The Sweet Taste of South African Heritage

In South Africa, heritage is something we can taste. It lives in the aroma of cinnamon rising from a freshly baked milk tart, in the sticky syrup coating a koeksister, in the warm spices of a Cape Malay koesister and in the comforting sweetness of malva pudding served after a long Sunday lunch.

Our food tells the story of who we are: a country shaped by many cultures, communities, histories and traditions, each contributing flavours and recipes that have found a place around our collective table.

And perhaps nowhere is that diversity more deliciously expressed than in our desserts. As a dietitian, I see daily how food serves as both physical nourishment and an anchor for emotional well-being, connecting us deeply to our roots, our families, and our sense of comfort.

More than just something sweet

Many f South Africa's best-loved treats carry stories that reach across generations. Take milk tart, or ‘melktert’. With influences from South Africa's Dutch colonial history and generations of local adaptation, it has evolved into a dessert that feels distinctly South African. Its delicate custard, pastry base and generous dusting of cinnamon have made it a familiar favourite in homes across the country.

Then there are the koeksister and koesister, similar in name, but distinctly different in character.

The classic plaited koeksister is fried and soaked in syrup, while the Cape Malay koesister is traditionally fragrant with spices such as cinnamon, cardamom and ginger and finished with coconut. Their differences are a delicious reminder that our heritage isn't one story. There are many stories woven together.

Malva pudding tells another story of comfort and celebration. Served warm and drenched in its characteristic sauce, it has become a fixture at family gatherings and Sunday lunches. For many South Africans, these desserts are inseparable from memories of home and enjoying them mindfully is a wonderful example of how cultural appreciation and emotional satisfaction fit naturally into a balanced lifestyle.

When tradition meets today

But Heritage isn't about keeping everything exactly as it was. Recipes change. Families adapt to them. Ingredients are substituted. New generations put their own stamp on dishes handed down to them. In that sense, evolution is part of culinary heritage itself.

Today's cooks are increasingly looking for ways to enjoy traditional favourites while being more conscious of what goes into them. This is where simple ingredient swaps can give familiar recipes a contemporary touch.

For those looking to reduce the amount of added sugar used in some recipes, a suitable Canderel product can be one option. The result will depend on the product and the recipe, so home cooks should follow the relevant usage guidance when adapting much-loved desserts while preserving the character of the dish.

The goal isn't to change what makes a milk tart a milk tart, or to take the comfort out of malva pudding. It's about exploring how recipes can move with the times, just as our families and food traditions have always done.

Managing blood sugar doesn't mean leaving our culinary roots behind; rather, it's about finding smart ways to balance health and wellness with the rich flavours and shared memories we cherish.

A table big enough for everyone

Perhaps the most beautiful thing about South African food heritage is that it doesn't demand that we choose one tradition over another.

Our dessert tables can hold milk tart alongside koeksisters, Cape Malay koeksisters alongside malva pudding, and old family recipes alongside new interpretations.

Because food heritage isn't simply about where a recipe began. It's about how it was shared, remembered and made part of someone's life.

This Heritage Month, let us celebrate South Africa's culinary diversity in the simplest way possible: gather around a table, share the stories behind our favourite foods and give those traditions space to evolve for the next generation.

After all, some of our most treasured memories begin with something sweet.

      TrevTober Turns 5: Five Years of Music, Movement and Memories

Five years on, TrevTober has firmly established itself as more than a fixture on Johannesburg’s entertainment calendar. What began as a celebration of music has evolved into a distinctive experience shaped by sound, culture, connection and the anticipation of discovering what happens when the right people come together in the right space.

On 24 October 2026, that journey reaches a milestone as the festival takes over Mea Culpa in Sandton. Marking five years of creating memorable music experiences, this year’s edition brings together an international line-up, leading South African selectors and live performances, setting the stage for a celebration that promises to be among the city’s most anticipated music and lifestyle experiences of 2026.

For its fifth edition, TrevTober will transform Mea Culpa into a three-part musical journey. Guests can expect to move from the greenery and relaxed energy of the garden, to the rooftop and, eventually, the unmistakable pulse of the main stage. Each space will offer its own mood and energy, creating an experience that unfolds throughout the day and into the night.

Leading the international line-up are Omar (UK), Frances Jaye (USA) and Marcelo Tavares (Brazil), three internationally celebrated artists whose sounds have travelled across borders and dance floors. Their presence adds an exciting global dimension to a festival that remains deeply connected to Johannesburg's music and creative culture.

They will be joined by Thabo Smol, who will take to the stage with a live band to perform music from his recent album, Dithupa Tsa Smol. Kitchen Mess will also bring their live sound to the festival, adding another dynamic performance to an already eclectic programme.

The fifth edition continues that tradition with a carefully curated line-up of selectors and musicians from across South Africa, including Trev The Japanese, T-Bose, Nicky B, Vinny Da Vinci, Bubbles, Thabo Phalatse, Brian Blaq, Thami 537, MR. 55, Simmy,  Juss Banks, Chainz, S-Girl, Kabelo Phalatse, Daddy Twist, Owza, David Soulmarti, Smoothie-T, Syrin, Subman, Mister X, Les da Groove, Magic Prince, Kalawa, Mr. Spike, Marco D’Mel, Gordz, Danny The Jazz, TeddyPeace, KZBL, Tibza (SZW), Floyd Mash and St. Jones, among others.

For founder, Trev the Japanese, reaching the five-year milestone is a celebration not only of TrevTober’s growth, but also of the community of people who have helped shape the experience along the way.

“Five years feels special because we’ve built this together with the people who have continued to show up, support us and make TrevTober what it is,” he says. “The music is at the heart of everything, but it’s also about the feeling, the conversations, the unexpected moments, the people you meet and the memories you leave with. With our TrevTober Turns 5 message, we want to celebrate that journey while giving people something new to experience.”

That spirit will come to life through a fifth edition designed as an immersive experience, where the music and atmosphere unfold throughout the day. From the laid-back energy of the garden and the elevated rooftop setting to the anticipation of the main stage, guests can expect a seamless journey through different sounds, spaces and moments that capture the essence of TrevTober.

While the international line-up adds a global dimension to the celebration, TrevTober remains firmly rooted in Johannesburg, always prioritising its people, its sounds and its vibrant creative culture.  Powered by SAMPRA, the festival reflects the ability to bring diverse influences together to create experiences that feel distinctly local yet resonate far beyond its borders.

Tickets are available at www.trevtober.com.

Joburg Theatre honors the extraordinary musical legacy of Caiphus Semenya in a new live production featuring Nathi, Moneoa, Amanda Black and Nokukhanya Dlamini, directed by James Ngcobo with musical direction by Tshepo Mngoma.

Few names occupy a place in South African music quite like Caiphus Semenya. Composer, musician, songwriter and one of the country’s most respected musical legends, Semenya has created a body of work that has travelled across generations, borders and decades, leaving an enduring mark on the soundtrack of South Africa.

From his distinctive songwriting and compositions to his collaborations and contribution to the development of South African music, Semenya’s work represents more than a collection of songs. It is part of the country’s cultural memory, music shaped by love, identity, home, resilience and the South African experience.

From 18 to 20 September 2026, Joburg Theatre will celebrate this extraordinary legacy with CAIPHUS SEMENYA SONGBOOK, a three-day musical experience on the Joburg Theatre stage dedicated to the music and influence of one of South Africa’s most important musical voices.

Caiphus Semenya Songbook is an opportunity to honor an artist whose contribution continues to influence South African music and the generations of artists who have followed him. His career and music have crossed generations and genres, while his songwriting has demonstrated the power of distinctly South African stories to resonate far beyond the country’s borders.

The production is therefore not simply a journey into the past. It celebrates a living musical legacy and asks how the work of South Africa’s great artists can continue to be heard, interpreted and carried forward by new generations. At the heart of the production is the belief that musical legacies remain alive when their songs continue to be performed, rediscovered and introduced to new audiences.

Through Caiphus Semenya Songbook, audiences who have grown up with Semenya’s music will have an opportunity to reconnect with his work, while younger audiences will experience his extraordinary repertoire through some of South Africa’s leading contemporary voices.

Bringing Semenya’s music to the stage will be an exceptional line-up of South African artists; Nathi, Moneoa, Amanda Black and Nokukhanya Dlamini. Each artist brings a distinctive voice, musical identity and interpretation to the production, creating a meeting point between one of South Africa’s great musical legacies and a new generation of performers. Rather than attempting to recreate the past, the artists will engage with Semenya’s repertoire through their own artistry, allowing audiences to experience familiar music with renewed energy while retaining the heart and integrity of the original work.

The combination of these voices gives Caiphus Semenya Songbook its contemporary character – celebrating where South African music has come from while demonstrating how its greatest songs can continue to live through the artists of today.

The production is directed by acclaimed theatre-maker and Joburg City Theatres Artistic Director James Ngcobo, who brings his theatrical storytelling approach to the celebration. Ngcobo’s direction will position the music within a broader theatrical experience, exploring the relationship between song, memory, storytelling and South Africa’s cultural history.

Joining him is respected musician and composer Tshepo Mngoma as Musical Director, who will lead the musical interpretation of Semenya’s repertoire. Mngoma’s musical direction will bring the Songbook into conversation with the contemporary voices on stage while preserving the musical character and emotional depth that have made Semenya’s work endure across generations.

Together, Ngcobo and Mngoma will shape a production that places Caiphus Semenya and his music firmly at its centre, supported by artists who represent the continuing evolution of South African music.

Caiphus Semenya Songbook is ultimately a celebration of legacy of songs that have survived generations, of an artist whose contribution continues to matter, and of the responsibility to ensure that South Africa’s musical treasures continue to find new audiences. For three days this September, Joburg Theatre invites audiences to gather, remember, rediscover and celebrate the music of a South African legend.

South African digital media publication, FAME SA, is celebrating a major milestone after reaching 500,000 followers on TikTok, marking another significant chapter in the platform’s rapid growth and its growing influence within South Africa’s entertainment and lifestyle landscape.

The milestone comes as FAME SA continues to experience strong audience growth across its digital platforms. Within just 28 days, the publication recorded more than 35 million views and over 5 million engagements, highlighting the growing demand for its entertainment, culture, lifestyle and event-driven content.

Beyond TikTok, FAME SA’s digital community continues to expand, with more than 130,000 followers on Facebook, over 11,000 followers on Instagram, and more than 50,000 readers on its website.

“These numbers are more than just statistics; they represent the community that has chosen to engage with FAME SA and trust us to tell the stories that matter,” says Phillip Bodlani, Founder and Director at FAME SA. “Reaching half a million followers on TikTok is a huge milestone for us, but it is also a reminder that we have an even bigger responsibility to continue creating relevant, entertaining and authentic content.”

FAME SA has positioned itself as a digital media platform dedicated to amplifying South African entertainment, music, fashion, lifestyle, personalities and cultural moments. Through original content, event coverage, interviews, features and social-first storytelling, the publication continues to connect audiences with the people and moments shaping popular culture.

The platform’s latest growth reflects the changing media landscape, where audiences increasingly discover entertainment and cultural stories through short-form video and social media. FAME SA has embraced this shift by creating content designed to meet audiences where they are while maintaining a strong presence through its website and social platforms.

With its TikTok community now at the half-a-million mark, FAME SA says the milestone is only the beginning.

The publication will continue expanding its editorial offering, strengthening partnerships with brands and entertainment stakeholders, and creating opportunities for emerging voices across South Africa’s creative industries.

FAME SA is not just reporting on the culture — it is part of the culture.

About FAME SA

FAME SA is a South African digital media publication covering entertainment, lifestyle, music, fashion, events and popular culture. Through digital storytelling and social-first content, FAME SA connects audiences with the personalities, brands and experiences shaping South Africa’s cultural landscape.