Happy spring, Melville. Arbour Week runs until Monday, and in the world's largest man-made urban forest, Jozi should celebrate it more. Spring's here and Heritage Month is loading; 2026 just keeps on giving. Welcome to Melville Untold, the newsletter that keeps you fluent in Melville.

In this week’s newsletter,

— Aubrey Moloto, Caroline Koma

Sponsored:

Since December, the Melville Art Mile has run on every first Thursday of the month, and today makes nine. I think it's now safe to say the novelty has worn off; we're not "new" anymore. We can now finally step back and have a hard look at the books, the numbers and assess where we're at. Are we going in the right direction?

The idea was stolen (in good spirits!). I was in Cape Town last October, shooting in Mitchells Plain, when the neighbourhood threw a block party around RLABS for First Thursday, with residents, students and outsiders joining in. I left, went into town and saw the big one; the city stopped. Galleries opened late, and everyone put the spotlight on art and artists. The wheels started turning. I thought, "wait 'til my kasi gets wind of this!" We ran the pilot on 4 December. And boom! I could never have hoped for a better response. So nine months later, here we are.

The Hard Numbers, Including the Dip

Here's how the ticket sales look.

Eight editions counted, 2,595 tickets. Tickets aren't bodies on the street, though. The walk-in is free, and it's the bulk of any edition, so actual attendance runs 300 to 550 a night on average.

A 551 launch, then four months down to 157, then 325 and 456 to climb back out. We founded the Mile, and I chair the association, so let me not dress anything up and take accountability. December and February had novelty on their side. March onward had teething problems; tuk-tuks were being trialled, and we're an all-volunteer organising team who also work.

To anyone who came early and left underwhelmed, truthfully: Just like any volunteer-led organisation, it's a juggling act. You have to be patient with us.
August recovered for two main reasons. Ladies First was a great theme. The other reason is that we started paying for Facebook advertising instead of relying on organic reach alone, and paid reach moved the same curve by a factor of three to five. September sits at 200 tickets on the eve, just like August at the same point. But my biggest insight is that most of the Mile's tickets sell in the last four hours before doors.

Who's Is It?

The Mile was never a Snaps On Seventh product; it's governed by a non-profit company, the Melville Art Mile Association, with directors appointed in March. The association was how Snaps formally handed it over to the community, because an event like this belongs to Melville's creative community and anyone who cares about cultivating Melville's art heritage. Venues and participants don't pay to be on the route; they contribute, and the distinction matters: nobody draws from it, and what comes in goes back into the event and the artists.

The poster artists, Rae Mandala of Avalon Art in June, Robyn Zanine in August and David Kuijers this month, give the artwork; the Mile gives them a month of hype and a platform to sell from. The "community champs" local businesses carrying this month are Lew Geffen Sotheby's on wayfinders and the Melville Business Association on extra security, with the Joburg Artist Market, Joburg Child Welfare, the Melville Security Initiative, Good Omens, Cafe Picobella and Vee's Imprint Hub alongside them.

Financially, we're slightly above breaking even. The dip months hurt the cash reserves badly, and what's there goes to plugging gaps first: security, shuttles, our footprint, logistics, taking care of marshals, signage, basically functionality stuff. Eight editions in, there hasn't been a major safety incident, and that's the number I'd hang on my wall like a prize! I keep coming back to an ethos I was told about the early Melville Mardi Gras, where fifty thousand people came through and by midday the next day there was no sign of it. Leave no trace, and impart that to those who join the committee going forward. That's the Melville way.

The coverage, and what it did and didn't do

The Mile has been written up by the Saturday Star, the Financial Mail, the Daily Maverick, Time Out, In Your Pocket, Good Things Guy, Wits Vuvuzela, CityLife Arts, 10and5, The South African, our favourite blog 2Summers, and so many more. It has been on 702, SAfm and VOW FM. It travelled furthest on German TV channel DW's Afrimaxx, which aired the Melville episode in March.

None of it moved a meaningful number of tickets, but I believe it did much more. It reminded the world that Melville is still a place where artists find their tribe. There aren't enough platforms that make economic sense for artists, and the Melville Art Mile is trying to build a small piece of the economy that would change that. Which is why the ask never changes: come, walk it, and buy support local. So we asked one of the few who've managed to carve out a long, successful career out of it.

"It's not an easy market to be in"

David Kuijers painted this month's poster and has painted full-time since 1999. Can a young artist make a living? He doesn't sugar-coat it. "It's not easy, I can tell you that. It's been a long struggle. The buying market for art is very small in South Africa. You have to meet the customers somewhere."

Meeting the customer isn't caving, and he draws that line hard. "Find something, and then [paint] what you like yourself. Don't sell out completely." He wanted to paint abstracts. Nobody wanted abstracts. So he started painting them in the shape of a heart, and they sold.

Told what the Mile is trying to do, he reminisces about the craft markets he worked in his early days. "A craft market only works because there's a whole lot of people together, and together you create something that people want to come and see. Collectively you're actually stronger. You obviously have to share the pie that's there, but the people wouldn't have come in the first place."

Then he asked a question back, unprompted: Are the artists there working where people can see them? He rates that above almost anything as a reason someone buys.

What's Next

The future is about deploying cash reserves wisely. We must try to lock down a headline sponsor, pursue partnerships with creative schools, and employ service providers for the heavy lifting so directors can do strategy instead of logistics. We're past start-up. The focus must be on enhancing the experience for guests and artists. Then I step down as chairman and organiser, and go back to what Snaps On Seventh is built for. Showing the best faces of Melville. The comparison I reach for is Jozi My Jozi, at a suburb's scale. We're community activists. We want to help bring Melville back.

It's hard to meet people who haven't heard of the Melville Art Mile, and for me that's what I measure most at this early stage. To think a mere thought has turned into this, yoh!

What to expect this month

"First Thursday in Bloom", fourteen stops, walkable from 1st Avenue down to 6th. Lew Geffen's new wayfinding lands this month: blue boards with a big MAM logo, arrow signs pointing the way. We also recently introduced new marked stops where the shuttles pull in.

Hotel Hope opens Heritage Month with work by Ben Macala, Charles Nkomo, Godfrey Ndaba and six others, plus origami. Dala Dank is adding to the Melville Mosaic Project and wants you to help make a piece. Realms of Ra has Nyiko Maringa's "Who Are You". Six leans into their musical heritage with Cameron Harris on cor anglais and Miron Anders on viola da gamba for a world-class musical experience. Resource Gallery shows "Untold Stories" and Avalon Art hosts Lisalockbots.

27 Boxes is the densest stretch: seven artists on the Rooftop, including Lerato Mary-Ann Motau's textile work on navigating dyslexia; a workshop at Play Cafe, run by Joburg Child Welfare; a Bowie tribute at Stokvel; and "3rd Spaces" at Indoni with live acts.

Studio 79 has painter Martin Wenkidu, Agterplaas has feature artist David Kuijers via Alice Art, Picobella hosts Gabriella Noki Denim's "A Tribute to Aunties", and ERF350 closes with "In Memory of Thokozani Madonsela" exhibition.

The Deets

Thursday 3 September, 4 pm to 9 pm. Free to walk in; R150 for the Self-Guided Explorer, R450 for the Premium Guided Tour, which adds a light meal, priority access and shuttles. Tickets here. The tour is an amazing way to experience your hood once a month if you don't get out much. It's also great for solo dates, date nights or meeting movers and shakers in Jozi's creative economy.

To the stars and beyond, Melville!

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For more updates as the week goes on, visit our Instagram page @snapson7th or our Melville Pulse event calendar

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The Saga Continues

Residents of Melville and the broader Hursthill 2 supply zone have now gone 50 days without a reliable water source.

Hursthill Reservoir 2 experienced another supply failure on 27 August, as confirmed by Councillor Jonathan Thompson. Earlier, on 24 August, it was reported that the Eikenhof pumping station was operating at approximately 80% capacity and gradually improving. However, between 27 and 29 August, low water pressure was reported along 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th and 8th Avenues.

Shades Of Water

Following a repair, a resident posted a video showing water coming out of the pipes with more mud than water. In response, it was noted that Johannesburg Water had not flushed the hydrants after completing the repair. Councillor Jonathan Thompson intervened, identifying the burst pipes at the corner of 7th Avenue and 4th Street. Once the location was confirmed, a team was dispatched to flush the hydrants and clear the muddy water.

If residents are still without water, the Auckland Park mosque and the Satellite station have borehole water. Check appropriate times.

A Furry Reset

Winter has officially packed its bags, and Melville’s waking up to that first proper spring sunshine. Perfect moment for your four-legged mates to shake off the cold weather blues and take that winter swag oof.

Vet Check-Ins And Smart Habits 

The clinics get busy, so make sure you book ahead of time for anything that’s an emergency. Keep those vaccination and sterilisation records current because distemper and other preventable nasties still pop up around the broader area now and then.

Both the Melville Veterinary Clinic and Richmond Animal Hospital help with found animals, so if you spot a stray sporting a collar or a chip, give them a quick call.

Local Heroes Looking After The Lost Paws 

Bounty Hunters Charity shop on 4th Avenue remains Melville’s go-to cat sanctuary and thrift spot. Gail Millard’s been taking in local strays for years and making sure that the proceeds keep dozens of cats fed and safe

Drop off food, blankets or whatever you’ve got. It all helps. If you spot something worrying, don’t hesitate to report animal cruelty to the Johannesburg SPCA or AACL. 

Quick Spring Checklist 

Pack away the heavy winter coats, stay on top of parasites as the mercury climbs, support the local vets and welfare folks with sterilisations, vaccinations or donations and swing by Ziggy’s for the everyday stuff. Melville’s pet crowd’s still active and neighbourly, so keep an eye on clinic Facebook pages or local groups for found pet notices and specials. Stay safe and enjoy those spring walks with your four-legged mates.

Melville Koppies Newsletter 

The Friends of Melville Koppies newsletter is back. Issue No. 1, Spring 2026, marks the start of a quarterly rhythm of Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter. Jenny Grice and Merle Grace are the writing team. This line captures the comeback clearly: “The hill has a voice again.”

In this new issue, they cover what you might have missed, useful local knowledge and what's coming up.

Contact them at [email protected] or 066 571 9539. Follow on Facebook and Instagram, and sign up so you don't miss the next one.

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The Trail Run Updates

The Melville Koppies 10 km Trail Run is back for its second edition, hosted by the Trail Fund Project, run by Forge and organised by Alex Weiss. The self-navigation course takes place over two Sundays, which are on the 13th and 20th of September 2026, through the Melville Koppies Nature Reserve and the Johannesburg Botanical Garden. The route covers 10 km with 230 meters of elevation, including 6.5 Km of pure trail.

You start at Fingers Crossed coffee shop with no fixed time. You run your own race using Strava, and every finisher will receive a free hot drink from Fingers Crossed.

The sponsors of this year's Trail Run include Asics, The Sweat Shop, Mama Alles and FKT Run Store. On the 13th of September, The Sweat Shop will be at Fingers Crossed with shoe demonstrations and post-run massages. Just like last year, prizes go to the fastest lady and fastest man, plus lucky draws including 1 kg of Fingers Crossed coffee beans. 

“A portion of ticket sales supports the Friends of Melville Koppies reserve upkeep.”

Current ticket prices for both days are R180. This includes the nature reserve entrance fee, free Fingers Crossed coffee, lucky draw prize entry, plus a goodie bag.

On Sunday the 13th, there will also be stargazing at the Melville Koppies from 18:00 to 19:30, and the entrance is at 1 Kafue Road. Adults will be charged R 100 and children R 50. For your comfort, bring along a flashlight, a small chair, warm clothes and binoculars.

The Brother Moves On opens the rooftop for a public rehearsal at ERF350 on Saturday 12 September. The session forms part of the month-long memorial programme honouring the late Melville artist Thokozani Madonsela, running from 3 to 27 September at 16 Main Street and 4th Avenue.

Seventeen Years On

The passing of Thokozani Madonsela in early August followed The Brother Moves On being together for roughly seventeen years, creating, touring and refining their hybrid sound of jazz, funk, storytelling and ritual. Their open rehearsal at ERF350 offers a rare informal chance to hear that long-running collective at work right on the streets and in the spirit of remembrance.

Come support one of our own! To read more about the TBMO, read issue #2.

Thank you for joining us. If this issue packed a punch, why not tip us? Buy us a coffee.

Tonight is first Thursday; get your tickets. Local is lekker!

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'til next week, Melville:

Stay rooted, stay restless, stay reachable.

Jikisiñkama. ✌️