As the Springboks and All Blacks prepare for another pivotal chapter in rugby’s greatest rivalry on Saturday 5 September 2026, it feels like the perfect moment to look back at a day that remains very special in the life and career of Sipho “Hotstix” Mabuse.

The place was Soccer City in Soweto. The date was Saturday, 6 October 2012. The occasion was a Test match between the Springboks and the All Blacks two giants of world rugby.

And standing on that enormous stage, in front of a capacity crowd, was one of Soweto’s own: Sipho “Hotstix” Mabuse.

For an artist who had already spent more than four decades making music, performing around the world and creating songs that had become part of the South African soundtrack, remarkably, this was another first.

In the build-up to the Test, Hotstix announced that he had never before sung the South African National Anthem. He was about to do so at Soccer City before South Africa faced the then world champion All Blacks.

“In over 45 years in the music business, I have never sung the South African National Anthem  I can’t wait!”

What followed became a wonderful piece of Hotstix history.

And thanks to the original FINAL event run sheet from that day, we have an extraordinary record of exactly how the occasion unfolded. 
The document lists South Africa vs New Zealand at Soccer City on 6 October 2012, with kick-off at 17:00.

THE FINAL MINUTES BEFORE KICK-OFF

TIME

OFFICIAL RUN ORDER

16:41–16:42

MC thanks Jay and introduces Sipho Hotstix Mabuse from the side of the pitch.

16:42–16:47

Sipho Hotstix Mabuse performs with hip-hop and contemporary dancers.

16:53

The All Blacks run out and take their position on the field.

16:54

The Springboks run out and take their position on the field.

16:55

MC asks everyone in Soccer City to stand for the anthems.

16:55–16:57

New Zealand anthem.

16:57–16:59

South African anthem performed by “Sipho Hotstix Mabuse” — official duration 1:50.

16:59

Players remove tracksuits, followed by the Haka.

17:00

KICK-OFF — South Africa vs New Zealand.

There is something rather beautiful about seeing it written down in the original working document all these years later. Among the hundreds of timings, television cues, entertainment instructions and match-day responsibilities sits one simple line bearing the name Sipho Hotstix Mabuse.

For one minute and 50 seconds, the voice belonged to Hotstix. The anthem belonged to South Africa. And the stage was Soccer City, in the heart of Soweto the community that helped shape the man and musician and where he remains deeply rooted.

The performance has stayed with those of us fortunate enough to have witnessed it. It was delivered with dignity, feeling and enormous pride  the kind of anthem performance that, for us, became a benchmark.

A special word of thanks must go to Jenny Wentzel from SA Rugby, who booked Sipho and helped make this remarkable moment possible. Her name also appears throughout the original final run order alongside the entertainment programme, adding another lovely piece of provenance to the memory.

The photographs accompanying this Throwback Thursday have their own special connection to the day. 
They were taken by my friend Jernique Bayard, who was inside Soccer City on 6 October 2012 and captured the occasion as it unfolded.

WATCH AND LISTEN

You can listen again to Sipho “Hotstix” Mabuse singing the South African National Anthem at Soccer City on 6 October 2012:

Watch the anthem performance on YouTube

More than a decade later, hearing that voice ring around Soccer City brings back the scale and emotion of the occasion: a packed stadium, the Springboks and All Blacks waiting, the Haka still to come, and a son of Soweto standing on the field singing for his country.

Some moments disappear when the final whistle blows. Others become part of your story forever.

For Sipho “Hotstix” Mabuse, this was one of those moments.

THROWBACK THURSDAY  SOCCER CITY, SOWETO,  6 OCTOBER 2012

Photographs: Jernique Bayard

Original match-day run order: SA Rugby, 6 October 2012

Historical source note: The  Sowetan report published on 20 September 2012 recorded Hotstix’s announcement that the Soccer City Test would be the first time he had sung the South African National Anthem.

A pioneering force in Afro-pop and jazz, Hotstix is a multi-instrumentalist and iconic performer whose career spans over five decades, with timeless hits like Burn Out and Jive Soweto.

Known for his electrifying stage presence and rich, soulful sound, this is a rare chance to experience one of the country’s most influential musical voices live. 

https://www.quicket.co.za/events/373279-sipho-hotstix-mobuse-live-at-jozi-gold-brewing-company/

Known for classics like Burn Out and Jive Soweto, Mabuse blended nostalgia with fresh vibrancy, moving seamlessly between instruments as the crowd sang, danced, and clapped along.

Backing him was his long-standing band:

Khumo Kganyago (Guitar), Bernice Boikanyo (drums), Lloyd Toto Mbele (Keyboards), Khemani Khosa (road manager), Thami Ernest Mgcina (sound engineer), and Thembeka Tabia Khumalo (Backing Vocals) musicians who have been with him for over a decade and bring depth and gravitas to his sound. 

Together, they delivered a tight, electrifying set that reaffirmed Mabuse’s status as a towering figure in South African music. 

All the Stunning pictures are by Warren Kirkland of Sipho Mabuse at Cape Town International Jazz Festival….. Thank you 

Some snaps  below

Great to be with Khumo Kganyago, Bernice Boikanyo, Lloyd Toto Mbele, Khemani Khosa, Thami Ernest Mgcina, Thembeka Tabia Khumalo

Good to be with Jason Curtis and to see Warren Kirkland

 Fans can look forward to classics that have shaped generations, delivered with the unmistakable energy and mastery that only Hotstix can bring. 

Book now:

Seatme: https://www.seatme.co.za/tc-events/sipho-hotstix-mabuse/

Event info: https://www.facebook.com/events/876343051563155/

As former-president President Kgalema Motlanthe wrote on Sipho’s 70^th birthday:

My brother Sipho, we have come a long way together, and through your 70 year-long pilgrimage to the highest echelons of social, cultural and artistic eminence, we remember the distinguished milestones of your life and honour this as a moment for all South Africans to consider your pioneering contribution to African music and a global movement of expression. 

From the tender age of 8 years old playing drums to already becoming a professional musician by age 15, yours is a seminal career that not only spans six decades and counting but is a career that defined an industry with an oeuvre that set the tone for a golden era of music. 

The sound of Sipho “Hotstix’ Mabuse was to set the world alight with sonic vibrations that contributed to the cultural development of world music, Afro-funk, Soweto soul, township pop and contemporary sounds over the years. 

As one of the most influential multi-instrumentalists in Africa, the creative industry is fortunate to benefit from an endowment of musical genius, enlightened performances, and an unwavering commitment that Sipho “Hotstix’ Mabuse has offered to a range of young musicians over the past half-century.

 These gifts of mentorship, advice, experience, and priceless lessons, are the ingredients that create a meaningful consciousness among young people entering the arts. 

The crucial social and political role that music has played in our history cannot be taken for granted. Beyond the pleasure that music and art, in general, elicits in people, it serves an even higher purpose – that of developing the consciousness of people and improving the social system. 

At 70 years of age, Sipho “Hotstix’ Mabuse continues to play a critical role in the South African music scene with the power to build social cohesion, the ethical leadership to rear a new generation of musicians, and the virtuosity to uplift a nation through ground-shaking tunes. 

Yours is a testament to the contribution of a South African musical prodigy whose impact is burnt into the memory of a nation and whose creative passion evokes the emotions of history and the heart. 

A truly heartfelt tribute to one of South Africa’s greats.

Thirty-seven years ago, Sipho’s half-a-million-selling smash-hit single “Burn Out” changed the face and shape of Afro-pop and township jive like no other song or artist in pop music history. 

Today there are few instruments he cannot play. Flute, piano, saxophone, kalimba, alto flute, timbales and African drums all feature at some point in his repertoire, all played with the respect each deserves.  

Warm, compassionate, caring and gifted in ways even he is still learning about, this gentle giant of great original music is as vital a player today as he’s ever been. 

With an impressive catalogue anchored in Africa, all who meet, greet, and share stages with Sipho are all touched by a humility and grace that’s as rare as the talent this living legend shares with us all.

All the songs will be there, including the early Harari classics, along with all of Sipho’s many well-known hits. Grab a ticket to experience this once-in-a-lifetime show if living South African music heritage matters to you.

Notes to the editor:

A quick Google search brings up names like The Beaters, Sipho’s first band that later evolved to become Harari, one of the most successful acts to dominate the music scene of the 1970s in South Africa. They were the ultimate party band. One of South Africa’s most important musical acts, Harari, will forever hold legendary status, even after splitting in 1982. In his solo capacity, Sipho continues to create wonderfully original South African-born music.

He has also recorded and produced many legendary artists, the likes of Miriam Makeba, Hugh Masekela, Ray Phiri and Sibongile Khumalo. As a regular commentator on arts and culture in the country, Sipho has also sat on the board of The National Arts Council 

Selected Career Highlights


2005 – SAMA Lifetime Achievement Award winner.
2008 – 46664 Ambassador – performing in London’s Hyde Park. 
2009 – 46664 Ambassador – performing at New York’s Radio City Music Hall.
2018 – Silver Order of Ikhamanga, for his contribution to the field of music.
2018 – Lifetime Achievement Award winner at the 13^th Annual South African Traditional Music Achievements Awards (SATMA).
2021 – Lifetime Achievement Award from GQ magazine.

Johannesburg, South Africa — On Thursday, 27 November 2025, the Untitled Basement will come alive with the unmistakable sound of a South African legend — Sipho “Hotstix” Mabuse and the Hotband 

Prepare to be transported by an evening of soulful Afro-Jazz, where rhythm meets heritage and melody meets memory. From the vibrant streets of Soweto to the global stage, Hotstix has carved a legacy that transcends generations — his flute, percussion, and vocals carrying the heartbeat of a nation.

With a career spanning over five decades, Mabuse’s music continues to inspire, unite, and uplift. This intimate performance promises more than just a show — it’s a celebration of life, culture, and timeless sound. Expect velvet grooves, stories woven through song, and the magnetic presence of a true icon doing what he does best.

So grab a drink, feel the rhythm, and let Hotstix take you on a journey that will stir your soul and move your feet.

 Event Details:

• Date: Thursday, 27 November 2025
• Venue: Untitled Basement, Johannesburg
• Doors Open: 18:00
• Performance Starts: 20:00
• Tickets: R350 Early Bird | R400 via Quicket
  
  https://www.quicket.co.za/events/347414-sipho-hotstix-mabuse-live-untitled-basement/
  
  Don’t miss this rare opportunity to experience 
  
  Sipho “Hotstix” Mabuse — live, up close, and in full swing.
  

Pretoria, South Africa  6 December 2025 The Mayibuye iAfrika Concert returns for its 4th edition with The Rebirth of Ubuntu,  a one-night-only spectacular at the South African State Theatre in Pretoria 

Created by celebrated guitarist, composer and author Billy Monama, this four-hour showcase unites South Africa’s musical legends with a 20-piece orchestra under Grammy Award-winner Joe Arthur.
 The result: a bold fusion of heritage, artistry and contemporary sound.“The Mayibuye iAfrika Concert is not just entertainment , it’s a cultural statement,” says Monama. “It honours our past, celebrates our diversity, and looks to a more compassionate future.”

The lineup features six of the country’s most iconic voices: Elvis Blue, Simphiwe Dana, Judith Sephuma, Maleh, Langa Mavuso, and  Sipho “Hotstix” Mabuse.

Event Details

• Date: Saturday, 6 December 2025

• Time: 19:30

• Venue: Opera House, South African State Theatre, Pretoria

 Tickets: R350 – R1000 (General & VIP Packages)

 Early Bird: R250 (1–30 September 2025)

 Bookings: Billy Monama’s Mayibuye iAfrika Concert – Mzansi Festival

https://www.webtickets.co.za/v2/Seating.aspx?itemid=1576169117  

Info: www.statetheatre.co.za

The Mayibuye iAfrika Concert is an independent cultural platform, not affiliated with any political organisation.

Proudly supported by the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture, Brand SA, Castle Milk Stout and Joburg Theatre.

30.08.25
NIROX Sculpture Park
R540 Kromdraain Road
Krugersdorp

The BMW Art Generation will return to the NIROX Sculpture Park on 30.08.25

A festival, living archive and a gathering of minds The BMW Art Generation brings together leaders in contemporary African culture intergenerational and interdisciplinary conversations and engagements. By situating established practitioners alongside their imminent successors, it builds frameworks for discourse, collectorship, and care. As an intergenerational proposition, it asserts that the future of African art must be imagined, celebrated, and safeguarded on African soil.

Vol. III
A Tropology Between Image & Imagination

Traditionally, tropology refers to the figurative use of language – metaphor, allegory, symbolism. In the context of this third iteration of The BMW Art Generation we expand this meaning to a framework that holds the images and imaginations of contemporary practitioners from the continent in employing symbols, gestures, forms to communicate layered, often subversive meaning; simultaneously dismantling and building tropologies for reclamation.

Through this framework we navigate articulations of histories, discourses, and imaginaries, engaging with practices with artists who do not merely describe our realities but shape new languages for retelling it. This language unfolds through the image-making that exists in tension with and in service of imagination.

We reflect on the shifting, expanding terrain in which African contemporary art now moves; a space where boundaries blur between public and private, fiction and reality, local specificity and global resonance.

Asserting the image and imagination of contemporary African practitioners as not only contributors to but definers of global discourse. We look to resist the flattening gaze of the realities from the continent instead demanding a recognition of our own conceptual terms around representation and presence. Rather than reinforcing tropes, we seek out tropologies – figures of thought that move beyond an established centre and margin.
A framework bringing proposition is set up: allowing us new ways of seeing and imagining our own self authored futures.
— conceptualised by Kim Kandan

The BMW Art Generation’s Commitment to Joy

Adjacent to the discourse, the conference will be surrounded by a selection of exhibitions, live music, food, coffee and wine stalls parallel to offerings from leaders in Africa’s design and fashion sectors.

Audiences can look forward to:

– A talks programme with international headliners.
– A luxury market offering the best in African food, wine, fashion and design.
– An open-air live music amphitheatre featuring celebrated African musicians.

Make sure to follow us on Instagram at @bmwartgeneration
Follow the event with #BMWArtGeneration

GET IN TOUCH

012 880 2635
support@tixsa.co.za

OPERATING HOURS

Ticketing Support:

Monday – Friday: 9am – 5pm
Saturdays: 10am – 2pm
Sundays: 10am – 1pm
Public Holidays: 10am – 1pm

The Herald celebrates 180 years: A night with legends

The Herald – the oldest running newspaper in South Africa – will mark a major milestone in May 2025.

As The Herald celebrates its remarkable 180-year legacy, we are not only reflecting on our rich history but also looking forward to the future with a commitment to making a meaningful impact in Nelson Mandela Bay.

We have decided to use this opportunity to give back to the city that has supported us throughout the last 180 years.

In honour of this milestone, we are proud to announce that funds raised through The Herald’s 180th birthday celebration will go towards supporting the incredible work of the Kolisi Foundation, specifically within their Education & Sports programme. The foundation works alongside six schools in Zwide, empowering young learners through access to quality education and sports development opportunities.

As part of our celebration, we will also pay tribute to Siya Kolisi, co-founder of the Kolisi Foundation, in recognition of the pivotal role he has played—not only in our community but across the country.

His unwavering dedication to uplifting others continues to inspire and drive change where it’s needed most.

Join us for an evening filled with music and celebration featuring a few artists born and raised in the Eastern Cape – Ami Faku, J’Something and Dumza Maswana – and Sipho ‘Hotstix’ Mabuse, alongside Unathi Nkayi as host. Let’s celebrate 180 years of legacy together.

Booking via Quicket

https://www.quicket.co.za/events/307592-the-herald-180th-birthday-celebration-a-night-with-the-legends/?ref=events-list#/

Picture credits: Blowfish productions