{"id":5712,"date":"2025-05-14T12:09:52","date_gmt":"2025-05-14T10:09:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/?p=5712"},"modified":"2026-03-12T10:38:07","modified_gmt":"2026-03-12T08:38:07","slug":"zolani-mahola-to-perform-national-anthem-at-hollywoodbets-durban-july-2025-opening","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/zolani-mahola-to-perform-national-anthem-at-hollywoodbets-durban-july-2025-opening\/","title":{"rendered":"Zolani Mahola to Perform National Anthem at Hollywoodbets Durban July 2025 Opening"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The countdown to the 2025 Hollywoodbets Durban July has officially begun. Excitement is already building across the country. Zolani Mahola\u2014affectionately known as <em>The One Who Sings<\/em>\u2014will lead the opening with a stirring rendition of the South African national anthem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A beloved voice in the country\u2019s music scene, Mahola\u2019s inclusion adds a powerful cultural dimension to the event. The event is a blend of elite horse racing, dazzling fashion, and top-tier entertainment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-zolani-mahola-a-true-marvel-of-mzansi\">Zolani Mahola: A True Marvel of Mzansi<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>From her breakthrough as the lead singer of Freshlyground to her reinvention as a solo performer and activist, Mahola has become a symbol of unity and artistic excellence. Her stage name, <em>The One Who Sings<\/em>, is more than just a title. It reflects a journey of transformation and empowerment. Her lifelong dedication to community upliftment through music continues to inspire generations of South Africans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This year\u2019s Durban July theme is aptly titled <em>Marvels of Mzansi<\/em>, and Zolani\u2019s performance aligns perfectly. Her presence will celebrate our cultural identity. It will also provide an emotionally resonant start to the festivities. The performance showcases the best of what our nation has to offer.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/image-59-1024x1024.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5714\" style=\"width:604px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/image-59-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/image-59-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/image-59-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/image-59-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/image-59.png 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div id=\"gaute-3780473488\" class=\"gaute-inbetween-content gaute-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><div class=\"gaute-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1852772760112594\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1852772760112594\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1819787043\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-supporting-local-talent\">Supporting Local Talent<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizen.co.za\/sport\/horses\/zolani-mahola-to-open-africas-greatest-horse-racing-event\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Hollywoodbets<\/a> has made it a priority to spotlight and support homegrown talent. Zolani\u2019s performance is a testament to that commitment. \u201cAs part of our commitment to uplifting the local creative industry, the Hollywoodbets Durban July proudly supports homegrown artists who have shaped South African music over the decades,\u201d said Devin Heffer, Brand and Communications Manager at Hollywoodbets. \u201cThis event not only honours these artists, but also helps sustain their careers and boost their impact within their communities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The entertainment line-up will go up on Friday, 16 May. All will perform live in one place, for a single ticket price. The atmosphere will be charged with pride, creativity, and the unmistakable rhythm of Mzansi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-an-unforgettable-experience\">An Unforgettable Experience<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Zolani\u2019s rendition of the national anthem will be a defining moment. It will unite the crowd in song and spirit as the day unfolds with elegance and exhilaration. Whether you&#8217;re drawn by the world-class racing, the fashion, or the infectious energy of live music, this year\u2019s Durban July will be something unforgettable for every attendee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Tickets are available now through Ticketpro and Payzone Kiosks at SPAR stores around the country. Don\u2019t miss your chance to witness a truly iconic South African moment as Zolani Mahola opens the 2025 Hollywoodbets Durban July with heart, soul, and unmatched grace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Also read: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/gauteng-headlines-ati-2025-with-a-winning-formula-of-sports-and-culture\/\">Gauteng Headlines ATI 2025 with a Winning Formula of Sports and Culture<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The countdown to the 2025 Hollywoodbets Durban July has officially begun. Excitement is already building across the country. Zolani Mahola\u2014affectionately known as The One Who Sings\u2014will lead the opening with a stirring rendition of the South African national anthem. A beloved voice in the country\u2019s music scene, Mahola\u2019s inclusion adds a powerful cultural dimension to<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":5718,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_focus_keyword":"","rank_math_title":"","rank_math_description":"The countdown to the 2025 Hollywoodbets Durban July has officially begun. Excitement is already building across the country. Zolani Mahola\u2014affectionately known...","footnotes":""},"categories":[73,47],"tags":[1519,1520],"class_list":{"0":"post-5712","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-lifestyle","8":"category-news","9":"tag-durban-july","10":"tag-hollywoodbets-durban-july"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5712","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5712"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5712\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5733,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5712\/revisions\/5733"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5718"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5712"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5712"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5712"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}