Creative city
1. UJ x MTN FUTURE CURATORS PROGRAMME
We visited the UJ Art Gallery on the final day of the MTN x UJ Future Curators Programme – a fantastic initiative for senior high school learners aged 15–18. The 10-day programme is designed to build skills in arts curation, research, public speaking, visual literacy, and creative knowledge-sharing. As part of this, 15 students visited some of the city’s best galleries and museums – from Bag Factory Artist Studios to Strauss and Co and Joburg Contemporary Art Foundation – and attended masterclasses with industry experts across various disciplines. We loved seeing the culmination of this intensive process, where three student groups presented the exhibitions they had curated. Read more.
2. PRE-AUCTION EXHIBITIONS AT STRAUSS & CO.
Not one or two, but three fantastic exhibitions dazzled at Strauss & Co's Houghton ahead of their trio of July auctions. One put the spotlight on South African ceramics, with everything from functional ware to exquisitely decorative pieces. Then there was also a collection dedicated to the lesser-known printmaking work of iconic artist JH Pierneef. And, finally, Strauss & Co presented a sweeping survey of art from around the country, with a lovely selection of works from the personal collection of late opera singer Mimi Coertse. Read a bit about the works here.
3. EARTH PIGMENTS WITH IRA BEKKER
A Sunday morning spent with the "botanical nomad" aka Ira Bekker, at Kim Sacks ceramic studio in Parkwood, was just the balm we needed. Bekker's Earth Pigments workshop was gorgeously illuminating – showing that colour is all around us, if you know where to look. We crushed up clay-rich soils and soft stones to reveal the hidden pigments they carry, and mixed them up to form paint, slips, and pastels. The beauty of Bekker's approach is that it's open and experimental. The pigments we worked with on the day came from her home in KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, but the opportunity is now there for each participant to carry this journey forward using the materials that are local to them. (Note: Bekker's beautiful botanical prints are on sale at Kim Sacks Gallery.)
4. DECOREX JOBURG 2025
We explored the opening day (Thu, Jul 24) of Decorex Joburg 2025, Africa’s largest décor, design, and lifestyle exhibition. Spanning five floors of the Sandton Convention Centre, the show is packed with everything from standout kitchens and renovation ideas to inspiring local design. We especially loved the 100% Design floor, where we browsed Ananta’s exquisite beaded vases, Atlas Ceramix’s whimsical porcelain balloons, and The Ninevites handwoven wool rugs and cushions. We are already looking forward to next year’s edition.
5. RUSSELL KAPLAN'S NEW SHOWROOM
What a joy to visit the brand-new Ferndale showroom of Russell Kaplan Auctioneers – a seriously impressive, two-storey space which we spent more than two hours exploring. Everything here is meticulously curated and arranged to display not only the incredible variety of items on offer, but also the endless styling possibilities and aesthetic choices available to you. We also love the dedicated gallery space for Russell Kaplan’s art collection. If you don’t ordinarily think of yourself as someone who buys at an auction, after a visit, you might leave a convert.
Neighbourhood-lovers need apply
6. HOST YOUR OWN #JOZIWALKS 2025
Love your Joburg neighbourhood and want to share its stories? #JoziWalks 2025 is calling for applications. This much-loved programme (back after a four-year hiatus) invites local residents, creatives, and community leaders to host free walking tours during the weekend of Sat, Sep 27 – Sun, Sep 28, 2025, in celebration of World Tourism Day. It’s a chance to connect Joburgers with the people and places that make the city unique. Read more about how to get involved and keep an eye out for when entries open.
All things delicious
7. MOTHERLAND COFFEE'S WINTER MENU
Photo: Johannesburg In Your Pocket.
Our office routine got a tasty upgrade with a visit to Motherland Coffee in Blairgowrie to try their new winter menu – and it was worth stepping out for. Highlights included the nutty pistachio matcha latte and a perfectly balanced pistachio and cream croissant, while the juicy chicken prego roll, served with your choice of fresh sides (we loved the cucumber ribbons with savoury nut granola and feta). Most combo deals at Motherland Coffee cost R120 – a nice price that gets you the aforementioned prego with a side plus water or a breakfast croissant stack and a cappuccino, among other options. This cosy spot is conveniently located near one of the entrances to Delta Park for those wanting a walk, and makes a great office away from home.
8. HALAAL GOODS MARKET
Photo: Johannesburg In Your Pocket.
Remember this market from its days in the Fox Street Precinct in Joburg's City Centre? Now in its eighth year, the Halaal Goods Market, founded by Fehmida Jordaan, returned for a weekend celebration (Sat, Jul 26 – Sun, Jul 27) of delicious food, culture, community, and small business love at Waterfall City Park, Mall of Africa. The space hosted over 100 local, halaal-certified vendors. We attended last year's market, so we knew it was going to be a global feast for food lovers – with this year's lineup promising everything from tacos, kimbap, bunny chows, and smoked brisket burgers to Indian sweetmeats, boerie rolls, Middle Eastern dips, and pancakes. Our fave? The pistachio croissant. It's clearly having a moment.
Natural treasures
9. VISITING SANBI'S NATIONAL HERBARIUM
Photo: Johannesburg In Your Pocket.
If you have ever visited Pretoria's National Botanical Garden, you may have noticed a towering, mysterious building in the grounds that is closed to the public. We had an opportunity to enter this site of profound significance: South Africa's National Herbarium, home to more than 1.3 million preserved plant specimens, some more than 200 years old. This remarkable collection serves as a living archive of South Africa's diverse flora and rich botanical heritage.
Stepping inside the National Herbarium feels like entering a time capsule. The dried specimens, affixed carefully to their mounting boards, may appear static – but the plants here hold stories about the people who encountered them and the landscapes they once inhabited. Currently, a mass digitisation process is underway to catalogue the herbarium’s vast collection – the largest in South Africa. A mammoth task, as we came to understand on our visit (July 2025), that is expected to reach completion in the next four to five years.
10. ADD YOUR VOICE: SAVE JOBURG'S PARKS
Joburg’s parks, nature reserves, and greenbelts are under threat, and your voice can help protect them. In July 2025, the Joburg Property Company (JPC) proposed leasing 173 hectares of public land, including beloved spaces like Marks Park, Melville Koppies, and the Johannesburg Botanical Gardens, for long-term disposal. These spaces aren’t just beautiful – they’re vital to our city’s ecological and community health. Read the full story and sign the petition to help keep Joburg’s green lungs breathing.
Community spaces
11. JOHANNESBURG CHILDREN'S HOME FOR MANDELA DAY
Johannesburg Children's Home. Photo: Johannesburg In Your Pocket.
For Mandela Day on Fri, 18 Jul, we visited the Johannesburg Children’s Home (JCH) in Observatory – and what a humbling, heart-warming experience it was. One of Joburg’s oldest institutions, now going 133 years strong, JCH is home to 64 children aged three to 21. It offers not just shelter, but a nurturing, stable environment focused on education, creativity, and life skills.
Rolling up our sleeves in the main kitchen, we helped prepare meals for the children and treats for the tuckshop. A guided tour with the friendly staff gave us insight into the Home’s daily operations – from cottages where older kids help cook, to art displays showcasing young talent, and music therapy sessions that support emotional wellbeing. Every effort here is geared towards growth and empowerment.
We were honoured to contribute to a place filled with such care and purpose. If you’re looking to make a real impact – whether as a tutor, mentor, coach, or donor – visit jch.org.za to see how you can get involved.
12. FIVE MUST-SEE WITS ATTRACTIONS
One Friday in July, we became Witsies for the day, exploring three fascinating attractions under Wits’ custodianship that offer unique journeys through time, space, and artistic expression. We visited Wits Art Museum, Braamfontein’s home to one of the world’s largest African art collections, top-tier retrospective exhibitions, and hands-on workshops. We then hopped over to Wits Origins Centre, a journey through the rich, complex story of human creativity, belief, and survival from a distinctly Southern African perspective at this museum. We ended off at Wits Chris Seabrooke Music Hall for a more melodic experience, where you can catch a performance at this intimate venue known for showcasing everything from jazz to student ensembles. That's not all that's on offer: get our guide to five great Wits attractions.
Comments