Johannesburg is one of Africa’s most culturally diverse cities and home to residents from all corners of the world, making it a global diaspora hub.
From the sound of adhan atop the mosques of Lenasia, to the smells of souvlaki in family-owned restaurants in Edenvale, the bright Chinese arches at the entrance to Chinatown, all the way to the vibrancy of late night salsa socials in the city’s north, Johannesburg is a museum full of global souvenirs.
The city’s relationship with migrants is as old as its inception, influenced by two significant waves of foreign arrivals. Johannesburg was born in the late 19th century after George Harrison’s discovery of gold conglomerate. This prompted the first surge of migration, with an influx of European migrants and Southern African mine labourers to the slowly forming city, with the latter coming from neighbouring regions such as (modern-day) Botswana, Mozambique, Malawi, Angola and Tanzania.
In one section of a United Nations report entitled International Migrants and the City’, Professor’s Karl Beavon, David Bond and Susan Parnell are credited for writing that after the collapse of the apartheid regime, “migrants began to arrive in Johannesburg from virtually every country in Africa and around the world. In a decade, a parochial and insular city in a pariah country was transformed into a jostling, dynamic, cosmopolitan ‘global city’.” This was the second surge. By June 2022, nearly 30 years after the end of apartheid, a city of Johannesburg report revealed that 13% of the city’s residents were born outside of South Africa.
Infographic of City of Johannesburg’s ( COJ ) latest report. Infographic: Sechaba Molete
“What I really like about Johannesburg is the diversity of people and culture. This is the biggest part of the wealth in this country,” says Barbosa Oliveira Junior from Brazil, who moved to Johannesburg in 1996.
Oliveira came to Johannesburg from a city called Belo Horizonte to continue his work with a Christian non-profit organisation that works throughout the African continent. Johannesburg has proven to be a place of fulfilment for Oliveira as the city has become a part of his identity.
For me, home is where my relationships are. I feel as comfortable in Johannesburg as I do in Brazil.
Curating a home environment filled with Brazilian music, football games, and Portuguese communication is how Barbosa enculturates his South African-born children.
Infographic outlining Johannesburg’s 2 main waves of migration. Infographic: Sechaba Molete
Johannesburg: The City of Dreams
Johannesburg is still deemed to be a city of realised dreams and opportunity for many nationals around the world. “I think Joburg is where the money is, because I’ve been to Cape Town and it’s not the same,” says Algerian Barbershop co-owner Hocine Moffat.
In September 2016, Hocine moved to Johannesburg after being invited by his cousin, who had migrated to the city eight years prior. Johannesburg was a city of opportunity for his cousin, and it proved to be the same for him. After less than 10 years of living in Johannesburg, he recently became co-owner of a Mediterranean Barber shop. The indistinguishable difference between his calm and welcoming temperament and the atmosphere of the store is a marker of a non-South African who’s managed to construct a safe and familiar space 9 970 kilometres away from home.
“My dad always raised me to respect everyone and be kind always. Respect is iaqdar, kind is iddaq in my language Tamazight,” says Hocine when asked about how his culture influences his approach to business in the city.
Hocine resides in Johannesburg North, and although the Algerian community in the city is small and spread out, the Algerian national preserves his culture by participating in religious practices and holidays such as Ramadan and Eid.
The fragrant smell of chai glows in Ince Belli teacups, the intermittent cheers of men of different ages and the sound of Turkish comments paint a different picture from Hocine’s experience of community in a foreign city.
“On match days, we go to Otto, it’s a place in Greenside. It’s a very good social environment for us, we chill, we have our tea, and once the game is over, we head back home,” says second-generation immigrant Omer Turkmen.
Algerian Barber , Hocine Moffat tending to one of his customers at his barbershop in Victory Park. Photo: Sechaba Molete
Omer and Alpern Tiris belong to a small but close-knit community of Turkish immigrants in Johannesburg and live in a house with other Turkish men from different families. The house serves as an alternative form of university accommodation funded by the parents of young adult Turkish men in Johannesburg. The purpose of this accommodation arrangement is to provide a conducive space for the young men to live apart from women and observe their religious laws while being a short distance from the city’s two major universities.
“We have set times when we can go out and can’t go out due to religious reasons,” Omer explains. However, because football is an integral part of the Turkish cultural experience, the young men spend a significant portion of their free time connecting with fellow countrymen over a game at Otto Shisa Bar.
The formation of new contemporary culture in Johannesburg
The influence of migrants and their communities in Johannesburg extends far beyond tLatin American-inspired colloquial greeting “Ola”. It can be found in the city’s architecture, restaurants, music scene and entertainment.
The Taste of India restaurant in Parkhurst is run by a 1st generation immigrant family from India. It serves as an example of the influence of foreign cultures in Johannesburg. Photo: Sechaba Molete
From when the sun begins to set on Thursday evening till the early hours of Monday Morning, various bars and restaurants in Johannesburg are transformed into Caribbean, Latin American or Portuguese-speaking African countries. Salsa, Bachata and Kizomba from Cuba, the Dominican Republic and Angola respectively are three different dance styles that have been brought together to form Johannesburg’s SBK (Salsa, Bachata and Kizomba) scene.
“I would describe the SBK scene as a social and interactive party. People meet at these parties and ask each other to dance,” says Paciano Arleandro Sinankwa, owner of the Afro Latin Social.
Various South African and non-South African Joburg residents attend SBK events known as socials, where a dance instructor typically teaches attendees a dance style before leaving them at the mercy of the DJ to explore and experience other dance forms. For instance, the instructor might teach the couples how to Salsa in the beginning, but as the night continues and as the DJ begins to change genres, the couples begin to find themselves deeply enthralled in the world of Kizomba or Bachata. Although Central and Latin American and African migrants brought their dance styles to Johannesburg, they aren’t necessarily the only people keeping it alive in the city of gold. Ritmo La Vida is a South African-owned dance studio in the heart of Randburg that is a testament to the cultural convergence that continually takes place as a result of Joburg’s multicultural atmosphere.
Johannesburg residents at a Kizomba dance class on a Friday night at the Ritmo La Vida Dance Studio in Boskruin. Photo: Sechaba Molete
“Make yourself feel at home,” says the owner, Ali Anderson, as he begins to prepare himself a drink of brandy. Anderson is an interesting character who’s confident yet humble, humorous yet orderly and commanding yet sensitive. He’s racially ambiguous with an Asian name, European surname and the ability to switch South African vernacular languages that can only be explained by him having lived in Johannesburg for a substantial amount of time. Anderson’s paradoxical nature places him in the perfect position to be able to advance Latin culture in Johannesburg without creating an atmosphere that’s reminiscent of colonialism and Africa’s history of idolising foreign cultures.
I like to come here because I understand the music. I lived in Brazil for three years, and it’s very nice to be able to have a bit of Brazil here in South Africa.
“I like it, it feels like cheap travel because South Africans are actually a minority in the Kizomba space,” says Ritmo La Vida student Reabetswe (Rio) Modiba, when asked how he feels about participating in the preservation of non-South African cultures in Johannesburg.
Modiba believes that many Johannesburg residents are inadvertently exposed to and experience the effects and influence of Zouk (another Caribbean genre of music and dance) and Latin culture in their everyday lives without their knowledge.
“I think the biggest thing is people not even knowing that it exists (Zouk). They’ll see it, they’ll like it and not know what it is. My mission is to spread it amongst our people because there are already influences of Zouk. If you listen to Sava’s song Isoka, it has a Zouk beat. You could dance Kizomba to it,” Modiba passionately continues.
For Xola Benya, Ritmo La Vida is more than just a cultural experience. The dance studio is a reminder of his life in Brazil and an opportunity for him to feel part of a global community.
Ritmo La Vida is a piece of home for migrants and the perfect representation of Johannesburg for South Africans.
Racial Dynamics: Apartheid’s legacy impacts the migrant experience
Many of the migrants who spoke to Wits Vuvuzela are either positively or negatively affected by the legacy of Apartheid. For instance, many of their experiences of the city are akin to those of middle-class Johannesburg residents because of their proximity to whiteness. This is one of the main factors that contributes to most of them having positive socio-economic experiences. In an academic paper titled ‘European Immigrants in Johannesburg: Perceptions, Privileges and their Implication for Migrant Experiences’, Professor Terry-Ann Jones and Dr Tamara Last make an interesting observation, that “Europeans are largely absent from South African’s imagined identity of an immigrant”.
Although none of the non-African migrants who spoke to Wits Vuvuzela are European, many of them are white-passing and experience the privileges that come with being white in South Africa. At the same time, many of these ex-pats struggle to make sense of the city’s racial categories, viewing the categories as unnecessary and limiting.
Infographic detaling the findings of professor Jones and researcher Last’s findings. Infographic: Sechaba Molete
“For me, it’s even weird to say ‘black South Africans’ because I didn’t grow up with those labels. In Brazil, it doesn’t matter what the colour of your skin is. What matters is if you’re Brazilian period,” Barbosa says.
Hocine shares the same sentiments as Barbosa and believes that it is unfortunate that many Joburg residents are extremely race conscious.
“Since I’ve been here, it’s still that thing about the skin, which is sad. It mustn’t be like that,” Hocine says with concern.
Hocine’s primary identity lies in him being Berber, which was the predominant ethnic group in North Africa before the Arab conquest of that region. However, because the Berber identity is one that not many Johannesburg residents are familiar with, he identifies as white. Unfortunately for him, this decision has not been able to shield him from the xenophobic reactions and remarks that result from South African Joburg residents learning about his heritage.
“They say, ‘You’re not from South Africa. South Africa is for black people. I’m from Soweto, and if I had a gun right now, I could shoot you right in the face,’” Hocine explains calmly.
The anecdotes and perspectives of the various migrants regarding race and xenophobia serve as evidence that Apartheid’s legacy of hyper race-consciousness and inequality play a role in the experiences of expats in Johannesburg.
A commitment to Johannesbug
Although migrants in Johannesburg are not immune to the effects of Johannesburg’s service delivery and infrastructural issues, many of them seem to hold the city in high regard.
“I don’t mind staying in Joburg for another 10 years. I had plans in my mind to move overseas, but if that won’t happen, I don’t mind staying here,” says Hocine his barbershop.
Just before Benya leaves and the Ritmo La vida dance class comes to an end, he reflects on his Johannesburg experience as a South African who’s spent most of his life abroad.
“It’s a city of many tales, that’s how I’d put it. It’s incredible because there are not many cities like Joburg. It offers world-class experiences,” he says with a contemplative glare in the distance.
Just like Benya, most of the migrants who spoke to Wits Vuvuzela view Johannesburg’s cultural diversity as the wealth that places it as a world-class African city.
FEATURE IMAGE: An image of buildings and apartments in the heart of Johannesburg, Braamfontein. Photo: Sechaba Molete
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The engines may be silent for now, but South Africa’s F1’s dream is roaring back to life. With hundreds of millions of rands worth of upgrades and fans ready to “sell their livers” for a ticket, Kyalami’s revival could mark the nation’s return to the global racing map.
Kyalami, founded in 1961, hosted F1 races but lost status due to apartheid sanctions and financial issues.
The decision to host lies with the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture and F1 Management, not Kyalami.
The planned R100-million track upgrades will be fully funded by Kyalami’s owner.
In 2010, the world’s gaze turned to South Africa as people from across the globe waved their flags, cheered, and danced during the FIFA World Cup. The streets of Johannesburg pulsed with energy, and local businesses experienced unprecedented growth. Fifteen years later, a parallel dream is emerging – this time, not in football, but in F1.
Could the roar of engines replace the roar of supporters? Could the return of F1 to Kyalami once again place Johannesburg on the global stage as a world-class African city, one that benefits ordinary citizens as much as the elite?
For lifelong F1 fan Kevin Matla, the idea of F1’s return is more than just news, it’s personal. “For me, F1 is life,” he says, recalling how he’s been following the sport since 2005. The possibility of a local Grand Prix fills him with pride and excitement, especially since the last race in 1993 was held under conditions that excluded many South Africans.
Kyalami’s Grand Prix Circuit has long been a place of transformation. Founded in 1961 with the “Kyalami 9 Hours”, an endurance race, the track rose to global prominence in 1967 when it hosted its first Formula One event, cementing its reputation for motorsport excellence.
Through the 1970s and 1980s, Kyalami thrived as a premier racing destination, until its F1 chapter closed in 1985 following international sanctions against South Africa’s apartheid regime.
Kyalami experienced a short-lived resurgence in the 1990s, hosting races in 1992 and 1993, but financial and political issues brought it to a halt again. By the early 2000s, the circuit had lost its international appeal, relegated to hosting local events and remembered fondly through nostalgia.
For Matla, hosting F1 again would mark a national achievement, boosting tourism, creating jobs, and reigniting pride among South Africans. He believes that while ticket prices may be high, the event will still attract strong local support, “I know there are rumours that tickets are going to be R10 000; people might have to sell their homes or their livers.
FIA Approval: A New Era for Kyalami
In 2014, entrepreneur Toby Venter, CEO of Porsche South Africa, acquired the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit at an auction, marking a major turning point for the historic track. His multimillion-rand investment transformed Kyalami into a world-class facility that now meets international racing standards. This effort culminated in the circuit earning FIA Grade 1 approval, the highest level of certification required to host Formula One races.
According to Porsche South Africa’s Group Public Relations Manager, Christo Kruger, the certification represents more than just a technical achievement; it’s a symbol of readiness and revival. With this recognition, Kyalami now stands as the only FIA Grade 1 circuit on the African continent, positioning it one step closer to reclaiming its place on the global motorsport stage.
With this recognition, the countdown has officially begun. “According to the FIA rules, Kyalami now has three years from the day of approval to do the upgrades and then the final inspection,” says Kruger. “Homologation [official approval] happens, and we are then accredited with Grade 1, if everything is done within the approved scope,” Kruger says.
A visual of precision and progress, the official circuit layout outlines Kyalami’s 16 turns and 18 camera points, symbolising South Africa’s readiness to meet international racing standards once again.
Photo: Dikeledi Ramabula
The announcement has fuelled excitement within South Africa’s motoring community, reigniting hopes of seeing F1 cars roar through the Midrand circuit once again. Planning for upgrades is already underway, though construction has not yet begun due to Kyalami’s packed calendar of local events, such as the Festival of Motoring and M-Fest.
However, the future of the project ultimately hinges on F1’s commitment to return. Kruger noted that while some improvements will proceed regardless, the scale of investment will depend on whether the international organisers confirm South Africa’s inclusion in the upcoming calendar.
Eyes locked on the track, South African female driver Simphiwe Mohlahlo waits in her BMW, focused and ready for her race on one of the country’s most iconic circuits. For her, Kyalami represents both legacy and opportunity for women in motorsport. Photo: Dikeledi Ramabula
Hands gripping the steering wheel, eyes locked on the track, Nathi Msimanga sits in full focus, ready for the challenge ahead. The determination in his gaze says it all: he’s here to compete, to push limits, and to belong among South Africa’s best. Photo: Dikeledi Ramabula
For Wits mechanical engineering student and professional Toyota Gazoo Racing driver Nathi Msimanga, Kyalami is more than just a circuit, it’s “the most prestigious track in the country;” a place that mirrors the speed and sophistication of international circuits. Yet despite Kyalami’s world-class design, Msimanga remains doubtful about Formula One’s return in 2027, though he believes it could shine a spotlight on South African motorsport.
“If F1 does come here, it’ll force companies, sponsors, and media to finally give our sport the attention it deserves,” he says. He adds that consistent funding, promotion, and government support are key to making racing accessible for all, and to inspiring the next generation of South African drivers.
And for South African female driver Simphiwe Mohlahlo, who competes in the MSA4 and Formula Libre series, Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit represents more than just asphalt and corners, it’s a symbol of legacy and opportunity. “Racing there feels like being part of history,” she says, noting how rare it is for local drivers to experience the track.
Screens, radios, and precision, the nerve centre of every race. From here, officials monitor every lap, every turn, every moment that defines safety and speed. It’s the unseen engine that keeps Kyalami running.
Photo: Dikeledi Ramabula
Mohlahlo believes that a possible F1 return in 2027 would not only spotlight the perseverance of South African motorsport but also open doors for emerging talent, particularly women. She praised initiatives like the F1 Academy for inspiring young girls and called for more national activations, academies, and sponsorship support to grow the sport sustainably. Confident in the country’s ability to host F1, she adds that such an event could invigorate the economy and elevate local representation on the global stage, a dream she hopes to see realised in her lifetime.
How Major Events Put South Africa on the Map
Hosting big sports events has been a game-changer for South Africa, and the potential F1 has the potential to be another.
The 1995 Rugby World Cup stands as one of South Africa’s most powerful symbols of unity and healing after apartheid. When Nelson Mandela wore the Springbok jersey to present the trophy, it became a defining moment that showed the world a nation coming together, united through sport and shared pride.
The iconic Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit, sprawled across Midrand’s picturesque landscape, is more than just a racing track, it’s the pulsating heartbeat of SA’s motorsport. This revered circuit has been the stage for countless thrilling moments. With its rich history and nostalgic charm, Kyalami is a treasured gem in the world of racing, and the nation is eagerly yearning for the day when it will once again reverberate with the thunderous roar of Formula 1 engines, sending shivers down the spines of petrolheads and reviving the country’s glorious racing heritage.
Photo: Dikeledi Ramabula
In 2010, South Africa made history as the first African nation to host the FIFA World Cup, a moment that not only boosted the economy but reshaped the nation’s image. The government invested over R30-billion in infrastructure, from transport and airports to world-class stadiums, creating around 66 000 construction jobs and injecting R7,4-billion into the economy, with R2,2-billion benefiting low-income households. Beyond the numbers, the tournament became a nation-branding triumph, transforming global perceptions of South Africa’s people, cities, and capability to deliver on the world stage.
The World Cup showed the world that South Africa is a great country to visit and host events. Over 500,000 South Africans, including taxi drivers and volunteers, helped make visitors feel welcome. The country got the highest score ever for hosting a World Cup, which was a big achievement. After the tournament, more people came to South Africa for vacation (up 31%) and business (up 47% in Cape Town).
Hosting major events does more than bring sporting success; it reshapes how the world sees a country and strengthens national pride. For Johannesburg, a successful return of F1 to Kyalami could have the same effect, boosting the city’s reputation, inspiring locals, and attracting new investment. Beyond the race itself, it would signal that Johannesburg is not only capable of hosting world-class events but also stands out as a vibrant, globally recognized African city, a symbol of ambition, progress, and pride. Such high-profile events play a key role in nation and city branding, showcasing South Africa’s potential on the international stage while reinforcing Johannesburg’s identity as a world-class African city.
A relic of Kyalami’s F1 past, this worn Goodyear tyre carries the weight of history, rubber that once touched the same tarmac where legends raced three decades ago. It marks the last time South Africa hosted a Formula 1 Grand Prix, a moment that still echoes in the hearts of local fans who remember the roar of engines and the pride of seeing their country on the global stage. Today, it stands as more than just an object of nostalgia, it’s a symbol of unfinished business, a reminder of a dream paused but never forgotten. Photo: Dikeledi Ramabula
According to Professor Mfaniseni Sihlongonyane from Wits University’s School of Architecture and Planning, hosting international events such as F1 presents both opportunities and significant challenges for cities. He notes that infrastructure, funding, and the “critical mass” of participants are key factors in determining whether a country can successfully host and sustain such events. However, Sihlongonyane acknowledges that F1’s return could stimulate multiple sectors, from hospitality and transport to food and automotive industries, creating employment and boosting economic activity. He cautions, though, that South Africa must ensure inclusivity by supporting small businesses, women, and youth through subcontracting and empowerment initiatives. “It shouldn’t just be about large corporations benefiting,” he explains. For him, Johannesburg’s approach should centre on a social contract with F1, one that promotes economic growth while advancing social justice and community participation.
Who Decides F1’s Return?
While Kyalami may be ready to host, the final decision on whether F1 returns to South Africa does not rest in its hands. According to Kruger, the circuit’s role is limited to being the venue. “Kyalami is not really responsible for F1 coming back, that’s very much up to the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture and a promoter,” he explains.
The government, together with F1 Management, will ultimately decide whether South Africa secures a spot on the 2027 racing calendar. Kyalami’s task, meanwhile, is to ensure the track remains in top condition and meets all technical and logistical requirements once approval is granted.
Eighteen eyes on every corner. The circuit’s surveillance system reflects Kyalami’s world-class standards, a blend of technology, safety, and ambition as it prepares for potential FIA-level events. Photo: Dikeledi Ramabula
Behind the scenes, negotiations and financial guarantees have already been submitted, but the costs involved are steep. “The planned track upgrades are expected to cost around R100-million, an amount that will be self-funded by Kyalami’s owner, OT Venter Investments,” Kruger says.
Formula One is a huge money-maker globally. In 2024, it earned over $3.4 billion, with a big chunk coming from cities and countries paying to host races. This shows how valuable it is to host an F1 event. The sport is also super popular, with 5.7 million people attending races in 2022, a big increase from 2019. Kruger acknowledged that while the enthusiasm for F1’s return is strong, the financial reality remains daunting. Hosting fees for international races can range between $25 million and $54 million, depending on the location.
Logistics and Local Impact
Bringing F1 back to South Africa would be a complex operation, one that extends far beyond the racetrack. Temporary grandstands, hospitality suites, and infrastructure upgrades would all have to be set up to meet F1’s international standards. The surrounding roads and access routes to Kyalami would also need attention to accommodate the thousands of fans expected to attend.
Shops and restaurants hum quietly inside Kyalami Corner, just a few minutes from the racetrack. For now, the calm reflects ordinary life, locals grabbing coffee, but if Formula 1 returns, this space could transform overnight. The sound of engines would spill into nearby businesses, bringing a rush of fans, tourists, and international media. For store owners, it’s more than just excitement, it’s the promise of economic revival, a chance to feel the same national buzz last seen during the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Photo: Dikeledi Ramabula
Beyond the logistical hurdles, the project holds the potential to benefit local communities. Kyalami’s management has expressed plans to include fan parks and fan zones that would create space for small vendors and local entrepreneurs to participate, ensuring that the excitement of the event extends beyond the gates of the circuit.
Kruger emphasizes that a return of this scale would not be fleeting. “F1 doesn’t do once-off events. They will want to sign a deal for a minimum of five years to seven, and sometimes up to ten years,” he says. Such a long-term commitment would not only secure South Africa’s place on the global racing calendar but also demand consistent investment in maintenance and event management to keep the circuit world-class.
Despite the enthusiasm surrounding the possibility, Kruger remains grounded about the uncertainty of the outcome. When asked what message he had for South Africans hoping to see the sport return home, his response is simple: “Pray. It’s really not in our hands; we can only stay hopeful that negotiations with F1 Management are successful.”
As South Africa awaits an official decision, the prospect of F1 returning to Kyalami is tantalizingly close. Backed by Toby Venter’s revival efforts, FIA approval, and public excitement, this moment reinforces one thing, Joburg truly is a world-class African city, capable of hosting global events that bring people and opportunities together. The wait may be long, but South Africa’s F1 dream is finally on track and ready to take off.
From the outside, Kyalami stands as both a landmark and a promise, a place where South Africa’s motorsport legacy meets its future ambitions. Once the stage for legendary Formula 1 races, the circuit now waits, carrying decades of history, triumph, and struggle within its walls. For many, this circuit symbolise a new chapter, a nation eager to reclaim its place on the global racing map and prove that world-class competition can thrive again on African soil. Photo: Dikeledi Ramabula
FEATURED IMAGE: Kyalami Grand Prix Racetrack. Photo: Dikeledi Ramabula
In a city chasing world-class status, Johannesburg’s alternative youth measure this goal not through politics or wealth, but by how freely the city’s residents can express themselves and live the lives they choose, no matter how unconventional.
On a Saturday night in northern Johannesburg, the faithful gather not in pews but under the pulsing lights and sloped ceilings of the Sognage night club. The room is dark and hot, with the only light illuminating the members of a band called Cape Cross Delusion. A metal riff from the guitarist fills the room like a hymn, and bodies move in rhythm, their arms raised and heads bowed as they headbang to the beat. Around the mosh pit, the crowd is draped mostly in black, donning leather jackets, fishnets, and heavy boots that thud as they stomp their feet. Many of them are adorned with piercings that glint when the light catches their faces, and dark eyeliner that frames their eyes locked onto the stage. Mbali Ntuli (25) will remember that night forever, her first metal concert, which she describes as a kind of baptism. She laughs when she says this but insists that that night felt almost religious. “It felt like church, or like a sanctuary almost,” she says. “You just feel so good, you know. You just feel so bloody good.”
Johannesburg’s leaders have spent decades chasing the dream of making the city “world-class, the phrase a nagging promise in city plans, political speeches, and tourist slogans. This vision is typically built on the idea of what success looks like in other major hubs such as London or New York. But these cities are not just iconic because of their economic prowess. Their status is also founded on their immense cultural capital, which is something built from the streets up, not from the elites down.
Ntuli’s Johannesburg is loud, expressive and unapologetically different. The alternative subcultures in the city ask the question: what if being world-class was about something deeper? So much of South Africa’s history and identity is about freedom. So why not measure the city’s world-class status by the freedom to be yourself – to dress how you want, love who you want, and exist without fear? For those in the city’s alternative scene, that kind of freedom is what truly defines Johannesburg.
Unapologetic and authentic is how Baitseng Mello (20) describes Johannesburg. It’s a city where freedom of expression is enjoyed by young people who choose to live outside the “norm”. Photo: Mbali Khumalo
British punk to Joburg resistance
The label “alternative” means opposing dominant cultural norms. It’s an umbrella term for several subcultures that define themselves as breaking away from what society deems as normal or appropriate. Punk, goth, emo, and sometimes queerness are the core alternative archetypes that stand opposed to mainstream ideals of fashion, music, love, and other forms of self-expression..
This rebellious posture has its roots in the punk movements that emerged in 1970s England. The Museum of Youth Culture in the United Kingdom describes punk as a “way of doing”, informing everything “from music through design, fashion, artwork, writing and performance.” It arose from disillusioned British youth who had little faith in their government to address rising inequality, working class exploitation, and labour movements that saw mass strikes and growing unionisation, especially in mining. Young Britons saw punk style, with its distinctive black leather, silver chains, studs, spiky hair and brash makeup, as a way of signalling that they didn’t align with Britain’s social and political conservativism.
Helgard Olwage, bassist for The Burnouts, performs at Rumours Lounge in Strydom Park. Photo: Mbali Khumalo
At the same time, South African youth were going through their own anti-establishment movements with the rise of anti-apartheid student activism, notably punctuated by the 1976 Soweto Uprisings where police killed over 170 students. Amidst this resistance, South Africa’s multi-racial punk subcultures emerged, rebelling against conservative Afrikaner nationalism that sought to dictate both racial and socio-cultural norms. Their main outlet was music. The country’s first multiracial punk band, National Wake, was formed in 1978 in a student commune in downtown Johannesburg. In his article, ‘Punks of the Witwatersrand’, journalist Chris Webb describes the neighbourhoods of Hillbrow, Parktown, and Yeoville as sites of “political organising, multi-racial collaboration, and artistic exploration”. While the punk era of 1970s South Africa didn’t totally mirror its British inspiration in form and style, rebelling against the apartheid government, even just by making music or living together, was very punk.
Listen to a new bonus episode of the We Should Be Writing podcast to discover the little-known world of rebellion and resistance within Johannesburg’s underground punk music scene.
Freedom, worn out loud
In today’s alternative Johannesburg, fashion is the first language of freedom. It’s how authenticity, creativity, queerness and belonging announce themselves without a word.
Baitseng Mello (20) believes self-expression isn’t just about looking different, it’s about refusing to disappear. Sitting at a table outside the Matrix, a small retail hub inside Wits University, she stands out in an all-black outfit, complete with an oversized leather jacket, chunky boots and a silver spiked necklace. She tells the story of her sheltered upbringing in Pretoria. Being the only daughter in her family meant that there were rigid guidelines for self-expression. This has changed dramatically since coming to study in Johannesburg. “Today, I dress how I feel. Sometimes I feel masculine, and whenever I [would] express that through my clothes my dad would ask me: ‘Why are you dressed like that? Are you gay? You’re not a boy.’ Even for family events, he would buy me dresses and skirts so I would look more feminine,” she says.
“It’s crazy that being in Joburg has helped me express my femininity more. Back in Pretoria at home, they tried to suppress me and I hated it,” she says. “When it was being forced on me, I thought, no, I’m going to reject this because you’re forcing it on me.”
Mello says coming to Johannesburg gave her freedom to shed the expectations of femininity that were instilled within her family growing up. She uses her newly-found freedom of expression to experiment with femininity and masculinity in her everyday style. Photo: Mbali Khumalo
Sitting near the library lawns on the university’s East Campus, Joburger Tyreece Garach (21) shares that it was her mother’s support that empowered her rebellious style. “I appreciate her because I could not imagine being the type of child [where] when I leave the house, I’m wearing a whole different outfit and then I get to the bus stop and take it off.”
Among the throng of students shuffling to class, you simply can’t miss her. Garach’s matching brown crochet tank top and mini skirt are accentuated by fishnet tights and thigh-high leather boots. Black lipliner frames her smile and the geometric pattern inked on her forehead draws you towards her eyebrow and septum piercings. A spiky neo-tribal tattoo covers her back, topping off her edgy look. Her style not only expresses her personality but her queerness too. “The way I dress, it’s to express my sexuality as well. I’m a lesbian. The way I dress may seem to be for the male gaze, but my eye makeup, all these piercings, it tells them to stay away!” she laughs. “It’s for the women. This is the expression of alternative people and for me, alternative people are the gays.”
Style and sexuality intersect, for born and bred Joburger Tyreece Garach (21). For her, alternative fashion signals both her personal style and her sexual identity. Photo: Mbali Khumalo
The risks of being seen
While Johannesburg is largely experienced as an accepting and inclusive city, it isn’t immune to the challenges facing the rest of the country. For alternative women, their self-expression doesn’t shield them from misogyny. In many ways, it heightens their visibility as a target for it.
Garach and her partner, both femme-presenting lesbians, have frequently had their relationship invalidated because of how they present. Men have flirted and pushed for their cell phone numbers, despite the women reiterating that they are queer. “When we go out together, often men don’t take us or our relationship seriously. Everything is so deeply rooted in patriarchy,” she says. “At the same time, in Braam [Braamfontein] specifically, men are a lot less pushy about it. I think that’s because this is such an accepting place. People are very aware of all these alternative people living alternative lifestyles,” she explains.
Garach cheekily describes her style as “edgy, 1980s hoochie mama.” She refuses to shrink herself, choosing to wear as much or as little as she pleases. Photo: Mbali Khumalo
Beyond their relationships, alternative women also use clothing to assert who they are, despite the judgment that follows. “Sometimes before I leave the house, I ask myself, should I tone it down, should I cover up, and the answer is no. I never tone it down,” Ntuli says. “You could walk around wearing a short skirt and you get people calling you a slut. They start calling you names, which is annoying.”
Despite experiencing the heavy metal scene in Johannesburg as a kind of sanctuary, Ntuli knows that the ugliness that exists in the rest of society can bleed into what should be her safe space. “Metal is a male-dominated industry, so the scene can be like that as well. When you go to these gigs you need to make sure you’re in good hands because this is South Arica, after all. I love my community but that doesn’t mean that gender-based violence doesn’t happen with us as well,” she says. Regardless of these risks, she’s not letting them stop her from finding solace in the heavy metal scene. “I tell all my female friends that if they haven’t gone to a metal show, that they need to. It is the best experience. It gives women a space to express their strength and just rebel.”
Johannesburg isn’t perfect. For alternative women, standing out can mean harassment and judgement from society. While this is a lived experience for just about all women, being different can heighten your visibility in unpleasant ways. Photo: Mbali Khumalo
Africa’s alternative youth, beyond Joburg
Unlike many of its African counterparts, Johannesburg is often considered to be more accepting and inclusive. The diversity in the kinds of people that are drawn to the city and make it their own is something unique. For other African youth, their experience of alternative self-expression can be bleak.
Akon Areet (20) knows this first-hand. She is the eldest daughter of South Sudanese parents who fled to Kenya when the Sudanese civil war began in 2023. After a short stay in a refugee camp in Kakuma, the family settled in Eldoret, where they already had a few relatives. Areet’s parents have since moved to the United States to work and send money back to support her and her siblings.
She began experimenting with alternative fashion last year as a way to express herself and her sense of style, which she describes as goth. She has silver piercings on her eyebrows and lips, and her hair is a shaggy pink wolfcut, with the bottom layers dyed grey. Her thick eyeliner accentuates her eyes, making them standout further against the white makeup that covers the rest of her face.
While she feels more authentic than ever, her new identity hasn’t been received warmly. “Kenya is a really conservative place. There’s not really a lot of alternative people here and when you’re different, people will ostracise you,” she shares. A sore spot for Areet is that her self-expression is considered white-washed, especially her piercings. “People tell me that I’m trying to be white because of them, but my piercings are the most African thing about me, in so many ways,” she says. “As Africans, we have a lot of body modifications. We have tattoos, piercings and scarification. I love my piercings because they actually bring me closer to my roots.”
Akon Areet is one of the only alternative people living in her conservative town of Eldoret, Kenya. She finds community online, connecting with other goths within and outside of Africa. Photo: Akon Areet/Instagram
She hasn’t let family pressure stop her, despite sometimes feeling isolated. The alternative scene in Eldoret is virtually non-existent. “There are no goth clubs here. I barely see alternative people. I’ve never met an alternative person from here.”
This is in stark contrast to the sense of community that alternative youth in Johannesburg say they’ve found through their self-expression. “When I started expressing myself, that’s when I found my community, my people,” Mello says of her experience in Johannesburg. “If I kept myself stifled, I wouldn’t have found the other queer and alternative people that are like my family now”.
Freedom is the heart of this city
When contemplating if Johannesburg is a world-class African city, freedom of expression rarely comes to mind. The city’s glaring structural challenges often overshadow the resilience and boldness of its people. But to them, self-expression is a part of what makes living in Johannesburg a world-class experience. “Having a city where acceptance is a big part of the way we live shows we have a mindset of liberation. That’s something really unique to Johannesburg,” Garach says. “I think Joburg is a world-class city simply for that fact that it allows everyone to be themselves. Even if there are people judging in silence, as long as they’re not projecting onto you who they think you should be, who cares!”
This city isn’t perfect nor is it immune to challenges like misogyny and queerphobia that threaten freedom of expression. But even with its imperfections, it gives people the courage to be unapologetically themselves – a truly world-class freedom.
FEATURED IMAGE: For Tyreece Garach (21), Joburg is a city where liberation is a mindset embodied daily by its residents. Photo: Mbali Khumalo.
The city of gold is losing its shine as it continues to neglect the lives of miners.
Visiting the Gold Reef City Mining Exhibition was an unforgettable experience that dropped me into the depths of Johannesburg’s rich gold mining history. I was welcomed by tour guides laughing loudly with all-teeth showing. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming as I was given a safety helmet and torch to go underground. As I prepared to descend the shaft, a wave of anticipation mixed with anxiety washed over me. The gate of the shaft was sealed shut and my guide began her rehearsed rant as my heart raced at each gradual bump I felt, as we began to descend. The sun disappeared the lower we went and my grip on the railing tightened. The mine entrance glistened with light streams of water as we were engulfed in darkness.
We are now 75m underground, the chilly air shocked me as I was expecting a wave of heat, but the calm tour guide Zakile shared that it was due to the ventilation underground. I could see smoke appear as I talked, my hand searching for my torch to take it all in. The dim light flickered as we passed through narrow mine tunnels, Zakile pointing out the rocks and mannequins placed to give a more realistic experience. You can hear each thump of our steps, leaving an echo, the trickling of water droplets from the walls. The walls around us were rough and hard, the decades of extraction felt, right on my fingertips. I can see the remnants of thousands of miners who have been down this mine, day in and day out, dealing with harsher conditions than what we are experiencing now. The souls that have walked these pathways and helped make Johannesburg the City of Gold it’s known to be today.
The life of David Muphandu
My experience couldn’t have been further removed from the dangerous realities that gold miners face every day. Long hours spent in tight cramped tunnels, thick hot air, sweat dripping from their foreheads, a life David Muphandu, a miner of over 14 years, knows all too well.
“I would clock in at 05:00, then once I clock in, I go straight to the shaft waiting for the cage to go down. The shaft was supposed to come and collect us past six, then we go down,” says Muphandu, his cadence is slow and monotone, as he recalls his days at the mine “[By] 08:00, we have a safety meeting underground. After [the] safety meeting, we sign the book [to confirm attendance], then we go straight to the workplace,” he shares.
Commissioned in 1926, the Winder machine was originally part of the Crown Mines, which was once the largest and richest gold mining operation in the world. The winder controlled the cables that raised and lowered cages carrying miners and equipment down the vertical shaft. The machine helped create efficient transportation for the mine. Photo: Bonolo Mokonoto
Muphandu would ensure that the machine he is operating works properly, because any faulty part could lead to serious injury. He exits the mine when they are done after 13:00 or 14:00, he pulls out his silver container as he proceeds to quickly eat his lunch. After work he removes his Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), showers, puts on his home clothes and leaves.
Having a typical nine to five is rare in the mining industry. “It depends sometimes, if we don’t work well straight, maybe we have a delay of tools or maybe someone is not there. Sometimes we can leave latest let’s say at 17:00 or 18:00,” he says.
His story reflects the reality behind the shiny image of Johannesburg as the city of gold and pulls into question its status as a world- class African city.
Where it all began
Gold was first discovered in the Witwatersrand area in 1886 by George Harrison, which led to the Witwatersrand Gold Rush. Johannesburg was soon established as a mining town and rapidly became South Africa’s largest city and economic hub often called the “City of Gold” due to the massive gold deposits in its surrounding areas.
In the early 20th century, Johannesburg’s economy and urban growth revolved heavily around deep underground mining operated by large corporations. The mining industry attracted a diverse workforce, including local Black Africans who worked in difficult, often dangerous conditions, as well as skilled European miners.
The mining industry is full of diversity, “On the mine, we are not the same and we come from different places, there [are] people from Maputo, there’s people from Lesotho, there’s people from Mthatha, there’s people from KZN, there’s people from Venda, people from Bush, people from different places,” says Muphandu.
Over more than a century, gold mining has driven Johannesburg’s development but also left a legacy of social inequality, environmental damage, and health issues, not just for the miners, but the community surrounding the mine.
In recent decades, Johannesburg’s gold mining has declined due to depletion of shallow deposits, rising operational costs, infrastructure challenges, and global market shifts. Most of the mines have shut down, jobs have been lost, and the sector’s contribution to the city’s economy has decreased, in comparison to other metal groups, such as platinum.
Johannesburg faces the challenge of balancing its identity as a historic “City of Gold” with the realities of a contracting, troubled mining industry that continues to impact many workers’ lives.
Golds contribution to the economy
The average price of gold as of October, 2025, has risen significantly, reaching around R59, 169 ( $3, 275) per ounce, and would waver between R48, 939 and R75, 385 per ounce throughout the year. This creates space for investment in the country and potential socio- economic growth. The gold mining industry’s contribution to South Africa’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has been decreasing slowly over the past five years due to the depletion of gold and increased global competition. Out of all the primary platinum metal groups, gold is performing or contributing the least in production.
“The gold price is doing very well in the international market. I mean it’s now on record price; it’s now on four thousand dollars an ounce,” says Livhuwani Mammburuu, the head of communications for the National Union of Mine Workers. The new developments in the gold price are exciting however miners are not able to take part in claiming the fruits of their labour. “You will find a situation where the executives’ pay themselves millions of bonuses and workers who work hard underground do not get anything,” he says.
This reenactment captures the ancient gold smelting process where raw gold is heated in a furnace to over 1,064°C, melting it into liquid form. Once molten, the gold is carefully poured from the crucible into moulds, solidifying into bars, a crucial final step in transforming mined gold. Photo: Bonolo Mokonoto
The realities of working in the gold mining industry
In 2025 the lives of gold miners remain challenging as they try to adapt to changing circumstances. Many miners that are employed on formal operations still experience low and fixed wages. [The] National Union of Mine Workers (NUM) is having wage negotiations with one of the biggest gold companies in South Africa, called Sibanye-Stillwater, and the negotiations are not going well at all,” says Mammburuu.
“We have just recently declared a dispute with Sibanye-Stillwater, because we do not agree on the wage offer that they’re presenting to us. They are presenting 4,5% salary increase, which- the NUM, is not happy with,” he says.
“It’s very tough [when] you are dealing with a company that does not want to pay good salaries for its employees who are our members,” says Mammburuu, breathing heavily with anger and frustration.
Many miners, face physically demanding and often hazardous working conditions deep underground. These miners work for hours with varying hours to make more money.
“According to the working hours it was eight hours, but because of delay of work and transport to take us to the surface, sometimes we could be there for two days, the shaft being damage, there is no escape road for emergency,” Muphandu says. “Sometimes we take shortcuts to finish the job or manage time, but these shortcuts are more dangerous. Before working, we must put in temporary support and wait for the safety officer’s approval, but sometimes the safety officer doesn’t come. We are often forced to use old tools because of delays in new tool deliveries, which is very dangerous and can lead to accidents,” he says.
South Arica’s gold mining industry reported a total of 11 fatalities in 2024, which is a 45% decrease from 20 in 2023, the industry still has a long way to go to ensure zero fatalities.
“There is the Mine Health and Safety Act, companies need to adhere to [it], at NUM we are still worried about workers that are still dying underground. It’s not enough to see workers fatalities happening in the mines, we want to see a situation where there are zero fatalities and zero injuries in the mining industry, that’s what we are striving for,” says Mammburuu.
“There were people who got sick, so we always wear masks and full PPE before getting on the cage to go underground. But underground, because it’s hot, many take off their masks, which is wrong, since it helps prevent dust and coughing from spreading illnesses like TB. I personally never got sick from the mine, but I once fell because I incorrectly put my safety belt on, and I injured my left leg. Some miners even fall off the cage before it reaches the ground, it can get very dangerous underground,” says Muphando.
The living conditions of miners remain inhumane. Many miners have resorted to living in shacks, as these are the only form of housing closest to the mine. “If you look at- where these mines are situated, you’ll see a lot of shacks around those mines. Our members are also getting a living at allowance. A living at allowance is equal as a housing allowance so members when they get that living at allowance, they’ve got a duty to go and rent or buy decent houses, “says Mammburuu.
Ntando Ndlovu, a fourth-year mining and engineering student, did his vacation work at the Sibanye-Stillwater mine. “They said to me if you don’t enjoy your job you are going to do the least and but for them, they actually enjoy what they are doing, in a team environment, that team dynamic is actually what keep[s] them going every now and then,” Ndlovu says.
Miners must receive a fair income to support their families. When one mine is no longer operating or supportive, they will move to a different mine. “Yeah, but you know now the mine industry, especially if you no longer have that mentality to mine, you always discuss which shaft pays and how to get there, so some of us left and went to Rustenburg’s platinum mines where it was better, but then COVID-19 happened and we couldn’t get in, though some friends still work there; you know, to work in SA you have to do something or get information,”Muphando says. “I quit the mine, during COVID-19, so I left around 2020 or 2021.”
The future of gold mining in Johannesburg
As gold mines around Johannesburg continue to shut down and lay off miners who depend on that income, what is a way forward for this once fruitful industry? “We see poverty, we see shacks, to be honest there is nothing much that is being done to empower communities and empower mine workers themselves. We don’t really see much of what mining is doing for communities around Gauteng,” says Mammburu.
Non-profit organizations find ways to include and support mine workers that have been retrenched due to a mine shut down, to find other means of employment. Providing miners with skills that can support them on and off the mine can be beneficial for the whole community.
“We’ve [NUM] got an entity called Mine Workers Development Agency. It helps our members who are retrenched, to start businesses and – farming – it is playing a very big role to empower those workers that have been retrenched. The other thing the NUM is doing is we have built an artisan academy. [The miners] get trained, they get qualifications and become qualified artisans, they go and look for jobs again.”
“The gold price is increasing exponentially, but from where I was the gold is depleting, so the mine will close in three to five years to come. It’s a major issue because most of the people in the surrounding community rely on the Sibanye water operation,” Ndlovu says.
The current high gold price offers hope for investment within the country and improved working conditions for miners. However, we need to come to terms with a harsh reality. Johannesburg cannot claim its place as a world-class African city when the very people who built it continue to struggle daily. True wealth and progress within a city is seen through the lives of those who live and breathe it. The abundance from gold wealth needs to be shared fairly and miners’ dignity and livelihoods need to be prioritised and valued.
FEATURED IMAGE: The above photograph shows the passageway of the Gold Reef City mine, located 75 meters underground. The dimly lit tunnel echoes the footsteps of over 40,000 miners who travelled this path decades ago, offering a glimpse into the challenging conditions deep within Johannesburg’s historic gold mine. Photo: Bonolo Mokonoto
Students at Wits University stood shoulder to shoulder in widespread peaceful protest this week, following an allegation of rape on campus, initially shared on social media. In response to protests that spilt out onto the streets of Braamfontein, the university suspended a member of the student representative council (SRC).
In a statement issued on November 11, the university said: “The alleged perpetrator has been put on precautionary suspension whilst the matter is being investigated. We encourage all students to abide by the University’s rules and allow the University’s process to take its course.”
In public statements, the Wits SRC named and distanced themselves from the alleged rapist, and reaffirmed an “unwavering stance against all forms of gender-based violence and sexual exploitation”. They also made a plea for formal cases to be laid with university structures.
Students gathered outside of a South Point residence in Braamfontein. Photo: Phenyo Selinda
South Africa currently finds itself at a critical point in conversations surrounding GBV, with movements like Women For Change calling for a nationwide shutdown on November 21, 2025. This, after the movement’s bid to declare GBV a national crisis was rejected.
At Wits, previous cases have sparked protests such as #EndRapeCulture, leading to policy reforms including the establishment of the Gender Equity Office (GEO). Yet, with student surveys showing that 62% of students have experienced some form of GBV, activists say there is still a long way to go.
The university encouraged students to report cases of GBV to the gender equity office “in-person or via this link: GEO Reporting Tool.”
A GBV mass meeting will be hosted by the SRC on November 13 at 10:00 at the Great Hall, in an effort to support other survivors and stand in solidarity with anti-GBV efforts.
As the investigation unfolds, the Wits community and South African students at large are once again faced with a painful question: how many more women must suffer before justice becomes the norm, not the exception?
Emergency telephonic counselling can be accessed via the Wits Students’ Crisis Line on 0800 111 331. This line is available to all Wits students 24/7/365. The Wits Student Crisis App is also available for students who prefer live chat or text counselling, or contact CCDU for assistance.
FEATURED IMAGE: A photo of wits students gathere in the persuit for justice by Liyabona baartman
Investigative journalism is alive and well in Africa, report Lulah Mapiye and Sechabe Molete.
Journalists and media workers from over 30 African countries gathered for the AIJC conference.
Journalists were reminded to apply journalistic basics to produce the best work.
The annual AIJC conference will take place in Kenya next year.
Investigative journalists from South Africa, The Gambia and Ghana walked home with all the spoils of the third edition of the African Investigative Journalism Awards held on Thursday, November 6, 2025.
The ceremony, hosted in partnership with ABSA, brought together journalists and media workers from over 37 African countries and 45 further afield, reaffirming a common desire to change the world through storytelling.
As broadcaster Sakina Kumwendo introduced the night’s various speakers, it became evident that the future of African journalism is in good hands.
“As I look around, I see not just fellow journalists, but I also see the ultimate custodians of truth on our continent. Women and men who carry the torch in the darkest corners where power hides, knowing full well that this very light they bare makes them targets,” said the Editor in Chief of Nation Media Group, Dr. Joe Ageyo, in his keynote address.
From left to right: Seth Bokpe, Dewald van Rensburg, Edmund Agyemang Boateng and Mustapha K Darboe at the African Journalism Awards. Photo: Leon Sadiki
Ageyo’s message was a call to action for all African journalists to sharpen their tools to save Africa from the horrors brought on by corruption, negligent leadership and weaponised incompetence that continue to torment her.
South African journalist Dewald Rensburg won the award for his 10-part series titled ‘City of Gold’ last night. Rensburg’s ‘City of Gold’ piece exposes a large Gold-based VAT scam worth billions. His exposè shines light on organised crime and money laundering in Johannesburg’s gold sector.
Convener of Judges, Gwen Lister, revealed there were many compelling submissions, which almost made choosing one ultimate winner impossible. However, what sets winning journalists apart from the rest is the ability to go back to journalistic basics.
And 2025’s awards did not only celebrate the first prize recipient, second place went to Mustapha K Darbae of The Republic, The Gambia for “The Assets Go for a Song”. In third place were Seth Bokpe and Edmund Agyemang Boateng of The Forth Estate, Ghana for “Forest invasion.”
The investigative journalism work continues and delegates will convene in November 2026 at Aga Khan University, Nairobi, Kenya for the fourth AIJC.
FEATURED IMAGE: Dewald van Rensburg giving a speech after winning. Photo: Leon Sadiki
Buy Now Pay Later services promise a convenient payment method to make shopping easier, but for many, that convenience comes at a hidden cost.
BNPL is marketed as interest-free but relies on retailers and penalties.
Lower-income consumers use BNPL services due to economic inequality and immediate gratification.
BNPL services have hidden costs that pose financial risks.isksto consumers.
It’s currently 01:15 am, and the only light glowing in the room is from a phone screen. Tumelo is mindlessly scrolling through endless digital aisles. Tap, tap, tap – her thumb dancing against the glass screen and then finally, she sees it; her heart beating with jolts of excitement, the one item she’s been searching for – a cow print denim skirt. Her cart is already overflowing with festival gear. The total, a shocking R1274.64 “That’s way too much” she says.
She can’t afford all the items in her cart, but this festival is all everyone’s been talking about, this denim skirt is the last item that would complete her look. And then like a flash, something catches her eye, it was almost as if the whole room had lit up “make shopping easier with 4 interest-free payments.”
At first, she hesitates, but then thinks of how good she would look at the amapiano festival two weeks from now, contemplation swims in her head and finally, she’s convinced herself that it’s harmless. It’s just four payments of R318.66. No interest. No catch.
Or so it seems. Without another thought, she clicks “checkout with PayFlex” before she can even change her mind. But how exactly does this interest-free model work? With major providers like PayFlex, PayJustNow and Mobicred as alternative payment options, it has never been easier to get what you want, when you want it. By just a click of a button, you can get all your heart’s desires now and worry about the bill later.
The Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) industry is rapidly growing in South Africa. It offers customers a convenient way to shop by allowing them to purchase items without paying the full amount at once.
BNPL services are marketed as interest-free payments split into weekly or monthly manageable instalments. This is similar to the traditional lay-buy systems, but the only difference is that with BNPL, customers receive purchased products immediately and do not have to wait for it to be fully paid.
While BNPL have convinced customers that you can get whatever you want whenever you want it, at a small price, their interest-free claims raise the million-dollar question: how exactly do these companies generate their revenue?
Image of Payflex zero-interest offer payment plan. Photo: File/Payflex.com
Why South Africans flock to BNPL
According to a Research And Markets report, South Africa’s BNPL industry has undergone a significant growth between 2021 and 2024 and is projected to increase further from USD 717.3 million to approximately USD 1.3 billion by the end of 2030.
This growth is attributed to the increasing demand of interest free payment options, particularly as digital payment methods become more popular, especially among the younger consumers.
This upward trend only highlights the deep-rooted inequalities faced by regular South Africans. In an economy that frequently excludes lower-income consumers, many turn to BNPL providers as a financial lifeline, especially for those unable to pay for essentials up front. These platforms make large purchases feel more manageable.
In addition to the rising cost of living, a large population of South Africans either lack access to traditional credit or have limited financial services available to them.
Professor Gary van Vuuren of the Wits School of Economics and Finance argues that it’s a system that taps into the idea that things will look good in the future, that one will be able to pay their debts in time, “We always misjudge our future obligations – but other things always come up,” he says
He explains that it is a system built on optimism, “humans believe that they will have the money in a few months’ time… but life doesn’t work that way – immediate gratification, that’s what humans love.”
The illusion of “interest-free”
So, how do BNPL providers make their money if they are not charging interest?
First, it starts with the retailer. BNPL provide a service to merchants. These merchants are your everyday retail stores such as Superbalist and Takealot, they partner up with a BNPL provider and pay a small fee every time customers opt for the BNPL option at checkout. This is a simple arrangement that creates a win-win situation where the retailer boosts sales with fewer abandoned carts and the BNPL provider earns a commission.
Research by Stitch shows that customers spend 20-30% more when using Payflex, in fact, 83% of customers say they shop more often when Payflex is available.
Applying is made deliberately simple, at the point of checkout, you are required to provide your personal details such as your ID number and your debit or credit card information.
Providers then conduct a light credit check to assess if you will be able to pay these instalments when the time comes without digging too deeply into your credit history.
This speedy process is the key to their success, “They don’t want to do a deep credit dive – it costs time and money,” van Vuuren explains.
The consequences
While the promise of no interest is plastered in bold across all BNPL marketing, the real conditions are often buried in the lengthy terms and conditions – a place very few customers look.
For Tumelo, the “no catch” was a promise short-lived. A week after the festival, she received an SMS from Payflex informing her that the R318.66 payment was overdue and that a R95 default fee had been added. “I completely forgot about the payment,” she recalls, “I didn’t even have the money to pay them back when I saw the message.”
The assumption that BNPL services are interest-free makes them seem minimal risk, but a deeper look reveals the hidden costs associated with using these platforms.
According to Professor van Vuuren, many consumers lack the financial education needed to navigate these services. “The average customer probably won’t be very financially literate… these places rely on the fact that people don’t pay on time,” he warns.
With Playflex, their catchphrase is simple: “No interest, no drama”, but what happens when you miss a payment?
When you miss a payment on its due date, Payflex automatically charges a default fee. For its “Pay in 4” payment plan, you are charged R95.00 and for a missed “Pay in 3” payment, the fee charged is R125.00. This default fee is charged weekly for a maximum of three charges until the outstanding balance is paid in full.
Screenshot of Payflex Terms and Conditions. Photo: File/Paylex.com
But that’s not all. If the overdue balance remains unpaid, it starts to result in default interest at 2.00% per month. This happens because the overdue payment effectively reclassifies the initial transaction as an incidental credit agreement under the National Creditors Act (NCA) – additional charges which are hidden from sight.
For those who fail to make payments on time, the consequences can be severe. A missed payment might seem like a minor issue in the moment, but it can leave you in a web of financial entanglements down the line.
So essentially, the real revenue for BNPL companies comes from default and penalty fees from missed payments.
“These companies are going to make people poorer in the long run. They give people the expectation that they can afford things that they actually can’t,” says van Vuuren.
While BNPL services claim to be interest-free, the hidden costs are stitched quietly beneath the fabric of a soft cotton blouse or the travel tickets to a beachy holiday in Cape Town – penalties and mounting charges that only reveal themselves after the fact, turning an interest-free purchase into a costly debt.
Before clicking the shiny, appealing button that says, “Pay Later” consider this: what are you really delaying – the cost, or the consequence?
Professor van Vuuren’s advice remains clear: “Make sure that you know the conditions of these contracts.”
While BNPL may seem harmless or even helpful, sometimes reading the fine print is what may save you from a financial trap.
FEATURED IMAGE: Image of online purchase being made with Paylex option and logos of various BNPL services. Photo: Nthabeleng Phayane
A new generation of creators is learning to dance with the machine, one pixel at a time.
Major African festival, AVIJOZI, focused on the intersection of creativity and technology, highlighting the best of film production, animation, visual effects, and gaming.
AI technology should not replace artistry or creativity but should assist in shaping the future of African creatives and professionals.
Some artists are already using AI to finetune workflows and accelerate production.
As filmmakers, animators, and VFX artists gathered at AVIJOZI 2025, they weren’t just discussing new software, they grappled with a new creative partner: Artificial Intelligence (AI). Hosted on September 13 -14, in Hyde Park, digital art flickered across massive screens as the next great animated film was being dreamed up, a creative revolution underway. AVIJOZI wasn’t just another festival; it was a front-row seat to the future, where the line between creator and code is blurring.
VFX Specialist & Head of Innovation at Digital District, Nicolas Erba Photo: Katlego Makhutle
Nicolas Erba, the Head of Innovation at Paris-based Digital District, approaches technology with a pragmatic, forward-thinking mindset. Erba acknowledged the technical and conceptual challenges of integrating AI by noting that AI-generated images are often not “natively ready” for high-end production, citing issues with resolutions that are “too small for cinema” and difficulties with colour grading. He also pointed to a more abstract hurdle – AI introduces “completely new” concepts that are unfamiliar to many artists. His daily work involves overseeing tech monitoring, a process he described as scouting for and selecting new, production-ready AI technologies to “level up” the company’s existing pipeline.
Despite the complexities of AI in VFX work, he sees AI as a critical tool for automating repetitive tasks. Erba cites rotoscoping as a prime example, a manual tracing process that once took a human two days, can now be completed by AI in just ten minutes. The South African Cultural Observatory (SACO) reported that 68% of creative professionals surveyed were excited by the advent of AI. A similar percentage of 70% was already using AI tools in their daily work. Erba firmly believes that the future of the industry lies in a “hybrid workflow” that blends traditional techniques with AI, asserting that the true threat to artists is not AI itself, but rather other artists who embrace the technology to gain a competitive edge. “I don’t think that graphics artists are going to be replaced by the AI itself but some of them might be replaced by others using AI,” Erba said.
Senior lecturer at Wits University’s School of Architecture and Planning, Dr. Sechaba Maape, facilitated a workshop at AVIJOZI on demystifying AI and incorporating cultural intelligence. He believes this element is crucial for anyone using AI to create creative work about African people and places. Maape is an architect, urban designer, and founder of Afreetekture, a cultural consultancy that focuses on shifting the discipline of architecture and in the digital age. “Cultural intelligence is really for me about understanding the nuances of culture, how culture circulates, you know, like how culture frames meaning,” he said.
Maape challenged the simplistic, often stereotypical portrayals of Africa that persist online by developing AI models that explore the nuances of South Africa’s multicultural society. “We don’t have flies flying around our mouth. We are self-actualised,” Maape said.
Maape’s core concern is that if AI is trained on biased data, it will perpetuate stereotypes. “What I’m more worried about with AI than anything else, is that if you think about the pictures that have been taken that are supposed to be about Africa on the internet…I can bet you anything that it’s going to be a massive difference between those pictures and your day-to-day life,” he said. He said a person who only knows South Africa through online media might create a video game heavily focused on crime and fail to capture the everyday reality and cultural richness of places like Johannesburg. For Maape, cultural intelligence is about the human user’s ability to discern and understand the nuances of a culture, how it circulates, and how it frames meaning.
Lauren Fletcher, Audiovisual Project Manager at the French Institute of South Africa (IFAS), is focused on a similar and crucial facet of the AI discussion: empowering a new generation of creators. Her role involves fostering partnerships between French and South African professionals, such as the one between Erba’s Digital District and AVIJOZI partner and visual effects studio, Chocolate Tribe. Fletcher cautioned against the misconception that one can simply “chug in a few words and have a video come out”. Fletcher emphatically said: “If you’re not doing the work, the research, creating your own images to put into the different AI programmes, [then] you’re going to get really poor results.”
This belief is a core part of the Unrecorded Voices project, in which 12 South African digital artists used AI to create work with historical context: proving that research, authenticity, and creativity are what truly make a project impactful. Fletcher said that AI technology should be a layer built on a foundation of human creativity, not the other way around. Fletcher and her team are in the midst of a three-phase project that explores the impact of AI on the audiovisual sector, with the goal of creating connections and opportunities for local talent.
The festival brought together professionals in gaming, animation, film, and special effects to share insights, build capacity and bridge the gap between creativity and technology. The question is no longer “Will AI replace us?” but rather, “What can we create with it?” It is through the lens of cultural intelligence and artistic ingenuity that AI’s true potential can be unlocked, proving that its greatest purpose is to enhance and not diminish the human element of creative storytelling.
FEATURED IMAGE: A collage of photos taken at the AviJozi festival on September 13 and 14, 2025. Photo: Katlego Makhutle
A new amendment to the National Credit Act could see students with debt blacklisted as soon as they graduate.
On August 13, 2025, the Minister of Trade and Industry, Parks Tau, submitted draft amendments to the National Credit Act, proposing that educational institutions may report student debt to credit bureaus. If passed, this would mean that graduates could be blacklisted for their debt. Public comment is open until September 12, 2025.
At first glance, this policy looks like accountability. But in reality, it is yet another tool that widens South Africa’s already staggering inequality gap. For wealthy families, paying university fees is not a burden. For the poor, especially the Black majority, it is another chain tying us down.
South Africa is already split in two: those who have, and those who struggle to survive. Instead of building bridges, the ruling party seems determined to burn them down, shutting off access and any chance to ever cross that bridge. The Afircan National Congress continues to oppress young people, creating more obstacles than opportunities. Instead of uplifting us, they are burying us deeper under the weight of policies that do not understand our lived realities.
Not every student has parents who can afford fees for tertiary education. Those who manage through bursaries and student loans, then graduate into an economy that demands work experience for jobs, while internships often pay next to nothing. The lucky few who evade unemployment through entry-level jobs can earn as little as R5000 a month. How must that cover rent, food, transport, and other essentials, and still stretch to settle student debt?
This amendment doesn’t simply manage debt, it weaponises it. It tells young South Africans that their dreams of education come with a punishment clause. That, unless you are privileged, your qualification is a curse that follows you into every financial decision, from applying for a job to renting a flat.
Are our leaders truly this blind? Or are they deliberately working against the success of young South Africans? Each new barrier makes it harder to believe they care.
But we are not powerless. The public has until September 12, 2025, to oppose this amendment. Send your comments to credit@thedtic.gov.za
Raise your voice, share your story, and remind those in power that the future of this country depends on its youth.
To the politicians who continue to oppress us: we will meet you at the ballot box.
Loading Kudu Bucks onto student cards is still a daily struggle at Wits University.
Terminals on East and West Campus are faulty.
Students insert banknotes into the machines, only to have the money disappear without the corresponding credit being loaded onto their accounts.
Others report that the machines outright reject their notes, leaving them unable to top up their balances at crucial moments whether to print or book a consultation at Campus Heath.
The issue has become a familiar and frustrating cycle.
This systemic failure has created a trail of lost funds, forcing students to either go without essential services or spend more money to get their tasks done.
Technical Security Solutions (TSS) management has attributed this to an aging access control system that is slowly being updated, hence their intermittent functionality.
FEATURED IMAGE: Faulty Kudu Bucks terminal on West Campus. Photo: Lukholo Mazibuko
South Africa is clearly unwell, and it is our duty as her citizens to demand treatment before it’s too late.
As of April 2025, the new South Africa is officially 31 years old. She is the answer to our forebearers’ prayers, the jewel in Africa’s crown and home to the genesis of humanity. However, it would be nearly impossible to expect her to be fine when her daughters are dying on the regular, the multicultural colours of her rainbow are dull and her leaders decide to pimp her out.
In a perfect world, we as citizens elect leaders we believe are best suited to take care of our country’s health and wellbeing – and in turn our own. Unfortunately, we do not live in a perfect world, and we are impacted by bad decisions made behind closed doors. Decisions that often compound the symptoms of our 31-year-old’s health. Nursing our patient cannot be left to those with access to power alone, we need to be active caretakers too.
Here’s how to tell when your country is under the weather:
In mid June 2025, the Hawks raided South African comedian and Tiktoker Anton Taylor’s home with the signoff of judge C.A Erasmus and the instruction of suspended police minister Senzo Mchunu. This raid was a result of a satirical video Taylor posted in March 2025. Taylor pretended to be a Czech criminal in cahoots with Minister Senzo Mchunu and the police department as a means to continue with his various criminal dealings with no legal repercussions. Taylor’s case was eventually dismissed, however this is a prime example of authoritarianism. The right to freedom of expression is guaranteed under Section 16 of the Constitution. This incident is an alarming symptom because it reflects a government ministers willingness to infringe of the rights of South African citizens because his feelings were hurt by a satirical video.
When she was 11 in 2005, the rand to dollar exchange rate was approximately R6,35 to the dollar. During that time, she had an unemployment rate of 26,5%. Ten years later at 21 in 2015, the rand sat at approximately R12,73 to the dollar. She recorded unemployment rates of 24.5% by the end of the fourth quarter that year. Now at 31, the rand to the dollar exchange rate sits at R 17,87 to the dollar, with an unemployment rate of 33.2% by the second quarter of 2025. The progression of all these figures demonstrate that South Africa is not a strong as she used to be. She is unable to interact with her peers in ways she previously could. She is further weakened by our government officials and entrepreneurs who use her resources to build personal compounds in Nkandla, procure palatial mansions in Constantia and build R12million homes in Waterfall. She is at the mercy of pimps who travel in blue light convoys and routinely sell her to the highest bidder for their gain.
4. She’s a shell of her former self
She does not look or behave like a country that has gold, diamonds, chromium, coal, iron ore, rodium, platinum, palladium and manganese. She does not shine like the stars she’s produced globally in sports, art, fashion and academia. She’s lost her shine and her leaders have no answers for her children.
Through rising unemployment, gender-based violence and poverty statistic we’ve become desensitised to the reality of our situation. In the words of Sir Francis Bacon, “knowledge is power”. Now that you’ve been alerted to the signs of an unhealthy nation, it’s time we act and plan ways to bring her back to vitality like our lives depend on it, because they do.
Wits social work students are working to upskill and inform their patients to facilitate community reintegration.
Patients cannot afford to travel to free governmental skills development agencies.
Employers discriminate against people with criminal records and recovering addicts.
An addict turned drug counsellor claims it is possible to start afresh.
Patients from Westview drug and alcohol rehabilitation clinic filled Dobsonville’s community hall for a skills and entrepreneurship workshop, on Thursday, August 28. Facilitated by Wits University social work students, these workshops aim to ensure a proper income for drug addicts after rehabilitation.
Wits fourth-year social work student, Karabo Khubelu and her colleagues found that their patients could not afford to travel to free government skills agencies.
As a result, patients had difficulties making ends meet post-rehabilitation. “Most of these patients do not have skills they can use to sustain a living.
“Those who have skills face the same challenges as those without, because many employers discriminate against people with criminal records and recovering addicts,” said Khubelu.
The workshops focused on skills such as using laser machines to make products like pencil boxes, belts and printed t-shirts, and using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to draw up business proposals.
An economic development facilitator from the Gauteng Department of Economic Development, Tsepang Mokgatla encouraged them to register businesses as opportunities are easier to access when one’s papers are in order.
“My job is to help you move your business from where you are to where you want it to be,” he said.
The social workers at Westview included testimonials from recovered addicts in their workshops.
“I am not an addict because I used, I used because I am an addict. I had an obsessive nature since childhood, I should have known I would be obsessed about alcohol and drugs too,” said Keamogetse Molotsi, recovered addict, entrepreneur and registered drug counsellor.
Molotsi’s addiction even led to living on the streets. He woke up one day, in August 2020, after two years of staying in the streets and 11 years of drug abuse and admitted he had a problem and needed help.
He spent six weeks at Dobsonville community development forum and another six weeks at the Westview clinic.
Molotsi managed to turn his life around using the R350 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) Grant. He stocked chicken feet and started a food business.
Through the assistance of free skills and entrepreneurial development services, Molotsi managed to grow his business. From selling chicken feet at a street corner, to a full Shisanyama with four employees.
There are various rehabilitation centres across Johannesburg. If you are struggling with addiction or know someone who is, make use of such services and turn your life around with the help of people who care.
Contact details for some of the above-mentioned rehabilitation centres are found below:
Westview Clinic 082 059 9580
Journey Recovery & Wellness Centre 079 465 4556
Emndeni Rehabilitation Centre 011 934 6137
Addiction Assistance 011 477 0859
FEATURED IMAGE: Philip Ndala, Gauteng regional administrator of the National Youth Development Agency, sharing information about laser machines. Photo: Lulah Mapiye
Since her announcement as the Democratic Alliance’s mayoral candidate for Johannesburg, Helen Zille has dominated national headlines. In this bonus episode of We Should Be Writing podcast, hosts Lulah Mapiye and Bonolo Mokonoto dissect a media meet-and-greet with the mayoral hopeful. From her extensive political résumé to her controversial public utterance, we examine why the Democratic Alliance has chosen Hellen Zille as their candidate for the 2027 local mayoral elections. Additionally, […]
