Early B live at the SPAR Kirkwood Wildsfees

The SPAR Kirkwood Wildsfees has revealed its 2026 main stage lineup, signalling one of its most exciting entertainment programmes to date – and setting the tone for what promises to be the Dikste Baljaar the Eastern Cape has ever seen.

Taking place from 26 to 28 June 2026 at Sentraal-Suid Koöperasie (SSK Agriland) in Kirkwood, formerly known as The Co-Op, the festival once again brings together its signature mix of agriculture, food, exhibitions and family entertainment, with live music adding a high-energy dimension to the weekend.

This year’s main stage programme features a dynamic mix of leading South African artists, crowd favourites and collaborations across all three days.

Friday kicks off the weekend with performances by Jak de Priester, Liezel Pieters, Gerhard Steyn and Juan Boucher, alongside Emo Adams, who will feature in a special surprise collaboration, with more surprises in store by other artists, before the party continues with Early B and Biggy.

Saturday builds the energy further, featuring Prop, Brendan Peyper, Dirk van der Westhuizen, Lianie May, Appel and Loufi, together with Dr Victor, Jennifer Zamudio and Nicholis Louw.

Sunday closes the weekend on a more relaxed, family-friendly note with Nadine, a Boere Orkes, Ruhan du Toit, Ray Dylan, Bobby van Jaarsveld and Tamlyn Wessels.

In a notable move for 2026, ticket prices remain unchanged, reinforcing the festival’s commitment to value, with access to live entertainment, exhibitions, stalls and activities included in a single ticket.

Tickets are available from SPAR Dagbreek in Kirkwood, Westway Tickets online and at the festival gates. Adult tickets are priced at R250 for Friday and Saturday and R200 for Sunday, with a weekend pass available for R500. Scholar tickets (ages 7-17) are R120 per day or R250 for the weekend, while pensioners qualify for half-price entry on Sunday at the gate.

With its unique blend of music, community, agriculture and tourism, the SPAR Kirkwood Wildsfees continues to draw visitors from across the country – with 2026 shaping up as one of its most anticipated editions yet.

For more information, visit www.wildsfees.co.za or follow the festival on Facebook.

The programme is subject to change.

The Board wishes to inform all stakeholders and members of the Media that the employment of the MBDA Chief Executive Officer, Mr Anele Qaba, has been terminated.

At a Special Board Meeting held on 27 March 2026, the Board resolved to terminate the employment of the CEO on the grounds of material breach, misconduct, and loss of trust. The Board has concluded that the trust relationship has irretrievably broken down, and that continued employment is untenable.

Accordingly, Mr Qaba’s employment with the Agency has been terminated with immediate effect.
The Board fully acknowledges the anxiety and discomfort that this period has imposed on all members of the organisation, partners and stakeholders. We would like to express our sincere appreciation for the hard work, professionalism, and resilience demonstrated by staff throughout this challenging time.

We encourage all employees to remain focused and continue directing their efforts toward achieving the Agency’s objectives, as expected by our stakeholders and the citizens of the Metro.

You are therefore informed that, as of 27 March 2026, Mr Qaba is no longer an employee of the Mandela Bay Development Agency. The Board thanks Mr Qaba for his service and wishes him well in his future endeavours.

The Board will, at the appropriate time, communicate the process for appointing a permanent
Chief Executive Officer. In the interim, Mr Unati Peter will continue to serve as Acting Chief
Executive Officer, with the full support of the Board and management.

Attribution to Mr Khulile Nzo, MBDA Board Chairperson.

Over the course of 2025, ShowMe embarked on a strategic journey to modernise and future-proof its digital platforms. This initiative was driven by a clear objective: to move away from a rigid, hard-coded website structure that limited flexibility, innovation, and our ability to respond efficiently to the needs of our audiences and partners.

To understand why this evolution matters, it helps to look at where ShowMe began.

Built on Community, Grown Through Trust

ShowMe was founded in 2008 with the launch of its first community website in Plettenberg Bay, created to support local businesses and promote one of South Africa’s most vibrant tourism destinations. By publishing engaging lifestyle content, sharing local events, and offering free business listings, ShowMe helped drive visibility and growth for local enterprises while attracting visitors to the area.

As demand increased, we developed a cost-effective website template system that allowed small businesses to establish their own online presence while benefiting from the traffic and exposure generated by ShowMe’s content. A strong focus on search engine optimisation delivered exceptional results, with ShowMe Plettenberg Bay achieving over 120,000 page views per month during peak season.

This success led to the expansion of the ShowMe model across South Africa, growing into a network of 28 franchises that collectively generated more than one million page views per year. Over time, ShowMe became a highly trusted brand and one of the largest WordPress-based platforms in the country. This growth was not overnight — it was built over more than a decade of listening carefully to our customers and adapting to their evolving needs.

Adapting for the Future

As the digital landscape continued to change, so too did ShowMe. What began as a network of community-driven local websites evolved into a dynamic digital marketing and development platform, delivering professional websites, e-commerce solutions, and tailored online experiences for businesses of all sizes.

However, the limitations of our legacy infrastructure eventually became a barrier to further growth. The existing hard-coded layout restricted development and slowed innovation. In response, we made the strategic decision to redesign and rebuild our platforms from the ground up, focusing on flexibility, performance, and scalability.

What We’re Working on Now

Our current priority is the rollout of ShowMe Pretoria, which represents the new standard for the ShowMe Network. The platform introduces a cleaner, more intuitive user experience, improved performance, and a modern structure that allows our editorial and events teams to work more efficiently and creatively.

At the same time, development is underway across other platforms within the ShowMe Network. Each site is being rebuilt with consistency, adaptability, and long-term growth in mind, while preserving the strong local identity that ShowMe is known for.

Looking Ahead

This transformation is more than a visual refresh. It reflects our ongoing commitment to innovation, meaningful content, and empowering local businesses through modern digital solutions.

To our more than 1,000 customers who have grown with us over the years — thank you. Your support has shaped ShowMe’s journey, and as we continue to evolve, we remain focused on building platforms that serve communities, businesses, and audiences better than ever before.

ShowMe is moving forward — and this is just the beginning.