On 2 October 1925, John Logie Baird got the first television picture to work in a Soho attic. The Brixton Tower, the one you can see from half the stoeps in Melville, went up in 1962 and only carried FM radio until the 70s. Welcome to Melville Untold, live from the Ville, no aerial required.

In this week’s newsletter,

— Aubrey Moloto, Caroline Koma

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Melville was proclaimed on 5 October 1896, which makes Monday the suburb's 130th birthday. The people who put the M130 programme together didn't want one party; they wanted four days of it: art on Thursday, the Koppies and a market on Saturday, a history walk on Sunday. Thursday's done. Here's the rest, told by the people involved.

Thursday: The Art Mile

Personally, this was my favourite mile yet! 3rd biggest turnout, but it wasn't about the ticket sales. The vibe was right. And the balance was phenomenal. Personally, I would have preferred a little more established artists showing, but we had an incredible exhibition at the Rooftop Gallery, Stokvel, Indoni, and some really promising emerging artists almost everywhere else. We kicked off Mellies bday in style, toasting with a cocktail punch mixed by Smoking Kills at most of our venues; the tour went at 5pm, and the 27 Boxes market was humming. Our poster, Mr Eksé, opened an incredible Jozi 140th commemoration exhibition, "Yo'burg", that will be running for the month and was painting car doors outside the place in a live demo. We had tons of fun on the tour, stopping off at Picobella for a light meal with the rest of the Snaps team spreading out to capture content for a new YouTube show coming, and capturing magical moments as we're known to do!

Saturday, 9 am: Up The Koppies

The Johannesburg Heritage Foundation is running its 130 years of Melville walk on Melville Koppies at 9 am on Saturday. Guides from the Friends of Melville Koppies take you through the people who were here first, the Khoisan, the early Sotho and Tswana farmers and then the gold prospectors, on a circular hike with a short climb to the top of the 3 billion-year-old quartzite ridge.

Alison Wilson sits on the Koppies committee and works with the Heritage Foundation. Putting the birthday together sent her into the archives. "It's been fascinating finding out about the history of Melville! From going to Museum Africa to find old photos of the suburb, to walking round the area and identifying all the heritage houses."

What she found is how little of it is marked. "At present there is only one house with a blue plaque in Melville," she says. There are two more on the Koppies, one for the nature reserve, and the other sits above the cave on Melville Koppies West, which has been vandalised.

So part of the birthday is a pitch to you. A Heritage Foundation blue plaque costs R5,000 to apply for, and Alison says "a few businesses" are already interested. For everyone else, there's a cheaper option on the table: a small plaque outside your house or business at about R850. "This would help commemorate the historic nature of Melville. And hopefully encourage people in the area to value this unique area."

Heritage isn't only bricks, either. The Friends of Melville Koppies are building a new path in honour of our legendary leader Wendy Carstens, who looked after the Koppies for more than 30 years together with the incredible late David Carstens. "Heritage is about the contribution that people make to maintain their community and nature," Alison says.

Saturday, 10am to 4pm: The Joburg Artist Market

Come down off the ridge, and the Joburg Artist Market is on at 27 Boxes until 4pm, free to get in.

Samora Mbambi is the centre manager and has sat in the M130 planning meetings for weeks. The market's birthday offer is space. "We are open to hosting free spaces or giving out free spaces to artists who can come by and occupy those spaces and exhibit their artwork, their craft."

Joburg Child Welfare, the centre's partner, is running activities for kids in the amphitheatre and the atrium, with live performances alongside. Samora is also lobbying the tenants for what the centre calls an M130 special, so people "could be able to not only just support our tenants but also support them at an affordable rate," and walk away with something to remember the weekend by. 27 Boxes has also offered to host the archive and the memory wall, if the community builds one.

Samora's Melville goes back further than the job. It started at Liquid Blue in 2022: hubbly prepper, then waiter, and one of the best rated for service, until the Joburg Artist Market poached Samora just before a move to the bar. "You find every type of person that you can ever think of in Melville," Samora says. "Every identity of any humankind is legitimate and can be found in Melville." Which is why Samora lives here now too, "far more than just working in Melville."

I waited tables at Liquid Blue too, in December 2022. I left in January, and that was when I decided to go full-time on Snaps On Seventh.

The 21Folds Winner Is Announced On Saturday

Entries for the 21Folds giveaway, an R2,000 voucher for origami art, closed at the Mile on Thursday night. The winner is announced on Saturday at the Melville 130 Day at 27 Boxes, and online for anyone who isn't there.

Saturday, 10 am To 4 pm: Avalon Art

Cross the road from 27 Boxes, and the gate at 80 Third Avenue will be open. Avalon Art is throwing its doors open for the birthday, hosted by Rae Wilmot, whose bold, Picasso-ish streak runs from canvas onto clothing. The galleries behind the gate are open too, the Stokvel Gallery among them, so give yourself time to wander. Can't make Saturday? They're open by appointment on Sunday.

Why Bother With A Birthday?

Cameron runs Anti-Social, where the M130 group had our last meeting, and speaks here for the Melville Business Association too. "Melville is more than buildings, streets and koppies," he says. "It's a collection of stories, relationships and shared experiences." The campaign running through to the end of the year is called My Melville Memories, and it asks for exactly that: short videos or posts about what the place means to you.

Samora put it in a sentence: "There can only be one culture of Melville. You can only get it in Melville."

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The Melville Mzansi Art Expo ran from 26 September to 1 October, bringing South African art, culture, music and creative business together across Melville, with exhibitions, performances, talks and workshops through the week. The expo is the brainchild of Melville resident, artist and music teacher Vusi Siwela, through his non-profit organisation, Hippopcorn Foundation. Vusi created it to make space for an Afrocentric celebration in Melville, bringing traditional African culture, dance and games together with contemporary art.

Art Meets Business

The expo was a team effort, with Joburg Child Welfare as a strategic partner and support from the Gauteng Department of Health, Melanin Zone, Nedbank, Studio79, Indoni Art House and The Artisan Restaurant & Cocktail Bar. The Gauteng Department of Environmental Health Services held workshops on vendor licensing and compliance, while other sessions covered arts administration, intellectual property, copyright, creative ownership, entrepreneurship and turning creative work into a sustainable business. Across Studio79 on 4th Avenue, Indoni Gallery and the Rooftop Gallery at 27 Boxes, visitors saw work from emerging and established artists, met creatives and browsed handmade goods. The programme also included talks about the South African art market, music business and the creative economy, and a Morabaraba tournament celebrating traditional African games. It closed on 1 October, the night Melville's 130th birthday celebrations began, with an after-party at The Artisan Restaurant & Cocktail Bar.

It's been a busy week for new businesses and experiences in Melville, with shops, food, beauty and wellness adding to the mix on our village's streets. From a new hardware store opening its doors to a perfume bar settling into its new home, plenty is happening around the hood.

DIY Depot opened on 1 October in the former Jack's Paint store. Jared bought the store out of business rescue, and the new business will trade as a division of Mica. The opening gives Melville another option for residents looking for hardware, building and home improvement supplies.

& Friends is also now open at 12 Main Road. The business is officially styled as & Friends curated by Mamakashaka, and was founded by creative entrepreneur and cultural curator Nandi Dlepu. The Melville space is open from Thursday to Saturday from noon until 2 am, and on Sunday from noon until 10 pm.

The same address is also home to El Patrón, the Melville branch of South African streetwear brand El Patron Streetwear. The brand was founded and is directed by Ntando, known as UBab' Ngema, and Clinton S.

Over at 27 Boxes, Kay Blossoms has officially settled into its new home in the old Sorella unit at 75 4th Avenue. The perfume bar, makeup studio and accessories boutique opened at the retail hub on 5 September after relocating from its previous premises.

As reported in Issue 95 of Melville Untold, Kay Blossoms is run by Kuena Khama, who trained as an actress at AFDA Durban and also works as a freelance makeup artist. The business grew from her desire to continue creating while working between film jobs.

There are also new things on the calendar for anyone after something beyond shopping and eating. On Saturday, 10 October, Tumi of Yoga with 2mi hosts a Rooftop Sunset Silent Yoga session at ERF Studios on 4th Avenue, from 4.30 pm to 6.45 pm.

You'll wear headphones while you're guided through a gentle practice as the Joburg sky turns golden. The focus is movement, breathing and stillness, and the rooftop is a chance to slow down after the year Jozi's had.

At 27 Boxes, Premium Car Wash gives you a reason to combine errands with an evening out. New manager Imraan showed us what they can do: paint detailing, scratch removal and other restoration work. I must say, my Sanctity was looking beautiful after she had a dip in their water. They also do full valets and paint correction, so you can leave the car while you explore Mellies.

Halloween's four weeks away, and it pays to book early for this one. Realms of Ra, on the corner of 2nd Avenue and 7th Street, is throwing a Millennial Halloween on Saturday, 31 October: horror and fantasy trivia (Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, The Vampire Diaries, Friday the 13th), a costume contest, millennial bangers and a few witchy surprises. The ticket price goes up by R60 every Friday at midnight. It's R226.66 this week, and R466.66 at the door, and spaces are limited. There's a new discount code every week too, and you can get this week's by filling in their form before Thursday at midnight.

If you'd rather start Halloween in daylight, Piza e Vino is hosting Strange Alchemy that afternoon from 12pm: Klumbsy Oxx, Frans Karoo, Maria Mombelli and Geoffrey Diver, an hour each. "It's a dress-up thing," the organisers say. "Come as you are, come as something else, or just come for the music." Tickets are R100 on Quicket and R150 at the door, with pizza and drinks all afternoon.

And for a slower night, we had a delightful evening at Acala, which calls itself an "Evening House", in an old theatre building in Melville. It's built around candlelight, conversation, carefully cooked food, selected wines, classic cocktails and desserts. You pick one of four mains with a side of chips or veggies. There were four of us, so we ordered one of each and all tried a bit of everything.

The fish, a sole, was my favourite. The steak packed a punch as well; I think the big meat eaters are in for a treat! There was also a chicken breast order and a cauliflower steak for the vegans. Honestly, I had no complaints; it felt good to experience fine dining in our hood, and an official date night place!

Acala opens from 6.30 pm, with last orders at 9.30 pm. Reservations can be made via WhatsApp on 082 399 1354.

The Trail Fund season officially closed on 20 September, ending another season of runners taking to the Melville Koppies while raising money to help protect Johannesburg's green spaces.

This year's Trail Fund Project run raised over R15,000, well above last year's total. The event was organised by Alex and the Forge Team, with runners taking on the Koppies trails as part of the fundraising effort.

The final race also had two winners we wanted to highlight. We covered Jason Koopman last week, who ran the Koppies trail solo and described it as both enjoyable and challenging. This week, we caught up with Kirsten Stephens, the second winner, who also took part in the final race of the season.

Kirsten said the event was a great initiative and praised Alex and the team for the organisation. She particularly enjoyed the navigation element, which added another challenge to the run. Having also taken part last year, she said she would be back next year and hopes the event continues to grow and attract more participants.

She also had plenty to say about the Koppies themselves. Kirsten said they were looking beautiful and that being on the trails gave her a sense of freedom she normally associates with being out in the Berg or the mountains. Experiencing that feeling in the middle of the city, she said, was "really freeing".

One of the memorable stats from the final race was that more than 60 people paid but never actually ran. But that doesn't mean they have missed their chance to experience what they helped support. The Koppies is always giving, and the Koppies Committee welcomes those who paid but couldn't make it to come and enjoy the reserve during its regular opening times.

Melville Koppies Nature Reserve (Central) is open on Sundays from 8am to 11.30am. So, even though the Trail Fund season has closed, the trails are still there. Come for a walk or a jog, bring the kids, take in the views and experience the history and green space that the fundraising helped protect.

Storytelling And Dogs On The Koppies

Come to the Melville Koppies on 11 October at 9am for storytelling with Merle Grace. After the recent fire, the Koppies are already showing signs of new life, with flowers appearing among the burnt landscape. Merle is inviting people to come and see the "miracles after the fire" for themselves. Dog walkers can also enjoy the Koppies, with socialised dogs welcome on public walks. The Friends of Melville Koppies encourage walkers to go in groups, and owners are asked to clean up after their dogs. Group walking information is available from committee member MA Farquharson on 083 299 0695.

Help Clean The Westdene Spruit

Residents, hikers, dog walkers, climbers and environmental volunteers are being called to help clean the Westdene Spruit on Saturday, 3 October. The group will meet at 8 am at the safe parking area on the old Johannesburg Road, at the corner of Judith and Main Road in Melville. The clean-up will focus on a 600m section of greenbelt under the large white stinkwood trees along the riverbank. The Westdene Spruit runs from its natural spring near Brixton and Crosby, through Westdene and Melville, before reaching Emmarentia Botanic Gardens. Testing has found very poor water quality, including high levels of E. coli. From May 2025 to April 2026, four clean-ups removed more than 1,057kg of rubbish, including at least 52 bags of litter. Organisers are asking people to bring whatever they can use to help, including gloves, Wellington boots, litter pickers and other cleaning equipment.

The Koppies Need To Keep Going

The Woollies My School card has come and gone, and as the beneficiaries of the initiative, the Melville Koppies monthly funding could be cut in half if people don't make the switch on the Woollies app.

The process is really simple.

Even if you used to help through MySchool, double-check that FOMK is still listed. Please open the app today and add Friends of Melville Koppies so we don't lose that support.

This is a plea to everyone who loves and enjoys the Koppies. Let's rally for one of our own!

There's a second way to help, and it helps clear space at home.

Junkie Charity Shop spent 13 years in Melville before moving to Linden, and it needs good stuff to sell. Take your second-hand clothes, books, records and homeware to Shop 18, 59 4th Avenue, Linden, choose Melville Koppies as your cause, and the Koppies get a portion of the sales.

As the weather warms up, it's time to think about summer safety for dogs on the Koppies. Heat can put dogs at risk of heatstroke, so avoid the hottest part of the day, provide plenty of water and watch for unusual panting or breathing. Summer also means staying on top of tick prevention, particularly after walks through grass and bush, as the South African Veterinary Association advises. The Koppies are also home to wildlife, including snakes, so keep dogs close and under control on walks and avoid letting them investigate holes or dense vegetation. If a dog is bitten, get veterinary help quickly rather than trying to treat the bite yourself. For a summer walk, choose cooler times, carry water and let your dog enjoy the trails without turning the outing into an endurance event.

Heather Mason's final 2Summers Eat & Walk for the year took place on Saturday, 26 September, bringing together food, neighbourhood history and Heritage Weekend in Brixton. We were lucky to get invited, and I must say, I never knew that Brixton was so pretty!

The walk started at Breezeblock Cafe before taking the small group through the neighbourhood to visit local food makers, including bread baker Dave Mthembu of Mthemdoughs and chef and egg seller Kia Thelele, who gave us the most yummy finger foods with homemade sauces and showed us his chickens - yes, live ones: about 29 of them! We unfortunately arrived late and missed the amagwinya and mince from Heather's neighbour Jeanette Phakedi, and touring the Flamingo Palace, the pink Victorian home Heather and her partner Thorsten recently renovated. The three-hour walk was limited to 12 guests; we were lucky numbers 13 and 14! Thorsten gave talks on the architecture as we strolled through some of his favourite streets, ducking into alleys, and even got treated to a surprise drop-in at the renowned artist Bronwen Findlay's home (she runs art classes in Brixton). It was such a beautiful home that looked more like a gallery/museum than a house! We finished off back at Breezeblock, where we saw some of Thorsten's incredible projects his engineering firm is working on, in an impromptu open studio-style tour of the firm's offices above Breezeblock restaurant.

My final thoughts: Wow, Brixton is beautiful! Every moment had a backdrop of the tower, so close, almost imposing in size. Thank you, 2Summers, what a treat to be guided on a tour by your favourite blogger! Subscribe to her blog to read many years of Melville and Jozi stories!

Melville filmmaker Twiggy Matiwana is continuing a busy year after Dear Sis Dolly, which she directed and which opened in cinemas nationwide on 3 July. Her latest work, A Season in Hillbrow, was presented at the John Kani Market Theatre on 5 and 6 September. Matiwana is credited as a co-creator and filmmaker on the production, alongside Sahar Carter, Stacy Hardy and Louis Roux, with Césaire Youth 2026. The production was directed by Gerard Bester and Sibahle Mangena.

 Thank you for reading! If this got you thinking about going up the Koppies or into 27 Boxes, why not buy us a coffee? Tip us using SnapScan.

You can also support Snaps On Seventh by booking us for a photo or video shoot; we're getting quite good at it!

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'til next week, Melville:

Stay nosy, stay neighbourly, stay nearby.

Phir milenge✌️