49th Sabie Tube Race makes a splash

The Sabie Tube Race was an action-packed weekend of tubing, live performances and charity success.

Yolandi Hyman

February 12, 2024

Romandi de Jongh, Zander Swanepoel and Arné and René Coetzee.

The 49th annual Sabie Tube Race, hosted by the Round Table White River 64, took place this weekend on February 2 and 3.

Mari Kruger, Grizelda Prinsloo, Robyn Gouws, Elma Olivier and Mariaan van Rensburg all worked at Laerskool Sabie’s food stall. > Photo: Yolandi Hyman

Peach van Pletzen. > Photo: Yolandi Hyman

Enjoying the tube race. > Photo: Yolandi Hyman

It was an action-packed weekend for the racers with live performance by Spoegwolf, Rian Benade, Fokofpolisiekar, Martin Bester, Early-B and Peach van Pletzen, along with a few kilometres of tubing down the Sabie River.

Amy Brits and Morné Smit. > Photo: Yolandi Hyman

Spoegwolf performing. > Photo: Supplied/ Joggie Botha from Elision Agency.

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Francois van Coke performing. > Photo: Supplied/ Joggie Botha from Elision Agency.

Three attendees on their way to the starting point of the Sabie Tube race. > Photo: Supplied/ Joggie Botha from Elision Agency.

Johannes Coetzee, the event’s organiser, said that about R600 000 was raised for various charity organisations during the weekend.

A dog was taken along for the ride. > Photo: Yolandi Hyman

Riaan Benade performing. > Photo: Supplied/ Joggie Botha from Elision Agency.

A group getting ready for the Sabie Tube Race. > Photo: Yolandi Hyman

The riverside was monitored by Captain Pottie Potgieter and his team of the SAPS Mpumalanga Diving Unit.

At the starting point of the Sabie Tube Race. > Photos: Yolandi Hyman

Coming down the Sabie River. > Photo: Supplied/ Joggie Botha from Elision Agency.

Orriel Grimbeek, Steffany van Zyl and Peter van der Merwe. > Photo: Yolandi Hyman

A couple enjoying the tube race. > Photo: Yolandi Hyman

About 3 246 people participated in the race. There were no incidents on or off the river, according to Coetzee. He said the event was a tremendous success, and everyone had lots of fun.