JEFFREYS BAY – Community spirit is flourishing in Jeffreys Bay through an initiative that combines neighbourhood street braais with acts of kindness, bringing residents together while fulfilling dreams and helping those less fortunate during the festive season.
Local resident, Soria Swart, said that in a world that often feels rushed, disconnected, and digital, a heartwarming tradition has begun to spread through Jeffreys Bay, one that takes the community right back to the “golden days” of their childhood.
The annual Street Braai offers residents an opportunity to gather around a fire at the corner of various streets throughout Jeffreys Bay, with each household bringing along tables, chairs, firewood and proudly prepared dishes.
“Every family contributes something: warm home-baked bread, fresh salads, sweet puddings, cherished family recipes, and bags of wood to keep the fires glowing long into the evening,” said Swart.
The event, which took place on 5 and 6 December, is quickly becoming one of the most meaningful new community trends in town.
Swart said that for many residents, these gatherings awaken memories of a time when neighbours were not strangers.
“The Street Braai reminds us of a time when, if a new family moved in, the entire street would arrive with a fresh pot of coffee, home-baked cookies, and a warm welcome. When curtains were hung together, recipes were exchanged freely, and children played in the street until the moon rose high. When we visited each other’s homes in our pyjamas, feeling safe, loved, and part of something greater than ourselves,” said Swart.
She added that the initiative addresses a growing need for community connection.
Swart said that since COVID-19, most people have lived for themselves and in isolation, with many not even knowing who their neighbours are.
Thankfully, through the Street Braai initiative, things are changing in her community, with people eager to learn more about each other and support one another.
“There is something almost overwhelming in the simplicity and sincerity of the Street Braai. As people walk up one by one with their offerings, laughter fills the air long before the first chop hits the grill. Children ride their bikes between the neighbours, dogs trot around happily, and adults settle into long, easy conversations with people they may only have waved at in passing throughout the year,” said Swart.
“In those moments, something extraordinary happens. There is no politics, no religion, no dividing lines, only unity, peace, and belonging.”
Adding to the uniqueness of the Street Braai event, Swart said that each year they aim to assist with a special project or request from the underprivileged or senior citizens in the community.
This year, on 5 December at the corner of Spekboom Street and Tecoma Street, Tersia Strydom, an 80-year-old resident, ticked off an exciting bucket list item.
Swart said that Pastor Corrie Venter arranged for a local group of Harley Davidson bikers to surprise Strydom with a drive around the community, a surprise she had been looking forward to all her life.
“She obviously could not ride the motorcycle herself, but the bikers lifted her onto a motorcycle and drove around the block with her. It was a big surprise for her,” said Swart.
To keep the Street Braai tradition alive, she also organised her own community braai the following day on the corner of Palm Crescent and Red Currant Road.
Reflecting on how community relationships have changed over time, Swart said that the Street Braai continues to spread throughout Jeffreys Bay, with many more communities interested in participating.
“Things are changing in our community and being neighbourly is becoming common practice again,” said Swart.
She has also encouraged others to get involved and pay it forward by doing something good for the less fortunate.
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