Siyabonga Africa

Siyabonga Africa

It was ice galore yesterday at the "Snow in the City" theme park at Mary Fitzgerald Square in Newtown, Johannesburg.

Scores of people queued to get their chance in the man-made snow at the once-off, fun-filled day run by the Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA) and Nando's.

Ice skating, snow fights and snowboarding were the order of the day, and children could not get enough of it.

Thabang Mogoma, 8, and his brother Karabo, 5, were excited to go down the snow slope.

"This is our first time in the snow," said the jubilant brothers.

"We can't wait to race down the ice and throw snowballs at each other."

Local residents were also pleased at the JDA's efforts to entertain people. "It is about time that we had such an event," said Precious Thwala.

"I brought my two sons with me, and we are glad to be doing something different."

JDA chief executive Lael Bethlehem said they wanted to give Joburgers a reason to visit the city. "We want to bring people back to the city and show them all the amazing work that has been done to rejuvenate it."

Kevin Utian, Nando's South Africa managing director, said: "When the opportunity to stage an event in the Newtown precinct arose, we seized it.

"The idea of an ice rink, snow and a ski slope on Mary Fitzgerald Square in the middle of winter seemed a good idea."

During the day, visitors were lent blankets, that came with the ticket price, and these blankets were handed back when they left and given to needy people as part of Operation Snowball, a winter charity project.

Operation Snowball is an yearly charity drive to help needy people by giving them clothing items and blankets during the cold winter months.