In the face of economic pressure and steep petrol price hikes, many South Africans are choosing to embrace moments of joy this Easter.
People are prioritising connection, laughter and shared experiences over the weight of financial concerns, even if it’s just for a day.
The Easter holidays offer a sense of escape for many, reminding people that joy can still be found at events like the Rand Easter Show, which opened at the Johannesburg Expo Centre in Nasrec on Thursday and will run until Easter Monday.
Speaking to TimesLIVE, Regina Khumalo, from Thokoza in Ekurhuleni, said the economy had constantly deprived her and her family of fun and enjoying life, so much so that having a budget was no longer a necessity.
She said whether money was spent or saved, it did not change the fact that it would eventually be used up.
“My children are aged three and seven and this is their first time at the Rand Show, but because we are living in trying times, I don’t have a specific budget of how much I will be spending today or in general,” she said.
She explained that in her household, they could go as far as making daily purchases if something was short without checking the budget. “I took the decision to no longer pay attention to how much I spend, that’s how bad the economy has become. We can no longer save like before, therefore we spend the little that is left.”
Lebohang Khumalo, who attended the event with his wife and children, said though there was economic pressure, he could not deprive his family of enjoying life.
“We are living in an era where we cannot even afford a bottle of beer. Eventually we will have to drink in our homes with family because of how expensive things have become.”
He said the government had let black people down. “The government has unfortunately sided with the white supremacy, where the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.
“Now that the petrol prices are increasing, the prices of food will increase too. In turn, the black people suffer the most. We feel it most.”
In the midst of it all, Khumalo said he had taken the decision to spoil his family as best he could. “I told myself that I didn’t want my children to grow up like I did. My wife told me they wanted to celebrate Easter at the Rand Show and here we are, doing just that.”
This year’s show is themed Jungle Magic. There is a field labelled the Berry Farm where children can join an Easter egg hunt and pick raspberries.
Then there is a chance for kids to find three coloured stones hidden in the berry fields, and swap them for three chocolate treats. There’s also a guided Easter story walk.
The headmaster of Chief Albert Luthuli Primary School in Benoni, Peter Manana, decided to give his pupils a treat and bring them to the show. He said children coming from a squatter camp like uMfomothi were not normally exposed to entertainment like the Rand East Show offered, and he wanted to show them that there was more to life than where they came from.
He said it was the first time his school had attended the show, a trip he defined as a “career expo”.
“Our pupils are smart, but they struggle with pinpointing what they want to become when they grow up. This is a good opportunity for them to broaden their minds,” he said
Manana said they had spent R4,600 on transport for 60 pupils.
“We are fortunate to have a donation scheme at school where the government and other stakeholders contribute to the well-being of the pupils, hence we are able to bring most of our kids to the show.”
Despite coming from an impoverished background, he said, no amount of money could replace the fun the children were having. “Yes, the economy has changed and things have become tough, but education is far more important than the rise in prices of food and petrol.”
Gates at the Rand Show are open daily from 9am to 7pm (the entrance gates close at 6pm).
The biggest new family attraction is Jungle Magic: a larger-than-life jungle world that transforms a whole hall into an immersive sensory experience. Visitors can expect bold colour, jungle soundscapes, giant creatures, an indoor waterfall and even a “brave zone”, where curious kids can touch and feel creepy crawlies — all included in the cost of entry.
Beyond the stages, visitors can catch motorsport drifting and spinning action (free to watch), marching bands and displays, and Big Bounce — a rugby-field-sized inflatable adventure included at no extra cost.
TimesLIVE
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