Soweto Life News

05/11/2025

"A BOLD NEW AIRCRAFT UNVEILED"


FLYSAFAIR UNVEILS PROTEA LIVERY DESIGNED BY 22-YEAR-OLD SOUTH AFRICAN STUDENT.

Fan-designed aircraft celebrates one year of partnership between FlySafair and Cricket South Africa

Johannesburg, 5 November 2025: FlySafair and Cricket South Africa (CSA) yesterday unveiled a bold new aircraft livery celebrating their partnership, featuring a design created by 22-year-old Gqeberha student Dinika Naidu. The reveal took place at FlySafair’s Johannesburg hangar, marking one year since the airline became the Official Domestic Airline Partner of the Proteas.

The livery was selected from hundreds of entries in a nationwide competition launched when the three-year sponsorship was announced in October 2024. Naidu's winning design features elegant calligraphic lines that evoke both the protea flower and FlySafair's iconic branding, symbolising the unity between South Africa's national cricket teams and the country's leading low-cost carrier.

"This past year has been absolutely incredible," said Kirby Gordon, Chief Marketing Officer at FlySafair. "When we partnered with Cricket SA, we wanted to do something uniquely South African, something that gave fans a real stake in the journey. Dinika's design captures that spirit beautifully, and we're proud to have it flying across the country."

The partnership has coincided with standout achievements for both Proteas teams. The men's team claimed the ICC Test World Cup title earlier this year, with FlySafair supporting the trophy tour that brought the iconic mace to fans nationwide. The women's team has also delivered exceptional performances on the global stage, reinforcing their status among the world's elite.

"We're thrilled to celebrate this milestone with FlySafair," said Mtunzi Jonas, Chief Commercial Officer at CSA. "This partnership is about more than logistics, it's about unity, excellence, and connecting South African cricket fans around the country. Having a young South African designer play such a central role in this story makes it even more significant.”

Naidu, a self-taught graphic designer and student at Nelson Mandela University, funds her studies through freelance work. Seeing her creation come to life has been a surreal experience.

"I don't think there are words to describe how excited I am," Naidu said. "As a young designer, you dream about moments like this, but you never expect them to happen. I'm so grateful to FlySafair and Cricket SA for this opportunity, it really feels like I've made it."

The design incorporates colours drawn from both FlySafair and Proteas branding, with flowing lines encompassing a cricket player to represent the partnership. Naidu intentionally kept the visual elements "simple but impactful," ensuring the livery communicates the collaboration instantly.

Looking ahead, the partnership enters an exciting phase with both Proteas teams playing domestically this summer. FlySafair and CSA have planned fan activations throughout the season, building momentum toward the 2027 Cricket World Cup, which will be hosted across South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.

"This partnership is about celebrating South African cricket and creating extraordinary moments along the way," added Gordon. "From flying the Test World Cup trophy to supporting the women's team's incredible performances, it's been a privilege to be part of the journey. And now, with Dinika's design flying our skies, we're taking it to new heights, literally."

The Protea-liveried aircraft will serve FlySafair's domestic routes, ensuring visibility at airports nationwide.

Story By: Soweto-Life News.com

"Vision On News"
"Vision For The City "

31/10/2025

"GET READY TO LACE UP WITH SOWETO MARATHON 2025"

African Bank Reveals Kabelo Mabalane as Official Brand Ambassador for the 2025 Soweto Marathon and Unveils the Iconic Runners’ T-shirt,In Johannesburg, 31 October 2025 — African Bank has officially announced musician, athlete, and philanthropist, Kabelo Mabalane as the brand ambassador for the African Bank Soweto Marathon 2025 (ABSM 2025).

The announcement was made during an energetic internal launch event at the Bank’s headquarters, where hundreds of staff members gathered to celebrate the reveal of the ambassador for the race.
This year’s marathon is particularly momentous, marking 30 years of the Soweto Marathon and 50 years of African Bank. These are two proudly South African institutions, founded in Soweto, that share a deep connection to endurance, purpose, and community upliftment.

Sbusiso Kumalo, Chief Marketing Officer at African Bank, said, “We’re excited to have Kabelo join the team this year. Him being Soweto born and bred makes him a natural fit for ABSM 2025. His running journey, which is well documented in his book, I Ran For My Life, speaks to the same audacious spirit the founders of African Bank possessed when a bank for the people, by the people, seemed impossible. Our founders believed that persistence could overcome any limitation. Kabelo embodies that same belief.”
Mabalane, a seasoned athlete, musician, and philanthropist, described his role in the ABSM partnership as both humbling and inspiring. “When two iconic South African brands like African Bank and the Soweto Marathon celebrate milestones together, it’s more than just numbers — it’s a story of endurance and purpose,” he said. “The Soweto Marathon represents the heartbeat of our people, and African Bank has been that heartbeat in the financial space for 50 years.

This partnership reminds us that with the right support, you can go the distance.”
The much-anticipated 2025 runners’ T-shirt was also unveiled at the ABSM launch event. The shirt is a symbol of tenacity, drive, and ambition — qualities that unite all runners who take on “The People’s Race.” Each registered participant will receive the shirt as part of their race pack.
“We are thrilled to have Kabelo Mabalane join our ABSM 2025 edition and equally as pleased to unleash the superb race shirt to our valued community,” smiled Soweto Marathon spokesperson Jabu Mbuli.

Registered runners can collect their race packs and T-shirts at the Soweto Marathon Expo, taking place at Nasrec from 26–28 November 2025.

There will be no shirt collection on race day, and shirts are not for sale — they are exclusive to official participants of the 2025 African Bank Soweto Marathon.
Kumalo summed up, “A race T-shirt isn’t just fabric — it’s pride, identity, and the badge of honour you wear before and after the run. It says, ‘I belong. I’m part of something bigger. Ziyakhala ke manje!”

Story By: Soweto-Life News.com
"Vision On News"
"Vision For The City"

24/09/2025

"FNB STADIUM WILL BE TRANSFORMED INTO KOTA LOVERS PARADISE"

All roads leads to Jozi Kota Festival on the 04 October 2025 as it returns for the 2nd time this year.
A celebration of one of South Africa's most beloved street food delicacies
(The Kota)

Jozi Kota Festival is about more than just food,it is a true showcase of "Kasi" (township Culture)
Over 50 different Kota stalls; each with its own unique twist on the classic township sandwich will be lined on the field.
From the traditional Kota stuffed with clover cheese, russian sausage, slap chips, atchaar, to more daring creations with gourmet fillings and secret sauces, there will be a Kota for every palate.

"Our biggest vision is to tell our kasi food stories and take Kota to the world"
" The growth of Jozi Kota Festival is a testament to the cultural and economic values of the township traditions"
"Kota Festival is proud to receive the support from sponsors as it assists with elevatingthe Kota business into a nationally celebrated symbol of our creativity, community and entrepreneurship" said the project manager of Jozi Kota Festival Buyisile Nkosi.

Jozi Kota Festival is proudly sponsored by Albany ,Clover;the official supporting sponsor Sunfoil,Thompson Meats,
All Gold and OROS.

As Jozi Kota Festival returns it will be bigger and more delicious than ever.The greatest chance for people to relax; enjoy great Kotas and soak in the festive atmosphere with friends and family.

BY: Soweto-LifeNews.com
"Vision On News"
"Vision For The City"

21/09/2025

"JOZI KOTA FESTIVAL "

Get Ready For Jozi Kota Festival that will be happening on the 04 October 2025 at FNB Stadium.

SECURE YOUR TICKET NOW
NOTE: No Tickets Will Be Sold At The Gate




JOZI KOTA FESTIVAL POWERED BY ALBANY BREAD.

BY:Soweto-Life News.com

"Vision On News"
"Vision For The City "

20/08/2025

20/08/2025

23/07/2025

"MANDELA DAY 2025 WELL SPENT WITH GOGOS AND MKHULUS IN SOWETO"

This year the theme for Mandela Day was; "It is still in our hands to combat poverty and inequity." This is what the team at the NPO ‘Merchants of Light’ set out to do and to achieve, thus bringing warmth, hope, light and impact to families in and around Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni; from Pimville and Klipspruit in Soweto to Germiston and Primrose on the East Rand. This initiative was supported by Kit Kat Cash and Carry, Cyber Dexterity, PKF Octagon, Villamoura Restaurant, The Media Factory, Rage Inc Productions, Red Cherry Foundation, Freeway Toyota, Toyota Knights, 321 Technical Systems, anonymous donors, friends, and family. Grocery hampers were filled, Gogo’s were spoilt, children were treated to days of fun and in true Merchants of Light style more than 500 people were fed across the allocated project days.

Merchants of Light believe in Mandela Day and have turned it into Mandela Month with weeks of feedings, grocery hampers, beanies, blankets and hot meal distributions to bring warmth and light to the darkest corners of our communities, These family hampers are packed with non-perishables, tinned items, maize meal, rice, pasta and cooking items like salt, sugar and oil, additional items handed out were loaves of bread, oranges and fresh produce like carrots and potatoes. It is actions such as this, from organizations and corporates, that came together to reignite our hope and love for one another thus building and nurturing our nation. “That is how we should live every day with a smile and a thank you for one another, that is the Madiba Magic and flows through our veins as South Africans and we have to live that legacy every day,” said Ella Bella co-founder of Merchants of Light.

Catherine Constantine, the Director of Merchants of Light spoke in a passionate address on Mandela Day at the Pimville Community Hall about, “Our simple acts of kindness, a simple bowl of food, a warm blanket, or a gesture of love goes a long way to creating strong bonds of a community. It is our job to keep creating these bonds in the communities we call Home.” Constantinides went on to explain, “This is the only way to keep Tata Madiba’s memory and legacy alive; through these acts of kindness. We have not managed to do these grocery hampers alone, it is our angel donors, corporates like Kit Kat Cash and Carry, PFK Octagon, Cyber Dexterity, The Media Factory and so many other donors that have allowed for our Mandela Day to be such a success.”

Merchants of Light have different community projects throughout the year, weekly feeding programs, school shoe and stationery drives, along with disaster management and relief. From packing of toiletries, mattresses, and blankets for victims of floods and fires, to cooking or dishing up bowls of hope, love and light. If you are able to support this initiative please contact or message 082 5050 664.

Merchants Of Light Bring Hope, Love And Impact.

BY: Soweto-LifeNews.com
"Vision On News"
"Vision For The City"