The only radio show and podcast dedicated to Africa’s richest square mile, the weekly SANDTON TIMES HOUR brings the pages of The Sandton Times to life with an array of entertaining and informative interviews, now on Mix 93.8 FM every Monday at 7pm.
- Dinesh Govender, CEO of Discovery Vitality talks about the Vitality Gym Series held together with Virgin Active and Planet Fitness gyms in South Africa.
- William Dachs, CEO of the Gautrain Management Agency provides a business update on The Gautrain.
- ‘Survivor South Africa: Return of the Outcasts’ Dino Paulo talks about his R2-million win.
- Courvoisier Chief Blender, Thibaut Hontanx shares his passion for Cognac.
- Cape Town Comedian Dalin Oliver brings his show ‘Stay At Home Comedian’ to Sandton’s Theatre on The Square.
- Visit www.sandtontimes.co.za for more stories.
THE SANDTON TIMES HOUR is the go-to weekly digest on greater Sandton including fabulous food spots, luxurious lifestyle bits, first-hand travel tips, motoring notes, and world-class entertainment. In this week’s episode [Edition 82 | Week 36] The Sandton Times covers an array of topical news as well as these interviews:
VITALITY GYM SERIES with CEO of Discovery Vitality Dinesh Govender
Discovery Vitality launched the first ever Vitality Gym Series, in which participants can compete in functional bodyweight exercise challenges, for a chance to win a share of R160’000 in prizes. The challenge is open to anyone, participants needn’t be members of Vitality or have a gym membership.
To enter the first round on September 3, participants need to complete the Vitality Gym Series online entry form to join in at Virgin Active and Planet Fitness gyms in South Africa. They will choose a time slot to compete for a spot on the leaderboard, pitting themselves against friends, family and fellow gym enthusiasts.
The three challenge categories are split between female and male contenders:
- Easy Does It – for those just getting into fitness
- Love To Move – for those who work out weekly or on occasion
- In Shape Over 60 – for anyone over 60 (unless they choose to enter another category that suits them best)
Participants will have 8 minutes to do as many rounds as possible of:
- 20 Push Ups
- 20 Squats
- 20 Sit-Ups
- 20 Walking Planks
- 20 Burpees
The exercises will be marginally tougher for the Love to Move category. Then, the top five winners per category will take part in a final round in Johannesburg. Vitality members who are not a member of a gym, can use Vitality’s Pay as You Gym functionality in the Discovery app. All other participants can purchase guest access to the gym for the day of the competition.
Event Details:
- Where: Virgin Active and Planet Fitness clubs nationally (excludes VA Collection clubs)
- When: Saturday, September 3. (The finals will follow on September 10 in Johannesburg)
- Time: One-hour slots, between 8am – 2pm
Four main prizes up for grabs include:
- A Vitality Travel Package worth R20’000 for Vitality members and R10’000 for non-members
- Huawei Tech Hampers worth R7’000
- Virgin Active and Planet Fitness gym memberships and gear to value of R6’000
- A Team Vitality membership for a year worth R1’000
- Totalsports voucher worth R1’000
Click here to book a slot at Virgin Active or Planet Fitness.
THE GAUTRAIN with CEO of the Gautrain Management Agency William Dachs
Gautrain Management Agency (GMA) CEO William Dachs emphasizes the urgent need to expand the Gautrain network in order to alleviate the increasingly worsening traffic congestion on Gauteng’s road network.
The population of Gauteng is expected to increase from roughly 13-million in 2014 to 16.8-million by 2025 and to 19.1-million in 2037. From two million in 2014, the morning peak hour “person journeys” for all Gauteng transportation modes are anticipated to rise to 2.7-million in 2025 and 3.2-million by 2037.
The proposed first phase of the Gautrain expansion would include the region between Little Falls and Cosmo City, Randburg, and Sandton, with a final destination of Malboro.
There would be a total of 19 new stations added to the Gautrain network, spread out among the cities of Tshwane, Ekurhuleni, and Johannesburg. Out of the 148 km total proposed for the expansion, 32 km of extra rail infrastructure would be developed during Phase 1 of the project.
Comments can be submitted to phase1@gautengrapidrail.co.za
SURVIVOR SOUTH AFRICA: RETURN OF THE OUTCASTS with Season 9 Winner Dino Paulo
The Survivor South Africa: Return of the Outcasts Jury decided during the Final Tribal Council that one-time pre-Merge boot Dino Paulo had played the best game this season, earning him R2-million, the coveted ‘Sole Survivor’ title – and redemption. He had also won a brand-new Mahindra XUV300 in week 4 and picked up a luxurious boat cruise holiday on the Zambezi Queen, worth R80 000 during his Outpost visit on Day 32.
Dino saw off the challenge of post-Merge player Shane Hattingh in the Final Two, successfully pleading his case after 39 days of intense gameplay on the Eastern Cape’s Sunshine Coast – and was awarded his title with his fiancé Kirsten by his side as Nico broke Survivor South Africa tradition and read out the votes directly after they had been cast.
In his pitch to the Jury, Dino had sketched his personal journey through this season – from entering the game with the same self-doubt that saw him eliminated in Season 8 and seeing it grow exponentially – to the point where he was able to turn it into confidence and assert himself in the game.
He had focused on building social capital and being fluid and collaborative at the start of the game, before the tribe swap separated him from his alliance partners. He forged new relationships, mitigated the Idols and advantages everyone knew he had and played strategically and logically, rather than being flashy.
The toughest-ever season of Survivor South Africa saw the Castaways fighting for every advantage, with food scarcer than ever and luxuries for their camps, at a premium. So tough was the fight for food that the Castaways collectively lost 109kg, with Shane’s loss – 18kg – the greatest by an individual.
COURVOISIER COGNAC with Chief Blender Thibaut Hontanx
Maison Courvoisier was established in 1828 by Félix Courvoisier on the principle of celebrating the joy in the every day. Earlier this year, the Most Awarded Cognac House announced the retirement of its sixth Chief Blender Patrice Pinet and the transition to his carefully selected successor seventh Chief Blender Thibaut Hontanx, as well as the release of a striking new look that reimagines design trends from the 1800s.
Patrice joined Maison Courvoisier as production manager in 1989 and was appointed Chief Blender in 2009. His many accomplishments were highly revered by Courvoisier and the industry. Under his direction, Maison Courvoisier became the Most Awarded Cognac House.
While his legacy will live on for many years, Pinet proudly selected Thibaut Hontanx to succeed him as Chief Blender to carry on the tradition of heritage, craftsmanship and innovation. Thibaut has been an integral part of the Courvoisier family, most recently serving as Master Distiller.
STAY AT HOME COMEDIAN with Cape Town Comedian Dalin Oliver
Multi-talented Comedian Dalin Oliver, is ready to entertain Sandton audiences with his 2022 Standard Bank Ovation Award-Winning comedy special, STAY AT HOME COMEDIAN.
Written, performed and produced by the radio and TV personality, this hot-property laugh-A-line act is fresh from the National Arts Festival in Makhanda and ready to take the stage at Theatre On The Square, Sandton for a limited run from September 27 to October 1. And just like so many, Dalin is tired of living life online, checking his Wi-Fi connection and telling people to mute their mics during ZOOM calls.
The Johannesburg performance precedes shows which will take place in Paternoster and Sedgefield. It promises to be a riot! So, round up all your WhatsApp groups and book a ticket to this laugh-a-line comedy experience via Computicket or via Checkers and Shoprite retail stores countrywide at R150 each.
SANDTON TIMES HOUR Music Playlist
- Elton John & Britney Spears – Hold Me Closer
- Swedish House Mafia – Don’t You Worry Child
- Avicii – Silhouettes
The Sandton Times Hour is released every week, on these major Podcast platforms and on The Sandton Times Homepage:
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