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Few places show you Johannesburg as clearly as Alexandra.
Stand in Alex and look across the highway. Sandton is right there: towers, restaurants, money and the confident architecture of “Africa’s richest square mile”. Then turn around and you are standing in one of Johannesburg’s oldest townships, established in 1912 and one of the rare urban areas where Black South Africans could historically own land under freehold title, while Blacks elsewhere grappled with whatever variation of the Group Areas Act was prevalent at the time.
One of the only surviving townships that didn't get demolished when Sophiatown, Disttict Six, Cato Manor and other Black residential areas were met with this fate, Alex has history, culture, talent and next-level entrepreneurial energy.
What it needs is more opportunities to shine.
On Saturday, 29 August, that is exactly what my friend Gift Sedibeng is trying to create when Siga Culinary Restaurant brings back its Culinary Experience in East Bank.
Gift’s story is one I love. After spending two years working and training in San Antonio, Texas, he came home and decided Mexican food did not need to belong exclusively to suburban restaurant strips. He created what he calls MexiKasi: tacos, nachos, quesadillas and Mexican flavours reworked through an Alexandra lens. His outrageous kota burrito even finished second at the 2023 Soweto Kota Festival.
For one day, the area outside Siga becomes something bigger: food stalls, music, people and a collection of small businesses worth travelling across Gauteng to eat from.
And there are some of my personal favourites involved.
Chef Natalie Sass of 21st Sass Foodie is pulling up with the kind of hearty Kasi comfort food I keep writing about. Then there is Something Soul Kitchen, serving proper South African soul food and home-style classics.
River Park Café is joining too, bringing traditional favourites and slow-cooked comfort food, while Solid Liquid Eatery represents the new-school kasi side with burgers, wings, ribs, loaded fries and monster kotas.
The legends Porangi World are also part of the feast, alongside Siga Culinary itself, creating a line-up that shows just how much exciting food entrepreneurship is happening outside Joburg’s usual restaurant map.
And this is why the festival matters beyond one delicious Saturday.
Events like this create reasons for people to move around our city. They put customers in front of small businesses, bring media and attention into neighbourhoods that deserve more of it and circulate money within local economies.
They also prove that great South African food is not confined to elite malls, high end hotel restaurants or wealthy suburbs.
Sometimes the rest of Joburg just needs an invitation to cross the highway.
And with free entry, there really isn’t much of an excuse.
Come hungry. Come curious. Come support local.
What you need to know
- When: Saturday, 29 August 2026
- Time: From 1pm until late
- Entry: Free
- Where: Siga Culinary Restaurant
- Address: 384 East Bank Avenue, East Bank, Alexandra, Johannesburg
- Contact: 082 269 7777
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