Latest news with #Joburgers
The Citizen
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
Braam Fashion Week returns with bold designs and Joburg's young talent
Now in its fifth edition, the biannual Braam Fashion Week returns this May. It could be argued that Braamfontein in Johannesburg is a world of its own — a vibrant hub for students from the city's top institutions. It makes sense that a fashion show in Braamfontein is catered for young aspirant designers. 'Braam Fashion Week exists to give young designers, models, and makeup artists a platform to showcase their skills and creativity,' co-founder Phetogo Pule told The Citizen. Pule co-founded the event alongside Thato Mokgawa. Now in its fifth edition, the biannual Braam Fashion Week will take place at the end of May at The Playground in Braamfontein. 'We believe in creating opportunities where there often aren't enough and providing a space where fresh voices can be heard,' said Pule. ALSO READ: Soweto Fashion Week cultivates next wave of trailblazers with autumn/winter 2025 showcase Shining the spotlight on the youth Students studying fashion at institutions such as Villioti will showcase their work at Braam Fashion Week's Winter/Fall edition. 'As well as makeup artists from Face-to-Face West Rand / Roodepoort Beauty School who bring not only their passion but also the technical skills needed to succeed in the industry,' shared Pule. According to the founders, this year's theme, I am fashion, embodies the spirit of individuality and artistry that defines the event. 'The Braam Fashion Week show is open to all Joburgers and celebrates the city's unique fashion culture. The event showcases authentic street style, offering everyone a chance to enjoy and appreciate the creativity and talent that make Johannesburg's fashion scene so special,' shared Mokgawa. The first edition of Braam Fashion Week was in 2023. The organisers say more than 600 people attended, while last year's edition drew just over 400 fashionistas. 'These numbers show that this event truly resonates with the people; it's a platform they connect with, a celebration they see themselves in. This year, we are hoping to keep the same energy,' Mokgawa said. 'Attendees can look forward to an extraordinary showcase of fresh talent, daring designs, and the unique energy that comes from blending fashion with South Africa's thriving music and arts scene. It's a movement, a space where creativity flourishes, and a show that will leave everyone inspired.' There's an entertainment element to the fashion show, with performances by upcoming music artists expected. NOW READ: Get to know Zoalize Jansen van Rensburg, representing Mzansi at Miss World competitions
The Citizen
12-05-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Fast-crumbling Knysna falling behind neighbours George, Plett
What's happening here is no different to what's happening across small-town SA. There's a lot of wealth in these parts – people with generational wealth retire here – and that has helped prop up the rates base. Picture: Supplied Joburgers would feel right at home in Knysna. Main roads are crumbling and littered with potholes (even the N2 which runs through the town), although to be fair, these aren't quite the craters we're used to in Gauteng. Burst water pipes are dug up, repaired, and craters simply left. Joburg Water would be proud! Signs at Airbnbs and hotels across the city warn guests about 'irregular' water pressure due to 'water infrastructure upgrades'. Yeah, right. Refuse collection under the ANC coalition-led council is erratic, with regular backlogs. The centre of town is grimy and unkempt, albeit litter-free. At least the mountain of trash mere blocks from the municipal offices is gone. One of the main arteries in the town, George Rex Drive – which heads out towards the industrial area, Life Healthcare private hospital, the world-famous Heads, and Pezula Golf Estate – is quite literally crumbling into the estuary. ALSO READ: These are the 5 worst municipalities currently under administration Instead of capital investment into traffic lights at the intersection of the N2, which was desperately needed decades ago, vehicles from all directions are stuck in perpetual traffic all day long. At peak hours, the city places a traffic officer to direct traffic at the intersection. Over holiday periods they are stationed there all day long. It's easier to pay salaries than it is to trench some cables and erect four poles … What's happening in Knysna is no different to what's happening across small-town South Africa. In fact, the remarkable thing is that it's taken this long for this small town to start crumbling. ALSO READ: 149 municipalities are R1.4 billion in arrears on their pension fund payments Here's how it goes … It's the same pattern. A shrinking ratepayer base, exploding population, poor (or mostly zero) maintenance of infrastructure, declining capital investment and corruption. Add to this a growing number of households that are self-providing (particularly electricity, via solar), or, more correctly, being forced to. Those with the means, and in this region there are tons, are shifting off grid. Boreholes and bottled drinking water (practically every supermarket in Knysna has a refill station) mean residents don't need to (read: can't) rely on municipal supply of water either. Knysna has perhaps been more insulated than most. There is a lot of wealth in these parts, and that has helped prop up the rates base. Thesen Island, Simola and Pezula properties aren't cheap. People with generational wealth retire here. Even today, the potholed streets are filled with the latest electric Volvo, Mercedes and Jaguar SUVs. ALSO READ: Mashatile: How national government is aiming to reform local municipalities Connectivity to Joburg and Cape Town has been helped by the George Airport and general growth in the Garden Route region. George is booming, and so too is Plettenberg Bay. Both are spotless, in stark contrast to Knysna, and even the neat Wilderness village outside of George is noticeably busier than it ought to be, with both tourists and construction. There are clear infrastructure upgrades taking place – the only spot in this area that boasts freshly painted road markings, including perfect stop streets. That's the real danger for Knysna. It is bordered by two DA-led municipalities, George and Bitou (Plett), which are delivering services. George is being bolstered, too, by the explosion in lifestyle estates being developed on its outskirts. ALSO READ: Distressed municipalities spent less than 4% of budget on maintenance — Cogta Property and prospects Capital is fleeting. It will stay; until it leaves. You'd be very brave to invest in fixed property in Knysna Central today, even as Cape-based developers have begun taking advantage of what could euphemistically be called 'depressed' property prices. (You'd be braver still to invest on Leisure Isle, which may or may not be accessible via a causeway, or indeed half under water, in a decade's time.) In reality, a purchase in George would be far more sensible. Still, Knysna is nowhere near too far gone to be turned around (it is not nearly as bad, nor as complicated as Joburg, for example). Private sector investment continues. An enormous brand-new flagship Food Lovers Market has just opened on the water's edge and developers are building a new convenience centre near the mall to be anchored by a new Checkers FreshX format store. A string of new car dealerships for VW, Nissan, Suzuki, Haval and GWM have opened a stone's throw away from Food Lovers. Knysna remains a pretty big town (it's about a third larger than Plett). ALSO READ: Retired experts could help fix failing municipalities Plus, local government elections loom in 2026 and this seems to have focused the minds of the current administration, on paper at least. In the next financial year, it plans to spend R6 million to buy three compactor trucks to try and fix its refuse removal crisis permanently. (For now, as is the case in most ANC-led administrations, a contractor – no doubt 'connected' – has been appointed to fill the gap. At least the council knows what needs to be fixed (although a 12-year-old would be able to prioritise George Rex Drive). Repairs to this roughly 4km stretch of road will cost a total of R23.5 million over the next three years (perhaps even more, beyond this timeframe). It has allocated a paltry R500 000 in the 2025/26 financial year, and this climbs in later years. An upgrade of Howard Street, which branches off George Rex and leads to the private hospital and the golf club, has R2 million allocated over the medium term. ALSO READ: Hlabisa questions abilities of local government leaders as AG report shows no improvement in municipalities In total, next year's entire capital budget is R160 million. Bulk purchases, mainly electricity, will total around R400 million. But it will spend R365 million on salaries, out of total expenditure of R1.2 billion. There aren't exactly dozens of visible work teams on the road repairing the damage across town. (Motorists have become completely accustomed to dodging collapsing manhole covers, even though each will take a day – max – to be lifted.) The microcosm of Knysna perfectly illustrates the problem across all spheres of government currently, where wages eat up more and more of the budget and tax and ratepayers get less and less for each rand … This article was republished from Moneyweb. Read the original here.
TimesLIVE
30-04-2025
- Automotive
- TimesLIVE
Wrapping up our time with the VW Amarok 2.0 TDI
There is an interesting account on X which showcases the decay and ruin of Johannesburg over the past decade or so. Using Google Earth images 'Jozi vs Jozi' puts the spotlight on how the basics have crumbled: eroding sidewalks, disappearing metal infrastructure, potholes deep enough to bath in and a whole lot more. Depressing — but what else can resilient Joburgers do but keep on keeping on? First of all, you need the right wheels to navigate the wasteland. A low-slung performance hatchback donning low-profiles that look as if they were painted on is just not feasible. You need a bakkie. For the past six months we have been living with the Volkswagen Amarok 2.0 TDI 4x2 manual. The most basic expression of the double-cab that you can buy today. As our time with the hardy German-American draws to an end this week, allow us to reflect on what makes it such a smart pick for pragmatic buyers wanting a steed for business and life's other realities. Noting the German-American descriptor, your right eyebrow may have been raised. In case you forgot, the current, second generation Amarok was born out of a tie-up with Ford. The Amarok is based on the Ranger's ingredients, save for a different cabin and outward execution. Volkswagen has also structured its aftersales assurances package differently, applying a five-year/100,000km maintenance plan to the Amarok range, where Ford has unbundled its offerings, giving buyers the option to pay extra for service or maintenance contracts. In our fifth update exploring running costs of the vehicle, we learnt that Volkswagen offers a maintenance plan extension to 15 years or 300,000km at the cost of R210,608. Like the Ranger, the Amarok is built in Silverton, Tshwane. Our tester carries a list price of R664,400 and is almost entirely standard, save for the fitment of a roller-shutter cover for the load area. Yes, you can tell it is the base model, from its black bumpers and trim, dark fabric upholstery and rubberised floors. It lacks the garnishes, but the essentials are present: cruise control, an eight-inch digital instrument cluster, 10-inch infotainment system, reverse camera and what might be the frostiest air-conditioner this scribe has ever encountered in a pickup. Gripes over the 10,000km test period were minor. Referring back to the logbook notes, they include: lower front seat bolsters that snag the thighs on entry, the lack of physical buttons for climate control temperature and fan speed (which the Ranger has); and the omission of sidesteps. The robust, sturdy feel of the Amarok left a positive impression during each stint behind the wheel. The six-speed manual, with its chunky weighting and direct pattern, is a tactile treat to operate. The clutch has a low biting point, but smooth take-offs are easily initiated once you get the hang of it. As with the Ranger, the Amarok has a layer of polish versus rivals — even though this is the base, workhorse model, it feels less agricultural than its peers. We previously ran a Ranger with the same 125kW/405Nm engine in our long-term fleet, but that was equipped with the 10-speed automatic. A benefit of the manual is lower fuel consumption: the Amarok has settled at about an average of 7.4l/100km, compared to figures in the 8l/100km region returned by the two-pedal Ford. Of course, some may feel the convenience of a self-shifter brings a fair trade-off. The longest trek in our Amarok was a December journey from Johannesburg to Cape Town, then back via Gqeberha. Those open-road sessions saw consumption drop down into the area of 6l/100km. Psychologically, the lack of 4x4 capability had me doubtful at first. But over the past six months, there were no occasions where four-wheel drive was really needed — especially with a locking differential to help negotiate some of those more technical off-road ruts, particularly after rainfall. For the average urban-dweller who might venture away from the beaten path once monthly, if at all, 4x2 is perfectly fine. With 237mm of ground clearance and an 800mm wading depth, the Amarok 2.0 TDI can hold its own in the natural environment. At our recent Gerotek session, the simulation of the suspension track affirmed the well-sorted ride quality, aided by plump 255/70 tyres wrapping five-spoke 17-inch alloys. And even after this torture test, the cabin remained rattle-free. Not something we could have said about our old Ranger long-termer — regular readers may remember that it suffered from crystallised paint inside the B-pillars, a manufacturing fault. The enhanced build quality attests to ongoing development of the series and production process refinements. But like the Ranger, the Amarok is an easy product to recommend. The base model embodies an honest, simple nature that is refreshing, in contrast with expensive and over-the-top iterations in the leisure double-cab market. ODOMETER ON DELIVERY: 1,400km CURRENT ODOMETER: 9,100km PARTING WORDS: Sans shiny alloys, a garish paint job, extensive cladding and a six-cylinder engine, this is an unpretentious, well-built bakkie that will get the job done. NEW LIST PRICE: R664,400
IOL News
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Musical and cultural spectacles: don't miss these top events in Joburg
Hip hop star A-Reece will perform at this weekend's #ZKHIPHANI16YRS music festival. Image: X Joburgers are in for a musical and cultural extravaganza this weekend at the highly anticipated #ZKHIPHANI16YRS festival. The gathering, which was founded in 2009, is known to reflect Mzansi's urban youth culture and incorporates the latest trends in unique fashion mercy, music and art. Expect Zkhiphani over two days to feature top collaborators, DJs and changemakers, while Uncle Partytime's Playroom will showcase electrifying DJ sets and performances. Plus, the "Sobering Podcast" panel conversation, which features special guests. Other artists include A-Reece, Usimamane, Khuli Chana, Maglera Doe Boy's ONDE Live, TDK Macasette and Success SA. Where: 1Fox in Ferreiras Dorp. When: Saturday, April 5, and Sunday, April 6. Doors open at 11am on both days. Juan Boucher will perform at "Oos Wes, Tuis Bes' at Carnival City Casino. Image: X
