DITSONG MUSEUMS OF SOUTH AFRICA

🧠 Virtual Public Lecture: Reconstructing Brain Evolution in the African Fossil Record 🏛️🌍
How did the human brain evolve into the complex organ it is today? Join DITSONG: Museums of South Africa for a fascinating virtual public lecture that explores the deep origins of human neurology through the lens of the African fossil record.

We are deeply honored to host Dr. Edwin de Jager, a premier postdoctoral researcher at PALEVOPRIM (CNRS & University of Poitiers) and a Fyssen Foundation Fellowship holder. Dr. de Jager also serves as an honorary lecturer in the Department of Anatomy at the University of Pretoria.

Graduating with his PhD from the University of Cambridge as a Harding Distinguished Postgraduate Scholar, his cutting-edge research bridges South African fossil collections and European computational laboratories. By combining high-resolution imaging, automated sulcal detection, and 3D modeling, he reconstructs the intricate patterns of how early hominin brains reorganized over deep time.

🗓️ Event Details:

Topic: Pieces of Mind: Reconstructing Brain Evolution in the African Fossil Record 🧩💀

Speaker: Dr. Edwin de Jager (PhD, Cantab)

Date: Wednesday, 17 June 2026

Platform: Microsoft Teams (Virtual)

Whether you are a student of anatomy, an anthropology enthusiast, or simply curious about the evolutionary steps that shaped human consciousness, this expert-led lecture will offer incredible new insights.

💻 Secure your virtual seat today! Register here:

🔗 https://ditsong.org.za/en/pom

⚠️ TRAFFIC & ACCESS NOTICE: PUBLIC MARCH ON THURSDAY, 04 JUNE 2026 ⚠️

Please take note that there is a public march taking place today, Thursday, 04 June 2026, organized by the Tswaing View Community Development Forum.

The marchers are gathering at the M3 Community Office and proceeding to the DITSONG: Tsswaing Meteorite Crater in Soshanguve. Visitors and motorists traveling to or around the museum today should expect disruptions and plan accordingly.

📅 Date: Today, Thursday, 04 June 2026
🕙 Timeline: Gathering from 10:00, with marchers expected to disperse from the museum by 12:30.

📍 Affected Route & Streets:

The marchers will move along Soutpan Road directly toward the Tswaing Crater Museum.

Soutpan Road will be significantly affected by traffic delays.

🚗 Alternative Routes for Motorists & Visitors:
To avoid delays, please use alternative routes such as:

Molefe Makinta Highway

Rest assured, officers from the Tshwane Metro Police and the South African Police Service (SAPS) are deployed on-site to monitor the march and ensure safety along all affected streets.

Please drive safely and allow for extra travel time if you are visiting the Tswaing Crater Museum today!

📢 Important Notice: Postponement of the Mampoer Festival 🌾🚜

To our valued community, partners, and festival-goers,Due to unforeseen circumstances, the organizers of the Mampoer Festival regret to inform the public that the event originally scheduled for this weekend has been postponed.

Please note our NEW DATE:
📅 New Date: Saturday, 27 June 2026
📍 Venue: DITSONG: Willem Prinsloo Agricultural Museum (Old Bronkhorstspruit Road, Rayton)

We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience this change may cause. We deeply appreciate your continued support, understanding, and enthusiasm. The Mampoer Festival team remains fully committed to delivering the vibrant, memorable, and high-spirited heritage experience you’ve all been looking forward to! 🇿🇦✨ Please save the new date, and we cannot wait to welcome you and your families on the 27th of June.

For further updates, please stay connected through our official communication channels:
🌐 Websites: www.ditsong.org.za | www.mampoerfestival.co.za
📧 Email: [email protected] | [email protected]

🐴 Giddy Up for Horse Rides at the Mampoer Festival! 🌾✨
Get ready for an unforgettable day out in the countryside! We are thrilled to announce that horse rides will be part of the exciting lineup at the Annual Traditional Mampoer Festival on Saturday, 6 June 2026 at the DITSONG: Willem Prinsloo Agricultural Museum. 🚜🐎

Whether you're a seasoned rider or your little ones want to experience their very first pony ride, this is the perfect family-friendly activity to enjoy surrounded by our living history.

🎟️ Ticket Prices for Horse Rides:

🧔 Adults: R80

🧒 Kids: R40

👶 Pre-schoolers: FREE!

🐴 Calling All Horse Owners! 📣
Want to join in the fun? If you bring one horse to the festival, you will receive 2 FREE adult tickets valued at R160! It’s the perfect opportunity to showcase your beautiful horses while enjoying everything the festival has to offer.

Come through for the boere music, the vintage tractors, the delicious food, and a fantastic day of equestrian fun! 🎪🇿🇦

📍 Venue: Willem Prinsloo Agricultural Museum (Near Rayton/Bronkhorstspruit)
📅 Date: Saturday, 6 June 2026

Tag a friend who loves horses and let’s get ready to ride! 👇🐎

🌍 Hosting Global Perspectives at the Anthropology Section 🏛️✨
We were absolutely delighted to kick off the weekend with an incredible exchange of knowledge! On Friday, 29 May 2026, our Anthropology Section had the distinct pleasure of hosting the Global Blackness fellows from the Johannesburg Institute of Advanced Studies (JIAS), affiliated with the University of Johannesburg (UJ). 🎓🇿🇦

The fellows immersed themselves in our collections, engaging in profound discussions around heritage, identity, and the deep historical narratives preserved within our archives. This visit beautifully highlighted the power of museums as active spaces for academic research, collaboration, and global dialogue. 🤝📜

A heartfelt thank you to the brilliant scholars from JIAS and UJ for visiting us and enriching our space with your insights. We look forward to future collaborations that continue to bridge advanced research with cultural preservation!

🌐 WATCH NOW: The Regiments Room Grand Opening Ceremony! 🏛️🎖️

Missed the official unveiling or want to relive the historic moments? The full video of the grand opening ceremony of The Regiments Room at the DITSONG: National Museum of Military History is now live on YouTube! 🎥✨

Step inside the stunning new exhibition wing dedicated to honoring South Africa's military heritage, made possible through the incredible support of our Reserve Force regiments and veterans' groups. 🇿🇦🤝

From the ceremonial formalities to an exclusive look at the beautifully preserved uniforms, medals, and artifacts—experience it all from the comfort of your screen!

🎬 Click the link to watch the full ceremony:

🔗 https://youtube.com/watch?v=GfM2hUDLa1s

Once you've watched, come visit the exhibition in person at Saxonwold, Johannesburg! 🥾🧭

Happy birthday Matsobane🎉 , may this new chapter of your life bring nothing but joy and success🥂

Happy Birthday Moosa🎉 , hope you had an amazing one. More life and more blessings🥂