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Stuff from Johannesburg

Angela’s Picnic

JOHANNESBURG – The 43rd annual Angela’s Picnic, powered by Stellantis South Africa, will take place on Sunday, 24 May 2026, at Riversands Farm Village in Midrand.

The event brings together motoring enthusiasts, families, and car clubs from across South Africa for a community-focused gathering centred on automotive display and fundraising in support of Greendale House Palliative and Hospice Care.

Founded in the 1980s by the late Angela Heinz, Angela’s Picnic has become a long-standing fixture on the country’s motoring calendar, providing a platform for engagement between car clubs, collectors, and the public through the display of a broad range of vehicles representing the evolution of mobility and automotive design.

To date, the event has raised more than R1 million in support of hospice and palliative care services, contributing directly to the ongoing care provided by Greendale House to patients and families.

“Angela’s Picnic continues to play an important role in connecting motoring communities with the public while supporting a meaningful cause,” says Paul Williams, National Chairman of the Alfa Romeo Owners Association and one of the event organisers. “It remains an example of community engagement within South Africa’s car clubs.”

“For Stellantis South Africa, this event reflects our commitment to engaging with customers across the market and representing the breadth of our brand portfolio,” says Charl Timms, Commercial Director for Stellantis South Africa. “It provides an opportunity to interact directly with South African motorists in a relevant environment and support initiatives that benefit local communities.”

Stellantis South Africa will host a display featuring vehicles from Alfa Romeo, Citroën, FIAT, Jeep®, Opel, and PEUGEOT, representing the group’s full passenger vehicle portfolio in the local market.

Car clubs from across the country will also exhibit a wide range of classic and contemporary vehicles, reflecting the diversity and evolution of automotive ownership and design.

Visitors can expect to see models including the Citroën DS, FIAT 500, PEUGEOT 405, and Opel Superboss among the displays.

Entry to Angela’s Picnic is free, with visitors encouraged to make a donation to Greendale House at the gate. The event will also feature food vendors, live entertainment, and a dedicated children’s play area. Please note that no gas or open braai fires will be permitted on site.

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The Wilds: A Sanctuary of Stone and Steel

The Wilds was officially opened to the public in 1938, carved out of the rocky “koppies” (hills) of the Witwatersrand. Unlike the manicured lawns of the city’s more traditional parks, The Wilds was designed to showcase South Africa’s botanical heritage. It is a vertical garden of sorts, featuring steep stone paths that wind through forests of yellowwood trees, proteas, and ancient cycads. At its highest point, the reserve offers one of the most spectacular views of the Johannesburg skyline, where the brutalist towers of Hillbrow seem to rise directly out of the prehistoric-looking vegetation.

However, like many of Johannesburg’s public spaces, The Wilds fell into a period of deep neglect during the late 1990s and early 2000s. As crime rates rose and the city’s maintenance budgets shifted, the reserve became overgrown and was perceived as a “no-go zone.” The waterfalls stopped running, the stone paths crumbled, and the once-vibrant greenhouse became a skeletal ruin. For nearly two decades, this incredible piece of real estate sat largely abandoned, used only by a few brave locals and the occasional film crew looking for a “wilderness” setting within city limits.