city’s cultural and heritage offerings, including Kwa Muhle Museum and the Inanda Heritage Route, before ending with professional rugby in KwaMashu. For Xaba, bringing major sporting events into townships is part of a broader vision for an inclusive city. “It sends a good message that we are now shaping a new future, a future that is inclusive, a future that really is for all of us.”  READ: What it felt like when Currie Cup rugby came to KwaMashu Nobuhle ModiseDurban mayor speaks to Time Out Durban in an exclusive one-on-one interview. Beyond the beachfront  Xaba says Durban Tourism has already done the work of marketing the city as a destination. The next step, he says, is to give visitors more reasons to stay. “We are now at a stage where we are focusing on the tourism products,” he said. “Ours now is to

The cheers started long before the final whistle at Princess Magogo Stadium, where more than 2,000 fans came out to back the Sharks in KwaMashu. The City had made 4,000 tickets available for free for the Carling Currie Cup clash between the Hollywoodbets Sharks XV and the Sanlam Boland Kavaliers, giving local fans the chance to watch professional rugby on their doorstep. And they brought the energy. The stands were buzzing throughout the match, with the crowd firmly behind the Sharks as they secured a 19-12 win over Boland.   View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Sharks (@sharksrugby) All eyes on the Sharks The match came shortly after the Sharks unveiled their new branding, which has prompted plenty of conversation among supporters. We asked some of the fans at Princess Magogo Stadium what they thought about the controversy, but there was little interest in debating logos on the day. They were excited to see their boys playing in their hood. It was also a family-friendly affair, with Sharky, the Sharks’ mascot, making an appearance and getting plenty of attention from younger fans.  Nobuhle ModiseHanging with Sharky the mascot. For a few hours, Princess Magogo Stadium became the place to be in KwaMashu: Sharks supporters in the stands, rugby on the field and plenty of noise from the crowd. And if the turnout was anything to go by, there is certainly an appetite for more big sporting moments to come to the township.  Follow Time Out Durban on I

If you're looking for something to do this weekend, why not soak up the atmosphere as the Carling Currie Cup heads to KwaMashu?  The Hollywoodbets Sharks XV will face the Sanlam Boland Kavaliers at Princess Magogo Stadium on Saturday, 8 August, bringing top-flight rugby to one of Durban's iconic township sporting venues. Read: All Blacks legend Ma'a Nonu to call Durban home The fixture forms part of efforts to bring major sporting events closer to local communities, giving rugby fans the chance to experience Currie Cup action outside traditional stadiums.     EThekwini MunicipalityCurrie Cup rugby is coming to KwaMashu.   What fans need to know Kick-off starts at 5:15pm, while gates open at 1pm. Entry is free, with tickets available at the stadium on arrival. Read: Durban confirmed as Host City for ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2027  The match also comes just days after the Sharks unveiled their new Sharks Rugby Club identity, with the rebrand sparking conversation among supporters ahead of the new season.  Marco Masotti, the club owner, has come out and spoken directly to supporters, stating that the club's "badge is evolving, not its DNA" and making it clear that this isn't about walking away from the Sharks' culture.  For supporters, it’s about more than a new logo, with many fans commenting on the connection they’ve built with the club over decades and noting that the rebrand feels too US- or NFL-centric. Whether you're a lifelong Sharks supporter or simply looking for a

If you've already secured your ticket to see Tamia live in Durban, don't head to the Durban ICC. The Grammy-nominated R&B singer's highly anticipated concert, taking place on Friday, 7 August, has officially moved to Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium.  What fans need to know The venue change comes as the Durban International Convention Centre prepares to host the 46th SADC Heads of State and Government Summit, making Kingsmead the new home for what promises to be an unforgettable night of R&B favourites. Organisers have confirmed that the date remains unchanged, with only the venue shifting to accommodate the international summit. Whether you're looking forward to hearing classics like Officially Missing You, Stranger in My House or Into You, be sure to make your way to Kingsmead instead.  Still need to make some long weekend plans? Check out our round-up here: Out and About in Durban: Things to Do This Long Weekend   View this post on Instagram A post shared by Time Out Durban (@timeoutdurban)   Follow Time Out Durban on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok! To get the coolest news, features, and things to do straight to your inbox, sign up for our newsletter. TIME OUT DURBAN RECOMMENDS: 📍 The best things to do in Durban🍽  The best restaurants in Durban🏨 The best hotels in Durban🛏️ Where to stay in Durban📢 Latest news from Durban