Buffalo City is gearing up for the 9th edition of the popular annual Berlin November Traditional Horse
Racing Festival. Set for the 25-26 November the event organizers have added another day that will feature
a two-day Berlin Food Festival that will bring together the province’s best chefs and catering industry
players. According to the organizer Luthando Bara with the event turning 10 next year a need existed for
the addition of another day to increase the number of days revellers spend in the city.
The event attracts horse racing enthusiasts, socialites, and fashion lovers from every corner of the
country. The race day theme will govern all the fashion, hospitality, and décor elements of the big day with
local designers racing to bring about the best interpretation of the day’s theme. This year’s theme is
‘CHASING THE AFRICAN RAINBOW’, and it is all about splashes of colour and fun while bringing across the
message of unity and looking forward to brighter and happier times ahead of us. The theme is about
adorning yourself in colourful garments or outfits that showcase any, some, or all of the 7 colours of the
rainbow, which are, Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo & Violet.
Berlin November attracts the country’s top-list celebrities, beauty queens, sporting icons, musicians, and
entertainers, rubbing shoulders with the captains of industry and the who’s who of the political world in
the Eastern Cape. This is the Eastern Cape’s flagship sport and lifestyle event and offers a myriad of
scintillating attractions such as traditional horse racing of different distances and forms, fashion, food,
dance festival, music, and art.
The Berlin November coalesces traditional horse racing, year-end functions, fashion shows, private
marquees, craft stalls, music and food festival, and children’s village and product expos. “As always, we
have curated an event with a rich tapestry of VIP lounges, contemporary design couture, solid
entertainment, and gourmet food. We are offering a best-in-class experience which is unrivalled in the
Eastern Cape and want to invite the private sector to use the facility on the day for their year-end and
team-building functions,” explains Luthando Bara.
The anchor of the Berlin November is the traditional horse racing handicap with total prize money of R500
000, featuring different races. This will ensure those horse breeders, trainers and jockeys benefit directly
from the race.
While the primary focus is on the horses and their chances of winning, the Berlin November is much more
than just a race – it has evolved into one of the country’s most eagerly anticipated social events. Over 30
000 spectators and revellers literally stop everything and descend to the small town of Ntabozuko to watch
and celebrate what has become a not to be missed extravaganza
“As always we have curated an event with a rich tapestry of VIP lounges, contemporary design couture,
solid entertainment and gourmet food. We are offering a best-in-class experience which Berlin November
has come to be known about.
“The Berlin November is a melting pot of sports, arts, leisure and recreation. It is a strategic meeting point
for sports tourism and the creative economy. This medley if nurtured in time, will surely deliver on jobs
and spur the economy of the province into pre-covid levels.
TRADITIONAL HORSE RACING
The anchor of the Berlin November is the traditional horse racing handicap with a total prize money of
more than R500 000, featuring different races. This will ensure that horse breeders, trainers and jockeys
benefit directly from the race. The organisers have ensured that horse racing prize money increases over
time from there mere R50 000 prize monies that had defined the industry before Berlin November took
the stage. This year 132 horses registered before the closing date with those that came late being unable
to be accommodated.
The traditional horse races will include Umphalo (speed, turf or galloping races), Umhambo (tripling races),
and Umkhwelo (endurance races).
RESPONSIBLE GAMBLING
The Eastern Cape Gambling and Betting Board identifies with the sense of togetherness and belonging
present in the event to communicate its message on responsible gambling. The Berlin November is a grand
opportunity that is sensitive to our needs as the Eastern Cape Gambling and Betting Board to communicate
honestly and deeply to the audience that is most likely exposed to some form of gambling or betting. The
organisers of the Berlin November should be lauded for presenting a programme that has converted what
was historically a pure socio-cultural event into a socio-economic platform that does not only give back to
horse owners and jockeys but promote social cohesion and combat irresponsible and problem gambling.
“The Eastern Cape Gambling and Betting Board we have a shared moral responsibility to drive brand
awareness and education about responsible gambling through creating a presence on strategic platforms
such as the Berlin November in order for us to engage and connect with our target audiences in an
intriguing and positive way” Mabutho Zwane, CEO of the Eastern Cape Gambling & Betting Board.
GOVERNMENT SERVICES EXPO
One of the considerations for the event is to build strong partnerships that benefit the area of Ntabozuko
and the surroundings. The GSE is one of the offerings currently in the test phase aimed at connecting
government and citizens. The platform is also important in bringing service delivery information to the
public and encouraging stakeholder participation. In this way, government departments and agencies get
to reach out to the most relevant, vulnerable, underrepresented, or marginalised groups in society.
Social Development and their agency- SASSA, DEDEAT, BCM, ECPTA (bringing an accident car for demo part
of Substance Abuse, Department of Labour and Employment, Department of Roads & transport, STATS SA,
HEALTH NPOs ( Aquity Innovation offering Mobile TB X-ray and Lisebanzi for Substance Abuse and GBV).
Mdantsane SAPS and more.
ENTERTAINMENT
Berlin November brings to the Eastern a plethora of wildly talented talents and celebrities in film and
production, music, arts etc. With international acts such as US-born Harrison Crump leading a pack of
multiple award-winning musos such as Samthing Soweto, Brian Temba, Zola, Unathi Nkayi, Lamiez, Cairo
Cpt, Mali Soul, Ikhona, Bethusile Mcinga a world-class experience is a given. Also featured in this year’s
lineup is over 60 local artists from around the province.
Hosting the dance floor are radio personalities Umhlobo Wenene host Amaza, Reggie Solani while selected
SABC1 Generation Stars grace the event. Also interesting to meet are veteran actors Sello Maake KaNcube
and Vusi Thanda of Emzini wesintsizwa fame. Popular television personalities Dumisani Mbebe, Luyanda
Potwana, Oros Mpampofu and many more are faces to watch for.
FASHION
The race day theme will govern all the fashion, hospitality, and décor elements of the big day with local
designers racing to bring about the best interpretation of the day’s theme. This year’s theme is ‘CHASING
THE AFRICAN RAINBOW’, and it is all about splashes of colour and fun while bringing across the message of
unity and looking forward to brighter and happier times ahead of us. The theme is about adorning yourself
in colourful garments or outfits that showcase any, some, or all of the 7 colours of the rainbow, which are,
Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo & Violet.
CRAFT
The Eastern Cape is positioning itself as the Home of Craft. The unrivalled handmade products from the
Eastern Cape employ colour, recycled material, line, cultural heritage, composition, and symbolism to tell a
story of how they are making a living using their hands. There will be stalls by craft producers.
CHILDREN’S VILLAGE
The colourful children’s play areas provide kids with a feast of fun while their parents savour a day at the
lifestyle village. Professional and dedicated child minders are employed to ensure that parents are not
worried about the safety of their children while enjoying themselves. The play area for the kids is in the
shape of jungle gyms, climbing walls and trampolines, face painting and much-more. We have scaled the
size.
SPONSORS and PARTNERS
We are pleased to announce that the Eastern Cape Tourism Agency, Eastern Cape Gambling and Betting
Board (ECGBB), the Department of Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture (DSRAC), Daily Dispatch, the
Department of Roads and Transport, the Department of Social Development, Office of the Premier, BCMM and
Galaxy Bingo and Grill as the sponsors of the event. END/
Statement to be accredited to Mr Lutando Bara
For media enquiries and event accreditation please contact:
Berlin November Media Team | media@berlinnovember.co.za
Sinethemba Gayiza – 073 543 4118
Buntu Bara – 067 996 3880