Rand Show set to excel, journalists welcome

Big guns are back

The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) is back at the Rand Show and no military enthusiast will want to miss this, as the SANDF brings out the big guns. In addition to daily displays and simulations in the Main Arena, it has lined up an array of military hardware for its outdoor exhibitions.

The SA Army will exhibit the Startstreak Missile Launcher, the Multiple Rocket Launcher and the M5 Mortar System, as well as its state-of-the-art Tactical Intelligence System surveillance technology which is the first of its kind to be commissioned in the world. It will display Mamba and Casspir vehicles, a Rooikat armoured car, the Olifant Mk 2 tank with tank transporter, the Ratel ZT-3 and a bridge-laying vehicle. It will set up a mock 'ops room', showing off its mine detection system, and doing parachute displays.

The South Africa Air Force (SAAF) will be landing a host of craft including the Rooivalk combat helicopter and the A109 Agusta helicopter will be there, while the new-generation fighter aircraft, the Gripen, which played a key role in the air security plan of 2010 FIFA World Cup and is now used in reconnaissance flights on the border, will be part of the opening ceremony. It will also have displays of the Umlindi Radar System and Terminal Mobile Radar Antenna.

The SA Navy will set up a diver tank as used for training navy divers, offering daily demonstrations in the tank for visitors. It will also display the Shallow Water Route Survey System, which was used to conduct sonar detection in the Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and Durban harbours during the 2010 FIFA World Cup. This system allows officers to see the ocean floor in 3D so they can detect objects on the seabed that could pose a danger to vessels.

Rounding off the display, is the SA Military Health Service (SAMHS), which will give visitors the opportunity of following an evacuation route from a Chemical and Biological Defence decontamination deployment to a Level 1 health facility. This Level 1 facility ensures that patients are stabilised before being evacuated to more advanced health care facilities. In addition, it will display the all-terrain Mfezi ambulance, an armoured vehicle that can transport up to eight patients at a time, and a high-care ambulance equipped with some of the most modern healthcare equipment for transporting critically ill patients.

Cooking up a storm

The South African Chefs Association will present the SA Chefs Theatre, in conjunction with Fruit & Veg City and Potatoes SA. Chefs from Culinary Team South Africa, as well as some of Joburg's top restaurant chefs will demonstrate how to create innovative family meals from everyday pantry items.

There will also be cooking challenges, where each chef receives a mystery box containing typical pantry items, which they'll need to whip into something innovative and tasty. When the final timer sounds, the audience will decide which chef is victorious. Joburg's chefs include:

• Nicky Gibbs from the Westcliff;
• Tammy Henton from the Michelangelo Hotel;
• James Khoza from Sandton Sun;
• Leon Hatton Jones from the Radisson Park Inn;
• Ciro Molinaro from La Cucina Di Ciro;
• Fortunato Mazzone from Il Ritrovo;
• Jodi Ann Pearton from Food Design Agency;
• Arnold Tanzer from Food on the Move; and
• Franz de Waal from Franz Catering.

The Cake Decorators Guild will also be appearing on Friday 29 April with various cake-decorating demonstrations.

Time to jol with Ruk, Ritme & Rol

From 11am to 4pm on Monday 25 April, the Rand Show and Rapport bring Ruk, Ritme & Rol, conceptualised exclusively for the show, the line-up includes Heinz Winckler, Snotkop, Jay from Eden, Jakkie Louw and Quentin Prinsloo. Top women artists include Sorina "Flooze" Erasmus, Nadine, Zané, Charlize Berg, Andriëtte, and Karlien van Jaarsveld. Entrance is free as part of the ticket price.

Worship during Easter with Rainbow FM

The Christian radio station, Rainbow FM, presents mega-gospel concerts, "All for the Love of Jesus," on Sunday 24 April and Sunday 1 May, from 3-8pm. The 25 Christian solo artists, dance groups and musicians include Solly Mahlangu, Keke Phoofolo, Lerato Mohomane, Esther Selabano and Joyous Celebration's Nqubeko Mbatha. Praise and worship singer James Okon will be there, along with Afro-jazz artist Tebs David and inspirational singer Neyi Zimu.

For upbeat gospel, there will be the hip-hop sounds of Mo 5, Magolide's gospel kwaito, gospel pop rocker Shaun Oliver and the rapping worshiper Jabu Nkabinde, as well as Gali, Maira and the soulful Assent Tweed. The show is rounded off by guitarist, Cyril Dafuc, the Gospel Ensemble, José Crosson, and dance group Lord Of The Dance.

The show's got talent

The show and The Citizen CitiVibe bring MiTalent, a talent show that gives talented South Africans the chance to show off their special talents, whatever they might be. The top contenders, chosen from the MiTalent.co.za entertainment portal, will be performing live from 22 April. Audience voting will decide who gets to go through to the final event on 2 May 2010, where the top three contestants will win R75 000.

Airs above the ground

The South African Lipizzaners will participate in 19 free shows in the Main Arena during the show. Once bred for warfare and trained as fighting horses, these white stallions will perform equine ballets and dressage moves.

Watch the Lipizzaners perform the world-famous "Tribute to the Horse" and a Pas de Deux with two horses performing an intricate display in a mirror image of each other. The stallions will also perform the spectacular and difficult leaps of the "Airs Above the Ground", with the final Quadrille, the "Ballet of the White Stallions", rounding off their graceful performance.

"Over the years, the show always had a strong equestrian component," says Judy Vertue, a director of the SA Lipizzaners. "We were delighted to be invited to be part of the show in 2010 and again this year. With 19 performances, this is a wonderful opportunity for us to share this very special piece of our South African cultural heritage with visitors."

Media accreditation

Journalists requiring media accreditation to attend the show can apply online. Media members will park in members' parking with access through Gate 1. The media room at Expo Centre will operate from the members' clubhouse from 9am to 5pm on all days. There will also be two hosted family media days.

For more information, go to www.randshow.co.za.