On Heritage Day, South Africans gather around fires , some big, some small, to share food, stories, and the feeling of belonging. This year, Roots Butchery elevated that tradition to new heights, staging the first-ever braai on top of the iconic Soweto Towers, turning an everyday ritual into a historic cultural moment.
Actor Alfred “Shorty” Ntombela and influencer-chef Tommy Dickson (better known as Chef Vaaitjie)
A Braai in the Sky
Led by two beloved South African figures, actor Alfred “Shorty” Ntombela and influencer-chef Tommy Dickson (better known as Chef Vaaitjie), the braai became more than just smoke and spice. Suspended 100 metres above Soweto, the towers transformed into a stage where heritage, humour, and flavour collided — honouring the braai as the ultimate South African connector.
The Soweto Towers have long been a symbol of resilience, creativity, and community. To light a fire at their summit was to say: our traditions don’t just live at ground level, they rise with us.
Celebrating Roots — in Every Sense
Heritage Day is not just another date on the calendar. It’s a day where South Africans affirm their identity through food, language, music, and gathering. By taking the braai to the towers, Roots Butchery celebrated the essence of heritage: accessible, rooted in community, and proudly for the people.
For over two decades, Roots has been part of that story, providing quality meat and spices that power family meals, township celebrations, and street corner braais across the country. This Heritage Day campaign was less about selling and more about showing, a bold reminder that food is culture, and culture is meant to be shared.
The Flavour of Community
Partnering with Six Guns Grill Spice and Coca-Cola, Roots Butchery rolled out exclusive braai packs and “super savings” across its 180+ stores, giving families everywhere the chance to fire up their own grills. The activation tied the high-flying spectacle of the towers back down to earth, reminding us that heritage is strongest when it’s lived at home, in our neighbourhoods, with the people who matter most.
More Than Just Meat
The first-ever braai on Soweto Towers wasn’t just a stunt, it was a landmark moment. A blending of heritage, history, and humour that reaffirms why the braai isn’t simply about cooking; it’s about connecting.
Roots Butchery showed us that heritage lives in our everyday rituals, and sometimes, in unforgettable milestones. Because at the end of the day, the braai isn’t just fire and meat — it’s the heart of South Africa
