Mbali Mbatha

The new month is here, so why not kick it off with something good to eat? October brings a fresh batch of restaurant specials across the city, with deals covering everything from weekday lunches and date nights to steak, beer and pizza. Sometimes all it takes is a good deal to turn an ordinary meal into an excuse to go out.  Here are the spots serving up good food and good deals.  NB: Please note that these specials can change from time to time, and we have no control over if/when they do. We will do our best to keep the list as up to date as possible. Follow Time Out Johannesburg on Facebook, TikTok and Instagram! While you're at it, sign up for our newsletter to receive even more of the best of your city. TIME OUT JOHANNESBURG RECOMMENDS: 📍 The best things to do in Johannesburg🏨 The best hotels in Johannesburg🍽 The best restaurants in Johannesburg🛏️ Where to stay in Johannesburg📢 Latest news from Johannesburg

Annually on Heritage Day, 24 September, South Africans across the country and wherever they might be in the world gather to celebrate the diversity that gave them the name Rainbow Nation. Undeniably, there are still divisions, economic disparities and certain levels of intolerance among this diverse nation’s multicultural identities; and there are parts of our history that continue to linger even as we try to cultivate unity. However, South Africa has come a long way and whether remembering where we come from means attending a major event to discover new kindred spirits, or an intimate gathering with old friends whose many years of being present have impacted your heritage, Heritage Day is a time to reflect, remember and refurbish our love for this country and this nation. Here are some of the events happening around Johannesburg to commemorate Heritage Day. RECOMMENDED 📍 The best things to do in Johannesburg🛏️ Where to stay in Johannesburg🏨 The best hotels in Johannesburg🍽 The best restaurants in Johannesburg🍺 The best pubs and bars in Johannesburg Follow Time Out Johannesburg on Facebook, TikTok and Instagram!

We’ve all done the balloons, cake and themed party for our birthdays, but what if you could gather your squad for cooking lessons at a professional kitchen, complete with a chef. Well, if you’re looking for a different kind of celebration where everyone gets their hands dirty, works as a team and ends the day by enjoying a meal that you’ve all prepared as a collective, these Johannesburg establishments host birthday cooking lessons. RECOMMENDED 📍 The best things to do in Johannesburg🛏️ Where to stay in Johannesburg🏨 The best hotels in Johannesburg🍽 The best restaurants in Johannesburg🍺 The best pubs and bars in Johannesburg Follow Time Out Johannesburg on Facebook, TikTok and Instagram!

23 September marks the end of Term 3 for school-going children. While they lament September holidays being a tad short, this is an exciting time for our little ones because this break is perfectly timed. Falling in the spring season, this time out from school happens when the flowers are blooming and the sun is out, enabling them to go out, play and live their best lives. There are a lot of exciting activities for children to enjoy these September holidays and, as parents, it’s our responsibility to ensure that they spend as much time out in the sun as possible. Follow Time Out Johannesburg on Facebook, TikTok and Instagram! While you're at it, sign up for our newsletter to receive even more of the best of your city. TIME OUT JOHANNESBURG RECOMMENDS: 📍 The best things to do in Johannesburg🏨 The best hotels in Johannesburg🍽 The best restaurants in Johannesburg🛏️ Where to stay in Johannesburg📢 Latest news from Johannesburg

The recent announcements of former White Stripes member Jack White and iconic 1990s hip-hop outfit Slum Village’s South African performances prove yet again that Mzansi continues to be the performance venue of choice for international acts. Earlier this year Gunna, Bryan Adams, Doja Cat, UB 40, Boyz II Men and various other global superstars blessed their South African fans with their internationally acclaimed talent. South African pop star Tyla even made a brief appearance at Gold Reef City, teasing fans before her SA tour next January. Netherlands punk rock band Wasted Youth Club is in Mzansi as we speak and has already performed in Cape Town, with their last show due to take place in Soweto on 12 September. The weather is becoming friendlier, so here are a few international headliners who are expected to touch down on SA soil before the end of 2026. Follow Time Out Johannesburg on Facebook, TikTok and Instagram! While you're at it, sign up for our newsletter to receive even more of the best of your city. TIME OUT JOHANNESBURG RECOMMENDS: 📍 The best things to do in Johannesburg🏨 The best hotels in Johannesburg🍽 The best restaurants in Johannesburg🛏️ Where to stay in Johannesburg📢 Latest news from Johannesburg

This September, there’s a selection of places where you can braai around Johannesburg if you don’t feel like doing so at home. Wherever you go in the world, if a South African is in the midst a braai is inevitable and this has been one of the ways in which South Africans celebrate Heritage Month.  To be honest though, the people of Mzansi don’t need a reason to braai.   Whether it’s someone’s birthday, graduation, a random Saturday afternoon of just hanging out with friends or the family cook doesn’t feel like tackling the pots, South Africans will find any excuse to braai. Follow Time Out Johannesburg on Facebook, TikTok and Instagram! RECOMMENDED 📍 The best things to do in Johannesburg🛏️ Where to stay in Johannesburg🏨 The best hotels in Johannesburg🍽 The best restaurants in Johannesburg🍺 The best pubs and bars in Johannesburg  Mbali Mbatha is a former actress and award-winning cultural journalist who weaves her industry experience and social activism into her reporting. Her distinct approach has earned deep respect from industry icons. Grammy Award winner Zakes Bantwini noted that her technical line of questioning sets her completely apart from typical entertainment reporting.   Furthermore, US-based South African academic and music industry executive Dr Sipho Sithole commended Mbatha for what he called “a voice the industry has been missing for a long time from Black entertainment reporters.” Similarly, legendary playwright JohnKani was so impressed by her coverage

If you relish the Asian delicacy that is sushi, you will love these Johannesburg joints that serve your palate with sushi buffets. Food prices in present-day South Africa are ridiculously high, making “all-you-can-eat sushi” a great option if you want to eat out without draining your bank account. Follow Time Out Johannesburg on Facebook, TikTok and Instagram! While you're at it, sign up for our newsletter to receive even more of the best of your city. TIME OUT JOHANNESBURG RECOMMENDS: 📍 The best things to do in Johannesburg🏨 The best hotels in Johannesburg🍽 The best restaurants in Johannesburg🛏️ Where to stay in Johannesburg📢 Latest news from Johannesburg

The venue   First of all, people sometimes exaggerate when trying to convince you to visit their homes so I was really interested in this “concealed door that leads to a secret bookshelf.” Behold, they didn’t lie!    I noticed the door that didn’t really look like a door, ascended the stairs and found myself inside a bookshelf!    View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Library Food Club (@thelibraryfoodclub) The restaurant is actually down a different flight of stairs that you are led to upon entering the bookshelf but for a few minutes I was tempted to rummage through the shelf and escape into the adventure that is literature.    The bookshelf could have easily been inside grandma’s house because the vibe is warm and homely with milk cartoons, rusk containers and vintage furniture.    The food   The guests definitely felt at home because I was flying solo but I was not starved of company as everyone was happy to chat and get to know each other.    They started us off with a liver pâté which is a really smooth paste, not a choking hazard and just waltzes gracefully down your throat. Next was the salmon and beetroot that were each accompanied by a really flexible and bendy bread called a buckwheat pancake.   I’m a South African so beetroot for me is always infused in vinegar but I liked this interesting, salty take.    @goabspaledi the library food club. #fyp ♬ original sound - Goabs Paledi

In 2024, South Africa’s cinema culture was redefined by the introduction of Throwback Cinema. The Ster-Kinekor initiative allows film lovers the opportunity to indulge in nostalgic films for just R50. There are two or three titles every month throughout the year, with each film screening for two weeks from the day of release. While streaming gives you the benefit of feasting on films in the comfort of your home, Throwback Cinema allows you to immerse yourself in the culture by enjoying the film on the big screen, complete with popcorn in a room full of other fans who share similar tastes in film. Here are some of the films on offer this October. The Angry Birds Movie (From 2 October) The Angry Birds Movie, which is a favourite in the gaming community for some reason, is the perfect option for you if you love comedy and animation, and it doesn’t hurt that this one is family-friendly. Daily Dose of Disney, FacebookWalk alongside Red, Bomb and Chuck at Ster Kinekor this October. If you couldn’t get enough of the unexpected visit by mysterious green piggies, revisit the vibrant island life of birds that cannot fly. Walk alongside the temperamental Red, speedy Chuck and volatile Bomb, and find out if the three will become heroes or remain outcasts once they’ve figured out the strangers’ agenda. Watch the trailer here. Marie Antoinette (From 16 October) Love adaptations? Then this collaboration between the United States, France and Japan will most likely tickle your fancy. A youn

The 24 Hour Project is a global street photography initiative that was conceived in New York City in 2012, where photographers from around the world spend 24 hours capturing the human condition in their own cities. How does it work? In 2025, 13 years after the initiative was first launched, the 24 Hour Project finally made it to Johannesburg. Jozi My Jozi in partnership with the Joburg Photowalkers curated Johannesburg’s inaugural team, consisting of 20 photographers who captured a holistic overview of the city from Soweto through Fordsburg and Yeoville all the way to Constitution Hill in Braamfontein. To date, the event has attracted more than 40 000 photographers from over 112 countries across the world. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jozi My Jozi (@jozi_my_jozi) The initiative requires high levels of alertness because from midnight on Saturday 3 October, every single hour for the entire 24 hours, each photographer is required to capture and share one photo. The action unfolds on social media with Instagram being the preferred platform, and the thousands of participating masters of the lens globally use unified global hashtags as well as some that are specific to their cities. Documenting the human side of the City of Gold This year again, Jozi My Jozi invites professional photographers, students, street storytellers and smartphone explorers to join in the action and give the international community an honest and wholesome photographic

For the first time in nearly a decade, Johannesburg will once again feel the thrill as a race that launched in Belgium in the year 2000, and has enjoyed more than 160 editions across 53 countries, makes a return to this city. The Red Bull Box Cart Race returns to Jozi on Sunday, 4 October, where Mzansi’s most gloriously unqualified engineers take over Sandton Drive in homemade carts. The race has not been on Jozi’s tracks since September 2018, although it has been active in other parts of the country, with the most recent race having taken place in Cape Town just two years ago, attracting a crowd of more than 22,000 spectators. The box carts are built from scratch the teams of five will start off with a skit performance at the start line before handing over to a driver and co-driver who will have to navigate their way through various obstacles throughout the course. Red BullBring the whole family for a day of fun in the Sandton sun. There’s no limit to how the racers dress their carts up; the organisers leave this entirely up to the collective thought process of the team members. The team members themselves usually rock matching outfits or present as colourful characters, giving audiences the opportunity to pick their favourites. There are no motors, no batteries and no catapults; all that the drivers have to work with are a working steering wheel and brakes; the rest is up to imagination and the powers that be. The teams are judged on creativity, speed and showmanship. And

New month, new weekend plans. October is kicking off with lots happening around Johannesburg.  Whether you’re in the mood for live jazz, a paint-and-sip session or a food festival, there’s no shortage of things to do in the city this weekend. Put the group chat to work and start making plans. Here are a few ideas for the weekend.  Weekend weather The weather looks a little unpredictable this weekend, with sunshine one minute and clouds or rain the next. Daytime highs of around 17°C should make things fairly comfortable, although the 6°C mornings and evenings will have a definite chill to them. Pack the jacket, grab the umbrella and you should be good to go, with some sunshine still making an appearance over the weekend.  Friday Min: 6 °C Max: 17 °C Weather conditions: Sunny Saturday Min: 8 °C Max: 15 °C Weather conditions: Cloudy Sunday  Min: 8 °C Max: 14 °C Weather conditions: Rainy Johannesburg North VIVA – A Vegas Magic Show Friday 2 October, 8pm Location: Hotel Sky, Sandton Cost: R180 via Quicket Put your usual Friday plans on pause and let someone else handle the impossible for a change. VIVA – A Vegas Magic Show turns up the Vegas glamour in Sandton, with Brendon Peel and Li Lau serving up a mix of illusions, daring escapes, mind-reading and comedy. Having appeared on Britain’s Got Talent and Penn & Teller: Fool Us, the pair know their way around a magic trick or two. You won’t just be watching from your seat either, with audience participation built into the sh

October is Senior Citizens Month in Mzansi and to celebrate our older and wiser citizens, Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo (JCPZ) is offering them free access to the Johannesburg Zoo from 1 to 31 October. This is to honour senior citizens for their contributions to families and communities while providing opportunities to reconnect with nature and bond with family and friends in a relaxed outdoor environment. Notwithstanding climate change, Johannesburg’s October weather makes it the perfect time to see their favourite animals without the risk of family elders catching a cold or other infections that are prevalent in winter. Additionally, the "R22 on the 22nd" special is still ongoing, making the zoo even more accessible to the entire family at an affordable price on that day.  Joburg Zoo Facebook pageRhinos, lions, zebras and all of grandma and grandpa's favourite animals can be seen for free at the Joburg Zoo this Senior Citizens' month. “Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo is committed to ensuring that every resident has the opportunity, at least once in their lifetime, to experience the wonder of seeing a lion or an elephant in a safe, protected setting. “This Senior Citizens Month, we invite our older residents to enjoy the zoo at their own pace, reconnect with nature and create treasured memories with their grandchildren,” said JCPZ Managing Director, Thanduxolo Mendrew. What adds another special layer to October is JCPZ’s invitation to senior citizens to a special celebra

Presented by Wholesome Women (WW), GLOW was initially supposed to take place over a single session; however, due to high demand, the fitness gathering has been extended to two sessions. Last year’s sold-out inaugural session was equally successful, attracting 250 women to what the organisers describe as an immersive celebration of modern womanhood. These will take place at the Fourways Mall Centre Court on Saturday, 3 October, with the first session kicking off at 9:00 AM and the second taking place at 4:00 PM. Wholesome WomenAfter a good work-out session, get you a massage! GLOW is the intersection where movement, wellness, beauty, nutrition, personal growth and meaningful connection meet, amplifying the confidence of women and helping them become the best versions of themselves. These are all woven into GLOW’s five pillars of move, align, fuel, glow and connect. WW co-founder Tamaryn Nicholson said, “GLOW is about creating an experience rather than simply another event. We want women to walk away feeling like they have moved their bodies, filled their cups, learnt something new, connected with other women and, most importantly, had a genuinely great time.” Her co-founder, Shantal Moeko, emphasised that adding a second session to the event meant that the experience could be made accessible to more women. The resounding response to GLOW prompted WW to expand to Durban in June this year, transforming the movement into a national women’s wellness platform. View

Media, the tourism industry and other stakeholders convened at the Rosemary Hill Farm towards the end of Tourism Month, where the question, "How affordable is it to travel South Africa?" was cast under the spotlight. The beauty of SA deserves to be explored Beyond South African cities are beaches, food, culture, sporting spectaculars and other Instagrammable locations that the average South African sees on television and longs to experience firsthand. The affordability question becomes critical in a country like Mzansi, which boasts a wide selection of heritage, nature and hidden local gems that the citizens of this country almost have a birthright to explore. At the roundtable, head of SAT Mashoto Mokgethi revealed that only 11% of South Africans plan and budget for their trips, making it critical to encourage more domestic travellers to budget, plan and book ahead. The panellists also unpacked how to save on a budget, close-to-home travel as well as how AI and social media are changing how South Africans plan their trips. SA TourismHead of domestic tourism Mashoto Mokgethi says more travellers must be encouraged to budget, plan and book ahead. The choice between domestic travel and international travel was also discussed, with more focus placed on whether South Africans fully understood the available experiences, value and possibilities that their own country has to offer. "Our initiatives are aimed at affordability. Travel Week encourages people to plan and budget for th

Johannesburg Pride organisers Pride of Africa understood the “go big or go home” assignment, and their response is to weave dialogue, fashion and storytelling into the celebration of gay pride. From rooftop cocktails to an inner-city party, an empowerment summit and an evening of queer creative expression at the Queer Met, the colourful community’s visibility is going to reverberate throughout Johannesburg. Here are some of the pre-Joburg Pride events to add colour to your life ahead of the main affair: Pride of Africa × Rush: Pride Month Kick-off There’s no better way to usher in Pride Month than with cocktails, especially given that this time of year is affectionately known as Queer Christmas. And so, in partnership with fluid nightlife and party brand Rush, Pride Africa is assembling the community on the rooftop at Level 3 on 3 October for a pink drink or three. Because this venue is a feel-good, safe space, this event promises to set the tone for the month ahead, giving guests the opportunity to hang out with old friends while also making new connections. SECRT Venue: The All-White Party Just seven days later on 10 October, the celebrations invade Johannesburg’s inner city at Carvo Lounge. Johannesburg Pride Facebook pageBrace yourselves for a colourful October as Johannesburg Pride takes over the inner city this month From midday until late, community members draped in the colour of peace, newness and calm will convene for a joyous occasion that everyone can be proud

A total of 120 local and international artists and DJs are gearing up to share six stages at the Wild Waters Complex in Boksburg for this year’s Ekurhuleni Spring Fiesta on 3 October. Whether your flavour is house, hip hop, amapiano, deep house or AfroTech, there’s a tireless dancefloor for you at this musically cross-genre event that has serviced the palates of various music lovers for 16 years. From art installations to surprise pop-ups and a host of local food trucks, the Spring Fiesta is a holistic cultural convention. This year’s artist line-up lives up to the standard that fans have become accustomed to, boasting A-list artists like Msaki, Sun-El Musician, DJ Zinhle, Zee Nxumalo, Vinny Da Vinci, DJ Christos and many others. Tutone CommunicationsVinni Da Vinci is back at the Ekurhuleni Spring Fiesta this weekend! Head of Talent Zane Gulston said over and above the stellar artist line-up, the most important element of the Spring Fiesta was the people who have been rolling with the event since the beginning. More than a decade later, the event remains committed to continuing to push boundaries, creating unforgettable moments and bringing people together through music. “This year, we’re celebrating where we’ve come from while turning the volume all the way up for what’s next. The line-up is insane, the energy is unmatched and we’re ready to make this one for the books. Let’s go!” Gulston said. DJ Zinhle Facebook GroupDJ Zinhle is part of this year's Ekurhuleni Spring Fie

Pioneering Afro-house DJ Oskido (Oscar Mdlongwa) is going bigger and better with the third edition of his annual birthday celebration. This year Oskido is bringing the Durban’s Finest duo, DJs Tira (Mthokozisi Khathi) and Sox (Mbusi Sokhela) alongside one of Mzansi’s first female DJs, DJ Cndo (Sindisiwe Zungu). The event is still being hosted at Huddle Park in Linksfield, with the 2026 edition taking place on 28 November. Kwaito, house and gqom collide Dubbed Oskido’s Big Day Out, the event completely sold out during its inaugural edition in 2024 and went on to do the same thing last year. The addition of Cndo and Durban’s Finest brings the KwaZulu-Natal city’s dance-music legacy and undeniable influence on South Africa’s overall entertainment scene spanning three decades. Tutone CommunicationsDJ Tira brings Durban flair and qgom flavour to Oskido's Big Day Out this year. Their presence seamlessly syncs with Oskido’s own legendary status as this is the city that birthed and coined the iconic Gqom era which evolved from Kwaito, producing hitmakers like Big Nuz, DJ Lag, Babes Wodumo, Dlala Thukzin and many others. Oskido is not only a pioneering Afro-house DJ but he comes from the generation of cultural architects who shaped this country’s musical and overall entertainment landscape. His contributions even earned him the title the “Godfather" of South African dance music. The third Big Day Out promises to amplify what has become Oskido’s signature assembly of established pion

Instead of a traditional listening session, Langa Mavuso launched his latest album Therapy: The Other Side with a spectacular delivery of acting, poetry and prose accompanied by his award-winning musicality.  South Africans across the country are about to experience Langa at his most raw, yet more seasoned both personally and musically as The Other Side is going on a national tour. The tour kicks off this Friday with an invite-only event at a secret rendezvous in partnership with Stella Artois.  Langa Mavuso’s raw emotions The tear-jerking performance at the Market Theatre, presented as a therapy session, was a fitting return to the public eye for Langa who had taken time off to grieve following the loss of his partner, Chef Lentswe Bhengu-Mafoko in 2023. Having gone through what he calls the soul-bearing experience of creating the album, Langa says it took him a year to embark on the tour because he had to sit through the fire that his life had erupted into, allow himself to feel the burn, reflect and feel it. This reminds me of the Market Theatre's former CEO Gita Pather who taught me Critical Thinking, and how she used to emphasise the critical step of sitting with the uncomfortable emotions instead of trying to go around them. “The Market Theatre performance for me was kind of the beginning of coming to the acceptance of what has become my reality; of what once was and what is no longer there.” CSA GlobalWe all have our journeys with grief and Langa Mavuso is ready to s

This October, just two months after winning Outstanding Art Gallery Award at this year’s National Arts and Culture Awards (NACA), Gallery MOMO is taking the works of two of Mzansi’s most exceptional artists to the Atlanta Art Fair 2026 in the USA.  Fhatuwani Mukheli and Blessing Blaai said while they have never collaborated with each other in the traditional sense, the exhibition taking place from 1 to 4 October will not be the first time that their works have been presented together.  In August, their works were presented simultaneously at the FNB Art Fair in Sandton, and four months earlier in April, Gallery MOMO facilitated the presentation of their joint works at the EXPO CHICAGO.  “Another aspect of our work being in the same booth is that it’s almost like a collaboration. because the work kind of feeds off each other,” Fatuwani explained. Kwathole ConexionFhatuwani Mukheli is as excited as he is grateful to be flying the South African flag in the USA next month. Fatuwani is a versatile artist with tentacles in painting, photography and film. Like many other South African artists whose backgrounds inform how their creativity presents itself, Fatuwani’s Venda heritage is women into his award winning works.  Blessing is a professionally trained painting, drawing and printmaking artist whose creativity is spread across oil, acrylic, watercolour, ink and mixed media.  His solo exhibition at Gallery MOMO in August titled Surrogate Emotions examined how memory, environment a