WeeklySA_AdminSHOWCASE: More than 40 vendors will serve creative versions of Soweto’s celebrated township sandwich as the popular two-day festival returns with live music, family entertainment and opportunities for local entrepreneurs…
By Priscilla Malinga
The Soweto Kota Festival returns for its ninth edition next weekend, bringing together township cuisine, live music and local entrepreneurship at the Elkah Cricket Oval in Rockville.
More than 40 food vendors are expected to participate in the two-day festival on September 5 and 6, offering visitors their distinctive versions of the kota from R60.
Organised by SID Entertainment, the festival has grown into one of Soweto’s flagship family events and a showcase for the creativity surrounding one of South Africa’s best-known township dishes.
The kota takes its name from a quarter loaf of bread, hollowed out and filled with a combination of ingredients. Earlier versions typically featured mashed potatoes, atchar and mince, while today’s vendors serve increasingly elaborate creations containing chips, polony, cheese, eggs, patties, Russians and Viennas.
Other variations include steak, ribs, avocado, onion rings and fish, complemented by signature sauces and spice combinations intended to distinguish one vendor’s offering from another.
Festival founder Sidwell Tshingilane said the gathering was about more than food and entertainment. It provides small businesses and emerging entrepreneurs with access to thousands of customers, while creating temporary employment opportunities for unemployed young people in Soweto.
“The Soweto Kota Festival is more than an event — it is a celebration of heritage, community and the entrepreneurial spirit of Soweto,” Tshingilane said.
Last year’s eighth edition attracted more than 16,000 people, including about 9,000 visitors on the Saturday and 7,000 on the Sunday. More than 50 vendors participated. Organisers say attendance has previously reached 18,000, underlining the festival’s place on Soweto’s cultural calendar.
This year’s programme will feature live performances by Lamiez Holworthy, Tracy, Mr X, Uncool and Jobe London. Entertainment for children, along with snacks and ice cream supplied by Ola, will add to the festival’s family appeal. Drinks and desserts will also be sold.
The organisers recently hosted a media briefing attended by sponsors and partners including Super Store Dlamini, GoTyme Bank, Standard Bank, PayShap, First Choice Cheese and Big Tree Beverages. Aromat is supporting the culinary offering, while Renault is providing vehicles for the festival team.
Sowetan, Soweto TV and Jozi FM are participating as strategic media partners. Sasko, the principal sponsor of the inaugural event, is expected to return for the festival’s 10th anniversary in 2027.
The event will operate mainly on cashless payments, although organisers expect about 10% of transactions to be conducted in cash.
For many residents, the kota is closely associated with school days and neighbourhood takeaway shops. The festival turns that everyday food tradition into a large commercial platform, allowing traders to test new recipes, build their brands and reach customers beyond their usual areas across the wider Gauteng market. Its mix of heritage and innovation also reflects how the humble sandwich has evolved without losing its strong connection to Soweto’s streets and communities.
Tshingilane thanked the sponsors, partners and organising team for helping build an event that celebrates a familiar township meal while generating income, supporting jobs and creating memorable experiences for families.
