Main Street Sundays Turns Joburg Streets into a People-First Playground

Residents invited to reclaim the city as cars make way for community, culture and connection

By Thembi Moyo

Johannesburg’s inner city is set to come alive in a different way this weekend, as Main Street in Marshalltown is transformed into a vibrant, car-free space for people to walk, play and connect.

On Sunday, 12 April, the busy street will be closed to traffic and opened up to families, residents, students and visitors as part of Main Street Sundays an initiative inspired by the global Open Streets movement, which encourages cities to rethink how public spaces are used. Instead of the usual rush of cars and taxis, the day promises a slower, more relaxed pace where people can explore the city on foot, by bike or even on skates. Organisers say the aim is simple: to bring people back into the heart of Johannesburg and remind them that the city belongs to its residents.

Dawn Robertson of Jozi My Jozi says the initiative is about more than just a once-off event. She describes it as part of a growing international movement that has already reshaped cities like Bogotá, Los Angeles and Cape Town. “With Main Street closed to cars, it becomes less about rushing and more about experiencing the city,” she explains. “It gives people the chance to truly engage with Johannesburg to meet, connect and enjoy it at a human pace.”

Stretching from 44 Main down to Gandhi Square, the route will feature nine activation zones designed to cater for a wide range of interests. These include wellness activities, reading spaces, live music, children’s play areas, art and design installations, games, and a food court at Gandhi Square. An “art mile” will also run alongside the route, linking cultural spaces such as the Standard Bank Gallery and Asisebenze Gallery, with pop-up exhibitions adding to the creative atmosphere.

The initiative forms part of Johannesburg’s broader Walkable Network strategy a city plan focused on improving pedestrian-friendly routes that connect transport hubs, businesses and public spaces. Roland Postma of Young Urbanists NPC believes projects like this can help reshape how people experience urban spaces. He says reimagining streets is one of the simplest ways to improve cities. “If we want Johannesburg to work, we must start with its streets,” he says. “Once you change the streets, you begin to change the city itself.”

City officials have also backed the initiative, highlighting its role in promoting safer, healthier and more inclusive public spaces. Lutando Maboza from the City of Johannesburg says opening streets to pedestrians and cyclists shows how transport infrastructure can serve communities better. For the Johannesburg Inner City Partnership, the event is also about boosting local economic activity. CEO David van Niekerk says increased foot traffic can improve safety while supporting small businesses and informal traders.

Beyond the activities and entertainment, organisers say the event carries a deeper message that meaningful change in Johannesburg doesn’t have to wait for large-scale interventions. “Joburg doesn’t need saving, it needs people to show up,” Robertson says. “When businesses open their doors, when creatives collaborate, when communities come together that’s how real change happens.”

Main Street Sundays is a partnership between Jozi My Jozi, Young Urbanists NPC, the Johannesburg Inner City Partnership, Johannesburg in Your Pocket and the City of Johannesburg. Residents are encouraged to bring their families and friends and experience a different side of the city one where the streets are filled not with traffic, but with music, movement and human connection. As organisers put it, it’s a chance to rediscover Johannesburg, one street at a time.