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- Ronan Keating returns to SA later this week to perform two shows – one in Cape Town and one in Pretoria – to raise funds for South African charities in partnership with Citadel and Gary Player.
- In a quick catch-up with News24, Keating shares what he loves about SA, what fans can expect to see during his show, and whether there is new music on the horizon.
- "We just love it. I mean, it's amazing," he said before revealing he is looking forward to our 'red wine' and 'amazing' crowds.
Ronan Keating is "looking forward to coming back" to South Africa.
The Irish singer returns to the country later this week to perform two shows – one in Cape Town and one in Pretoria – to raise funds for South African charities in partnership with Citadel and Gary Player.
Keating has always spoken of the "special" place South Africa holds in his heart, and his sentiments are no different in a quick catch-up with News24.
"Once a year, we try and make a trip down to SA, and normally it's a family trip," he says during a Zoom chat. "We incorporate some work, some charity work, with a holiday or a break of some description because we just love it."
Continuing to gush about just how much he and his family love to visit Cape Town especially, Keating reveals he is looking forward to having a nice glass of South African wine and performing for his fans again.
Specialist wealth management company, Citadel, has a long-standing relationship with Keating and brings him to South Africa annually to raise funds for his chosen charity - the Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital in Cape Town.
Keating explains his relationship with the hospital: "My mom passed away from breast cancer; it's 25 years ago now. So, it's a charity that's very close to our hearts and incredibly important to us."
Keating adds that when he is in the country, he always stops by the hospital "to visit the wing that we donate the money to and to see the progress and the set-up".
"It's really impressive, and the work they do is incredible," he says before joking that while he doesn't think the young kids know who he is, "the parents might, and if that brings a little bit of joy for the for the families, then, I'm happy about that".
The former Boyzone member shared a sneak peek of what fans can expect to see in his show. "They'll get what I hope they're coming for," he says, adding, "There's no B-sides, there's no album tracks. It's just the big songs that I'm known for."
As for whether there is any new music on the horizon, Keating says, "I have started writing a new record, which is probably a year away."
He adds that while it is "nice to be writing again," his main focus right now is touring – "I'm going to do South Africa and then I'm in Asia, and then I've got some UK Swiss gigs with an orchestra and then it's summer shows, which is so exciting to be doing all the festivals across Europe."
Keating is scheduled to perform at Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens on Friday, 3 March (his birthday) and at SunBet Arena, Time Square in Pretoria, on Sunday, 5 March. Tickets are available from Webtickets.
