Are you curious about Hillbrow but concerned about its reputation? Want to travel through Africa without setting foot in O.R. Tambo or trace the hidden river running through Joburg? This year's #JoziMyJoziWalks takes you from iconic landmarks and historic neighbourhoods to natural landscapes and creative hubs. Led by local champions, these guided walks are a safe, engaging, and community-driven way to explore the city on foot.
"Johannesburg is a city of constant reinvention. Buildings, businesses, and communities here are never static – they’re always being made and remade." – Cultural strategist, Vicky Ross
Among the 2025 submissions, a few themes ring out loud and clear: community remains Joburg’s heartbeat, with neighbourhoods alive with the everyday magic of connection and support. Creativity fuels the city through art, music, and culture, while food tells its diverse story. Even in tough times, resilience shines through activism and art, and green shoots of sustainability – from urban farms to clean water projects – prove Joburg is as inventive at surviving as it is at celebrating.
Jozi My Jozi Walks is part of a programme of walks celebrating World Tourism Day. This initiative is led by Jozi My Jozi in collaboration with Johannesburg In Your Pocket and Gauteng Tourism.
Neighbourhood champions: Get to know a few of this year's hosts
Photo: Johannesburg In Your Pocket.
Ahead of the Jozi My Jozi Walks weekend on Sat, Sep 27 and Sun, Sep 28, 2025 we caught up with some of the hosts to find out what inspired their tours and what makes the neighbourhoods they're championing interesting and unusual. Find out more about the walks here and book your tickets here.
Josephine Katumba: Alex Unpacked
On Sat, Sep 27 from 10:30 – 12:30, entrepreneur Josephine Katumba guides an exploration of Alexandra’s community-embedded outlets created by Gcwalisa that tackle food insecurity and unemployment. Book here.
What’s the story you hope people will walk away with after your neighbourhood tour?
Alexandra is not only a place of challenges but also of innovation, resilience, and dignity. Through Gcwalisa and our partners, people will see how township communities are rewriting the story of food, youth, and sustainability, showing that real solutions come from the ground up.
What’s your connection to the place?
Gcwalisa was born in Alexandra. Our very first outlet opened on Freedom Day, Apr 27, 2022, and today six outlets operate in this township. We work hand-in-hand with local CBOs like Run Alex NPC and Moloko Meals on Wheels, and three of our outlets are run by youth from Alex. This is not just where we work, it’s where our model lives and grows.
What’s a surprising thing someone might learn about Joburg through taking this tour with you?
That in the heart of Joburg’s oldest township, solar panels on Gcwalisa outlets power homes and even traffic lights. That a community-led CBO can run a marathon, a meal programme, and a retail outlet. And that solutions to poverty and climate change are already alive in places often seen only through a lens of struggle.
Three words that describe this neighbourhood.
Dynamic, action-packed, and alive.
Aubrey Moloto: Melville Unlocked
On Sat, Sep 27 from 09:30 – 13:30, meet the makers and taste the flavours that make Melville truly buzz with photographer, writer, and founder of Snaps on 7th, Aubrey Moloto. Book here.
What’s the story you hope people will walk away with after your tour?
That Melville epitomises Joburg's resilience, powered by a community that deeply cares for its neighbourhood, fighting the downs and celebrating the ups together.
What inspired the tour?
The tour wasn't so much inspired as it was fate. Having started a content and media company dedicated to Melville, utterly smitten by the Melville magic, tours were always destined to happen.
What’s your connection to Melville?
I was born at Helen Joseph Hospital and attended Melville Primary School. My older siblings worked at Ratz and Buzz9 during Melville's golden era from 1995 to 2005. I heard countless amazing stories, met incredible people, and felt the magic from a very early age. We left Melville in 2008, and I returned in 2021. The moment I came back, memories flooded in, and I fell in love all over again. It was a full-circle moment that felt like coming home.
What’s a surprising thing someone might learn about Joburg through taking this tour with you?
That genuine community still thrives in this city. People here are incredibly friendly, helpful, and love connecting—not just with each other, but with visitors too. Melville shows you Joburg's soul: neighbours who know each other, businesses that genuinely care about their community, and a place where strangers become friends over coffee.
Three words that describe Melville?
Community, creativity, and resilience.
Cammie Behrens: Brixton – Through the Lens of the Youth
On Sat, Sep 27 from 10:30 – 12:30, experience Brixton through young eyes with skateboards, murals, soccer, and snacks, guided by cultural practitioner Camille Behrens and Shade Community. Book here.
What’s the story you hope people will walk away with after your neighbourhood tour?
We hope that everyone comes away with a different story, something that resonates with them personally because Brixton inspires a variety of dreams.
What inspired the tour?
The youth of Brixton. Our tour is about the bustling streets and hustle of young people creating and mobilising in the area. They’re full of energy and creativity, and their spirit truly defines the heart of the community.
What’s a surprising thing someone might learn about Brixton through taking this tour with you?
Public spaces – parks, pavements, bike lanes and alleys – are all utilised. We make spaces safe by occupying them in caring, conscious and engaging ways.
Abby Sechoaro: Alexandra Unscripted
On Sat, Sep 27, from 14:00 – 16:30, tuck into a proper kasi kota and while learning about Alexandra’s streets, murals, markets, and stories of resilience with township tourism specialist, Abby Sechoaro. Book here.
What’s the story you hope people will walk away with after your tour?
That Alexandra is more than its stereotypes. Too often, the township is spoken about only in terms of struggle, but there is also pride, innovation, music, food, and community that make it unique.
What’s your connection to the place?
I was born and raised in Alex, and my roots here run deep. This isn’t just a tour for me – it’s my home, my community, and my responsibility to tell the story from the inside out.
Three words that describe this neighbourhood?
Resilient, creative, and welcoming.
A person or business in the area you’d highlight — and why?
I’d highlight the Alex Hall of Fame, because it’s a space that celebrates local heroes – from musicians to activists – who made their mark far beyond Alex. It reminds us that greatness starts in small places.
Ufriedo Ho, Fleur Honeywill, and Bronwyn Krige: The Magical Kensignton Moonrise Walk
On Sat, Sep 27 from 18:30 – 21:00, take back the night in Kensington with lanterns, giant puppets, live music, sweeping city views, and G&Ts to keep you glowing. Book here.
What inspired the tour?
Ufriedo Ho: This walk has been taking place every Saturday closest to the full moon since February 2024. It's a village raising an idea and a community taking a leap of faith. We come together to walk at night, howl at the moon, and to be wowed by the view from some of our incredible lookout points. It's about changing minds and shifting perspectives about the suburb we call home.
What do you love about walking in Kensington?
Fleur Honeywill: It's a great experience, but you can start taking it for granted. When you pause, you see the lovely views, the rolling hills, the combination of small wildlife spaces with the urban landscape. The view from Langermann Koppie is the iconic Jozi skyline, yet you are standing in a place of nature – it's home to birds and small creatures. It connects you to the suburb, to nature, and to an urban landscape.
What are some surprising things someone might learn about Kensington through taking this tour with you?
Bronwyn Krige: Kensington is the largest suburb in Joburg. The infamous Foster Gang's hideout was on our koppie. We also have a castle. This suburb is home to people with enormous artistic talent. We are also a community of diverse cultures and religions, and we co-exist.
What’s the story you hope people will walk away with after your tour?
Ufriedo Ho: I hope people leave with some belief that it is possible to take back our night and to take back our city streets... and that they will hold close to them some of the wonder of experiencing a part of the city in her nighttime glory.
Farooq Mangera: Food, Art, and Activism
On Sun, Sep 28 from 10:00 – 12:00, wellness practitioner Faarooq Mangera takes you through the neighborhoods of Fordsburg and Fietas, multiracial communities that were destroyed by apartheid forced removals but remembered today through museums, murals, and community heritage. Book here.
What's your connection to the place – and what inspired your tour?
As a former resident of Fietas, I felt the desire to shed light on the area that I grew up in, which for many years has been left out in important conversations.
What’s the story you hope people will walk away with after your tour?
A deeper understanding of the multi-layered memory of Johannesburg, the pre-apartheid era of dispossession and post-independence migration, as well as the current influential culture of food and communal-migrant connection that continues to grow in Fietas and Fordsburg.
Three words that describe this neighbourhood?
Memory, migration, and mix-masala.
A person or business in the area you’d highlight — and why.
Solly’s Corner is a well-known restaurant that has served Fordsburg with their beloved fish and chips since the 1950s, and has become one of the very few active businesses that survived the political turmoil that led to the demise of many businesses in Fietas and Fordsburg. Notably, Solly’s Corner recently opened a new takeout shop in Norwood, Johannesburg.
Muskaan Malik: Jukskei River Walking Tour
On Sun, Sep 28 from 11:00 – 13:00, climate solutions, community stories, and the city’s watery history come together on a Jukskei River walk with founder of Water for the Future, Romy Stander, along with Muskaan Malik and lead tour guide Nhlanhla Mohlasedi. Book here.
What’s the story you hope people will walk away with after your tour?
That conserving Johannesburg’s green spaces isn’t just about trees and soil – it’s about resilience, jobs, and health. By removing alien invasive species and restoring the almost-extinct Soweto Highveld biome, we’re creating a living, breathing solution to water security for people all over Johannesburg.
What inspired the tour?
“If we fix nature, it will fix us”. Climate change can feel abstract, but a walking tour makes it real. By experiencing the river, the soil, and the restored pocket forests of indigenous plants, people can connect the dots between environmental rehabilitation, community health, and climate resilience. The tour was inspired by the need to break down complex science into lived experiences – to show that fixing nature is the first step toward healing ourselves and our city. At its heart, it’s also about creating safe, green spaces where women and children can gather, play, and thrive. By keeping these areas active and cared for, we reduce crime and reclaim the neighbourhood for the community.
What’s a surprising thing someone might learn about Joburg through taking this tour with you?
That the Jukskei River – starting right here in the heart of Johannesburg, behind places like the Nando’s HQ – eventually flows all the way through to Mozambique and into the Indian Ocean. Inland rivers like this are some of the biggest contributors to ocean pollution, meaning what happens here directly impacts coastlines thousands of kilometres away. Our local green corridor is therefore not just a neighbourhood project – it’s part of a global story of water, climate, and interconnected ecosystems.
Three words that describe this neighbourhood?
Real, gritty, and hopeful.
Lerato Tshabalala: Soweto Art Mile
On Sun, Sep 28 from 14:00 – 16:30, join Project Manager of Eyethu Heritage Hall, Lerato Tshabalala-Mini, on a colourful Soweto tour from Inside-Out Music Jams to Mofolo Art Centre – with food, crafts, music, and history, and cinema. Book here.
What’s your connection to the place?
I manage Eyethu Heritage Hall, which continues the legacy of the famous Eyethu Cinema started by my family.
What inspired the tour?
The deep artistic history of Mofolo Central in Soweto. It has always been a hub for jazz, choirs, theatre, and activism. I wanted to create a walk that celebrates those stories while also supporting local artists and businesses. I want people to see how art, music, and community spirit shaped Mofolo Central and still live strongly today.
What’s a surprising thing someone might learn about Joburg through taking this tour with you?
That Soweto is not only about historical sites like Vilakazi Street, but also full of hidden cultural gems, from Robert Sobukwe’s modest home to vibrant music lounges and community arts spaces that many people don’t know about.
Vicky Ross: Made and Remade
On Sun, Sep 28 from 14:00 – 16:00, roam Braamfontein Werf, discovering how 44 Stanley, Atlas Studios, and The Test Bakery turn industrial pasts into hubs for food, fashion, film, and design. Cultural practitioner Vicky Ross tells us what makes this area special. Book here.
What’s the story you hope people will walk away with after your tour?
That Johannesburg is a city of constant reinvention. Buildings, businesses, and communities here are never static – they’re always being made and remade. Many of the spaces we’ll visit were once neglected and forgotten, yet they’ve been given new life through creativity and care. At a time when Joburg can feel hopeless and broken, this walk is a reminder that change for the better is possible, and that the city’s story is still being written.
What inspired the tour?
I’ve been visiting 44 Stanley since it first opened in 2003, and I’ve been working closely with the precinct for over eight years. This has made me realise how many interesting stories are layered into this neighbourhood. It’s not simply a shopping centre — it’s a precinct rooted in Johannesburg’s history and cultural fabric.
What’s your connection to the place?
It’s been part of my life in many ways — from partying at the old Colour Bar, to dinners with live music at Il Giardino, to Covid-era outdoor concerts with Bongeziwe Mabandla. For me, 44 Stanley is both professional and personal: a place where my work in culture and community meets my own memories of Joburg’s creative life.
What’s a surprising thing someone might learn about Joburg through taking this tour with you
That Joburg’s history isn’t something distant or locked away in museums; it’s alive in the buildings and businesses we use every day. A bakery can become a film studio, a factory can become a cultural precinct, and an archive of photographs can sit alongside a contemporary design shop. What surprises people is how these layers exist side by side in the same neighbourhood. For me, that’s the magic of Joburg: it’s unpredictable, inventive, and constantly remaking itself, even when the city feels fragile. There’s hope in that constant renewal.
Eugenie Drakes: The Migrant's Path
On Sun, Sep 28 from 09:00 – 13:00, Discover the living heritage of migrancy in the City Centre. Hear the story of the historic Jeppe Mens Hostel from Thusi Vukani, as we drive to Kwa Mai Mai market. Food technologist Sithuli Mbeje and Craft expert Eugenie Drakes will welcome you to this Community where Zulu Tradition thrives through food, craft, culture and an informal economy. Book here
What’s the story you hope people will walk away with after your neighbourhood tour?
As there is a traditional celebration at Kwa Mai Mai on this week end we are offering an immersive Cultural and Community experience and a deeper understanding of the Culture, the venue and the people.
What inspired the tour?
I have been a visitor to Kwa Mai Mai for over 30 years both to buy handmade products as well as to interact with the community. As I have spent time working in rural KZN I also visit because I miss the culture and people. Sithuli is a qualified food technologist and has recently opened a Shisanyama at Kwa Mai Mai and it is working well. I mentored Sithuli a number of years ago and I am very interested in his journey in the informal economy space.
What’s your connection to the place?
I have been a visitor to Kwa Mai Mai for over 30 years both to buy handmade products as well as to interact with the community. Sithuli is a qualified food technologist and has recently opened a Shisanyama at Kwa Mai Mai and it is working and impacting at the same time.
What’s a surprising thing someone might learn about Joburg through taking this tour with you?
As I grew up in the Apartheid years and was exposed to this culture by the staff that worked for my parents, I was exposed to so many interesting cultural things and traditional stories. This is where the seeds were planted. I think that this will highlight not only the culture but provide and opportunity to go back in time to experience one of the cultures of migrant workers who came to Johannesburg to work in the mines.
Three words that describe this neighbourhood.
Yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
A person or business in the area you’d highlight — and why?
Sithuli is our link to the community but there will be opportunities to focus on what catches the eye/interest as the large group will be divided into smaller groups accompanied by a guide to assist with interaction with the community.
Zeno Jacobs: Time Flies and The Great Mace
On Sun, Sep 28 from 14:00 – 16:00, Dr Myer Taub and Zeno Jacobs of Wits School of Arts lead a secret treasure hunt across Wits and Braamfontein. Expect surprises at every turn, including a prize sponsored by oeuvreart.com. Book now.
What inspired the tour?
The tour was inspired by the opportunity to see the campus differently and highlight the unusual history of Wits.
What’s your connection to the place?
Wits is where we work, but also where we walk. Walking is a phenomena is what connects us.
Three words that describe this neighbourhood.
Knowledge, work and, wisdom.
A person or business in the area you’d highlight — and why?
The Wits Theatre and its coffee shop. It is a place where the community meets to spend time imagining worlds and building the future, together.
Listen up! Book your tickets for Jozi My Jozi Walks 2025
Don't miss the 2025 edition of Jozi My Jozi Walks on Sat, Sep 27 and Sun, Sep 28, 2025. Get your tickets now.
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