The Rand Show, previously known as the Rand Easter Show, is an annual show held in

Johannesburg Johannesburg ( , , ; Zulu language, Zulu and Xhosa language, Xhosa: eGoli ) (colloquially known as Jozi, Joburg, Jo'burg or "The City of Gold") is the most populous city in South Africa. With 5,538,596 people in the City of Johannesburg alon ...

, South Africa, and is the largest consumer

exhibition An exhibition, in the most general sense, is an organized presentation and display of a selection of items. In practice, exhibitions usually occur within a cultural or educational setting such as a museum, art gallery, park, library, exhibiti ...

in Southern Africa. It has been an important event in the city for many years, attracting in excess of 400,000 visitors in 2007. It was also called the ''Grand Rand Show'', when it was held a few weeks outside of Easter in the late 1980s. There were no shows in 2020-21 due to

COVID-19 Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. In January 2020, the disease spread worldwide, resulting in the COVID-19 pandemic. The symptoms of COVID‑19 can vary but often include fever ...

restrictions on major events. The event has been held again since 2024. The next event is scheduled for 17 April to 21 April 2025. Besides the

Boer War The Second Boer War (, , 11 October 189931 May 1902), also known as the Boer War, Transvaal War, Anglo–Boer War, or South African War, was a conflict fought between the British Empire and the two Boer republics (the South African Republic an ...

, other cancellations occurred in 1915–18 & 1940–45.

History

The show was first held at the Old Wanderers cricket ground in November 1894 by the Witwatersrand Agricultural Society, a society that had formed in March of the same year. The second show was opened by

Paul Kruger Stephanus Johannes Paulus Kruger (; 10 October 1825 – 14 July 1904), better known as Paul Kruger, was a South African politician. He was one of the dominant political and military figures in 19th-century South Africa, and State Preside ...

on 13 March 1895, at a venue called ''Milner Park'', which is today the site of the

University of the Witwatersrand The University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg (), commonly known as Wits University or Wits, is a multi-campus Public university, public research university situated in the northern areas of central Johannesburg, South Africa. The universit ...

's West Campus. It was held again in 1896 and reestablished subsequent to the end of the Anglo Boer War, in 1907. In 1936, the Rand Show was called the Empire Exhibition. The eleven-day show was historically an agricultural exhibition for all South Africans where livestock, poultry, yearlings, farm products and equipment were shown and judged with prizes awarded in the form of gold and silver medals. In later years it also featured industrial and commercial exhibitions and would eventually attract foreign participants who would exhibit country pavilions. Other annual exhibitors included

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s, the

South African Defence Force The South African Defence Force (SADF) (Afrikaans: ''Suid-Afrikaanse Weermag'') comprised the armed forces of South Africa from 1957 until 1994. Shortly before the state reconstituted itself as a republic in 1961, the former Union Defence Fo ...

, the

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as well as show-jumping competitions. The 1960 show was the site of a failed assassination attempt on

Prime Minister A prime minister or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. A prime minister is not the head of state, but r ...

Hendrik Verwoerd Hendrik Frensch Verwoerd (; 8 September 1901 – 6 September 1966), also known as H. F. Verwoerd, was a Dutch-born South African politician, scholar in applied psychology, philosophy, and sociology, and newspaper editor who was Prime Mini ...

, by white farmer David Pratt. In 1981, the Witwatersrand Agricultural Society decided that it need a larger venue. A 51ha site was chosen on Crown Mines property that would be part of a larger 270ha planned National Sport, Recreation, and Exhibition (NASREC) site. The venue was built to accommodate at least 150,000 people a day. Other items planned for the site included new road connections, railway station and parking. The project comprised two phases, the first included 43,322 m² of exhibition areas, restaurant, toilets, and other facilities while phase two doubled the exhibition space and facilities. Architect firm Stucke, Harrison & Partners start the design phase in early 1982. Con Roux cleared the area from late 1982, Pipeline Construction repositioned the Rand Water main and LTA Showgrounds Limited won the tender to construct the site. The completion date was September 1984, but the projects actual completion date was January 1985. Landscaping followed before the planned April 1985 opening. The architectural design included a public area consisting of an esplanade with fountains, band area and monorail, surrounded by exhibition halls. The halls were interlinked with restaurants, conference centres and toilets. The agricultural and equestrian areas had stalls for 2,500 cattle, 550 horses, and stalls for other animals, with a main arena, judging pens, clubhouse, restaurants, and a presidential suite.

Venue after 1984

It continued to be held at Milner Park until 1984, when it was moved to the Expo Centre at Nasrec, and the brand was sold in 2000 to company Kagiso Exhibitions & Events, a subsidiary of

Kagiso Media Kagiso Media is the largest black-owned media corporation in South Africa. It was formed in 1997 by Kagiso Trust Investments. History Kagiso Media was listed on the JSE in 1997. In 1999, Kagiso acquired a 42.5% investment in radio station Jaca ...

.Expo Centre buys back Rand Show
''eprop'' In 2009, the Rand Show was to have moved to Gallagher Estate, with a separate ''Joburg Easter Festival'' being held at the Nasrec Expo Centre, however, the Expo Centre bought the Rand Show brand back from Kagiso, and the Rand Show was held, as normal, at Nasrec, as the ''Joburg Easter Festival, incorporating the Rand Show''. In 2009, the show, branded as the ''Rand Show'' and subtitled ''Joburg's Easter Festival

was again held at Nasrec, and the 2011 Rand Show scheduled to take place from 22 April to 2 May 2011. The 2012 event ran from 6 April 2012 to 15 April 2012. The 2013 event of the Rand Show ran from 28 March 2013 to 1 April 2013. The 2014 event was hosted again at NASREC from 18 April 2014 to 28 April 2014. The 2015 Rand Show ran from 3 April 2015 to 12 April 2015, and featured "pirates paradise" and the SANDF.

Merchandise

According to its website, the Rand Show offers products in one of its six categories: "Sports Expo, Kids Expo, Lifestyle Expo, Science & Tech Expo, Showcase SA and Outdoor Lifestyle Expo".

References

External links

* {{Greater Johannesburg, culture Tourist attractions in Johannesburg Easter traditions Festivals in Johannesburg