Beach sand useful promotional canvas

DURBAN sand artist Lucas Mahlangu has been praised for bringing an idea to life at the beachfront.

He was given a drawing, and the result thrilled the members of the Goethe Institut South Africa, which was organising a four-day conference in Durban for German teachers in South Africa.

The theme of the conference was “Experiencing Story”, and the sand sculpture was part of an initiative by the Goethe Institut and Rebel Rabble Publishing.

“Lucas did an awesome job,” said Nireshnee Chetty, of Rebel Rabble Publishing.

The story under the spotlight is contained in the book Legends of the Tide, by Neeland Govender and Viroshen Chetty, which tells about Durban’s greatest flood, which resulted in a death toll of more than 400 people.

It recounts how six ordinary seine-net fishermen, known as the Padavatan Six, became some of Africa’s greatest civilian heroes, rescuing 176 people from drowning when the banks of the Umgeni River burst.

Sand castle contest

Meanwhile, coffee company, Starbucks, is about to launch in Durban, and, to gear up for the big event, a sand castle building contest is being staged on Saturday.

Hosted by Starbucks and Durban Tourism, the contest, which is open to the public, will also see clashes between local media and radio teams, as well as Starbucks teams representing the Florida Road store that will open on November 25. (Another one will open at Gateway next month).

The sand castle clash starts at 8am and runs until 11am at North Beach, opposite the skateboard park

SAND artist Lucas Mahlangu followed his commission to the letter and did organisers proud, they said.

GETTING in some training for Saturday’s sand-castle challenge are: (from left) Kyro Brower, Aaliya Mia and Kerry Ann Brown.