The original Melville Library was actually on 7th Street, then moved across the road from the Postnet and eventually to where it is now at the Melville Boulevard. Even our books have enjoyed a good tour of the hood over the years. Welcome to Melville Untold, Halloween edition…👻

In this week's newsletter:

• He Opened Picobella In Memory of His Partner. 18 Years Later, It's Still About Love 🍝

• A Big Drop In This Season's Crime Patterns 🥷

• A Chat With The Trail Fund Project Winners! 🏆

Let’s go. 

— Aubrey Moloto, Kele Jackson

The Digest

He Opened Picobella In Memory of His Partner. 18 Years Later, It's still About Love 🍝

People, especially those of my age, idolise famous actors, singers, and Forbes-listed entrepreneurs. But me? I look up to Melville icons. The greats, proper movers and shakers, change and taste makers. People who started movements and events that shook the city, creating moments that make this neighbourhood so culturally rich.

These are people who put Melville on the map, from its early days in the 19th century, where Rand miners found a haven in which to raise their children. Then, transformed from a farming neighbourhood into a cosmopolitan suburb. I idolise the characters whose efforts and ideas further transformed the area from a cute, family suburb in the mid-1900s into something extraordinary. When it became home to the nation's broadcasting headquarters, SABC, in the '60s, some serious weirdos came into the space. Eccentrics who opposed the status quo and turned the area into a bohemian sanctuary, imprinting their quirks and eclectic personalities into this melting pot of families, creatives, hippies, entrepreneurs, and freedom fighters. These "icons" turned Melville into one of the world's coolest suburbs!

Meet Déon

I could drop many names, but this newsletter would read like a phonebook. (It's so close already!) So we'll focus on one that withstood the test of time, riding the wave through Melville's peaks and valleys, with a hand continuously stirring the pot of the Melville spirit. He calls it "Melville Magic," and if you sift through the pot's contents, you'll see just how much of it is his contributions throughout his adult life, congruent with the many phases of Melville.

Many have come and gone, but he remains. Still contributing. Still pouring himself into the suburb and still optimistic against contrary beliefs, that the best is still ahead of us. Most of you know him well and share a deep connection that has run for decades. Yes, I'm talking about none other than Déon Fourie, co-founder of the iconic Cat's Pyjamas, Full Stop Cafe, Mezzaluna, Vista Social Club, and now the hood's beloved Café Picobella Trattoria—one of Mzansi's top Italian restaurants.

Déon's full story is one for the ages; there's no way I can do it in one short article. We'll have to revisit moments of his time here over a few issues. The tale would cover a chunk of the neighbourhood's story from the golden era of the 90s through the 2000s to now. It's still going on, so we'll try to fly through the early stages and focus on his Picobella days.

A Life of Service

Déon has lived a life of service from childhood. He's a true Jozi native who grew up in Hillbrow during its heyday, taking in the explosion of culture with a watchful eye and learning what makes an urban neighbourhood tick. Preparations for his fate began early as a tween growing up within the Linger Longer group of restaurants. It's there that he learnt the importance of curating a space, a place’s atmosphere, and bringing an idea to life.

He left the group as a young adult to help Josè, one of the managers, open his first place, a Portuguese restaurant called Frangito Deli. It was the first sit-down restaurant in Parkhurst. Parkhurst was under Mormon law at the time, with strict regulations. They employed ingenuity and trickery to bypass restaurant restrictions, like claiming that the tables and chairs "were for old people waiting for a takeaway." After spending time with Frangito, where he began honing his restaurateur skills and learned to cook Portuguese food from José's mother, the restaurant moved, so Déon returned to the Linger Longer group.

Finding Melville

Déon started dating Joanne, who later became his wife. She was working in Melville, and he wanted to be closer to her, so he came to look for work as a waiter. "Walking nervously from restaurant to restaurant," he was out of his comfort zone for the first time. Déon was used to being employed, having been with the Linger Longer group for years. He had to swallow his pride and face his fears. “Putting yourself out there” can be terrifying as an introvert. It took days before he landed a job at the Questionmark Bistro, given a shot by Melville legend, Miro,

The Entrepreneurial Journey Begins

Déon's early days in Melville were a transition from service roles to actively participating in the neighbourhood's vibrant, late-night scene, which quickly led to his first proper entrepreneurial ventures. Three of his Questionmark colleagues and he identified a need in the nightlife scene.

They came up with "the crazy idea to open a place that stayed open 24 hours a day, seven days a week". The idea was to fill a gap that emerged after the Roxy's era and cater specifically to the clientele who needed food after hours—students, people finishing work late from the ER, and other restaurants, who would only arrive after 2 am. The four friends found an investor who loved the concept and acquired a place called Deanchenzo Trattoria on Main Road, converting it into Cat's Pyjamas. Déon laughs, referring to this first challenging experience as "having to pay school fees."

Full Stop and Beyond

He didn't stay with the Cat's crew for long. Miro was making his next move after selling Questionmark; He founded another famous restaurant on the corner of 7th and 2nd Avenue called Full Stop Cafe (he must have really been into punctuation!), which replaced Nino's. Miro asked Déon to help him open the place up.

Déon says the Full Stop venture was a "really great experience" where he learnt critical skills about service and "how to successfully put a restaurant concept together". He describes it as an art. The Full Stop Café was an instant hit, achieving the difficult feat of successfully catering to Melville's "eclectic mix of people".

After a few years, Miro left to fulfil a lifelong dream of moving to America and opened a small restaurant in Los Angeles. Déon left Full Stop a proper restaurateur, just itching to open a place of his own. It was a Mediterranean-style place with an "old Melville eclectic kind of vibe" called Mezzaluna. After Mezzaluna, he left Melville for a bit to help a friend open a French restaurant in Parktown North.

Vista Social Club and a Powerful Partnership

Once the place was up and running, he returned to the hood and opened Vista Social Club together with another Melville icon, actress Ashley Callie, most known for her role as Leonie Heyns in Isidingo. They opened at the mini strip on the corner of 4th Avenue and 5th Street, where Hard Times was. This marked the beginning of a strong friendship and one of Melville's most powerful partnerships. Déon speaks highly of Ashley and the deep connection they had. Vista was a "Cuban/Art Nouveau" concept that also captured Melville's hearts.

The Birth of Picobella

Following Vista Social Club, Déon and Ashley started talking about putting together a masterpiece—a culmination of their shared experience and community connections. Something designed to serve the community that celebrates the "Melville Magic." A little Italian joint called Café Picobella Trattoria.

They found a beautiful house on 4th Avenue that had been converted from an old Melville-style home with a small space allocated for a cafe. Thus, the name Picobella which literally means "a little beauty" in Italian. Sadly, Déon lost Ashley before they could open. She tragically died in a car accident early in 2008.

As an act of admiration for his partner, Déon pushed the plan on and opened Café Picobella Trattoria in loving memory of Ashley on her birthday, 19 May 2008.

A Venture for the Community

Picobella is a venture made by Melvillians, for Melvillians. The venture has been operating guided by the north star of serving the community and repaying their love and support from the day their doors opened.

Since then, the restaurant has grown from strength to strength. Déon heaps praise on his staff for this continual success, whom he calls family, saying that it is what it is because of them and the community that has been there for them from the start. They've become one of the best Italian restaurants in the country, winning many accolades for not only the food but the concept as well.It’s always being praised for its atmosphere, service, and excellence.

They're a constant in highly acclaimed Top Restaurants lists with high ratings on Google, TripAdvisor, Trip.com, and many more, with over 1,450 reviews on Google alone. They are also nominated yearly in Best In Joburg and Best In Gauteng 702 awards, and scooped the prize for the Top Restaurant In South Africa in 2023. They came very close to scooping the best pizza place award at the 2025 702 Best In Gauteng Awards.

But for Déon, the best accolade is determined by "if somebody is happy and they have had something to do with that." Nothing else is more important.

The addition of Trattoria to the name speaks to the style of Italian eatery they are. A trattoria is generally considered less formal than a ristorante but more formal than an osteria. It offers modest menu items that follow regional and local recipes, often referred to as "country-style cuisine".

The Magic Continues

Déon has been working and trading in Melville for over 25 years now, but you still get the sense that his Melville journey still has a long way to go. He has a quiet and warm demeanour, but somehow emits tons of energy. He's another one (after Martin Wenkindu in issue #24) who feels that something in the Koppies gives off a vibration that attracts him and other Melvillians who vibrate on this “Melville Magic” frequency here.

He couldn't name one memorable moment, but the most important for him were marrying his wife, whom he met here, seeing his children grow up in our hood, and the community witnessing him "fall in love and fall out of love" here. His first day here, searching for work, also sticks with him.

Déon expresses a deep love and pride for Melville; he sees it as much more than just a location for his business. It's an integral part of his life and identity. He loves the unique social and cultural environment and believes that Melville is the only place that is completely integrated. It's "a bohemian and accepting vibe," he says, describing it as an open environment that allows people to connect on a human level.

He believes there's a special magic in Melville that you don't find anywhere else. "You just have to sit here and, you know, open yourself up. You'll see it."

You can visit Café Picobella Trattoria at 66 4th Ave, Melville. They are open Monday to Sunday from 8 am to 10 pm. Book a table or enquire at 011 482 4309.

If you enjoyed this week’s digest deep dive, consider giving us a tip. Buy us a coffee? Payshap id: 0605293425 (Standardbank)

What’s Happenin’ 🤔

Halloween festivities kicked off this weekend with the markets, and lots more are coming up this week! Time to get your spooky on, Melville!

Check out the online events calendar for the regular events - The Melville Pulse Events Calendar 

Melville Weather For The Week 🌸

Wednesday 

21° 🌡️ 14°  | 🌩️ |  🌧️ 55% | W 13 km/h 💨

Thursday  

22° 🌡️ 13° | 🌩️ | 🌧️ 98% | NE 11 km/h 💨

Friday 

23° 🌡️ 14° | 🌤️ | 🌧️ 55% | NNW 7 km/h 💨

Saturday 

27° 🌡️ 14° | ⛅️ |  🌧️ 55% | NW 9 km/h 💨

Sunday

25° 🌡️ 14° | 🌩️ | 🌧️ 87% | NNW 11 km/h 💨

Monday 

21° 🌡️ 13° | ⛅️ |  🌧️ 55% | N 7 km/h 💨

Tuesday 

24° 🌡️ 13° | 🌤️ |  🌧️ 2% | WSW 4 km/h 💨

Live & Music Events Lowdown 🎸

 Here's where you can show off your best MJ - Thriller moves!

31/10 | Friday | 4 pm | Coca Restaurant and Lounge | The Brick City Takeover: Halloween Edition | Free

01/11 | Saturday | 8 pm | The Anti Social Social Club | Halloween SZN: Anti-Social Rave ft. Sastii | Free

01/11 | Saturday | 4 pm | Great Dane | Underground #20 Halloween Edition ft. Beatbattle and Open Mic | R50

01/11 | Saturday | 6 pm | Coca Restaurant and Lounge | Hip-Hop Icons hosted by Blaze Park | Free

For more updates as the week goes on, visit our Instagram page @snapson7th or our new Melville Pulse event calendar

Civil Matters👷‍♀️

A BIg Drop In This Season's Crime Patterns

The Melville Security Initiative has shared last year's residential crime stats, and let's just say October to December wasn't our finest hour. Knowledge is power, and thanks to the MSI, we've got the lowdown on how these guys operate so we can make it harder for them.

The Night Crawlers (Burglaries)

Between 2am and 6am is when these guys thrive. A crew of 2–3 suspects will usually crawl along your back wall like some low-budget ninja film. They're not smashing and grabbing, no, they're slow, quiet and patient, hopping between properties via rear walls and adjoining yards. They look for the easy win: an open window, an unlocked door, or a laptop left on the kitchen counter.

Here's how to make their job impossible:

• Lock everything. Seriously, everything. Get a cat door if you need airflow at night

• Arm your alarm! Even if it's just the outdoor beams and door contacts

• Check your back wall security. Electric fence not working? Spikes fallen off? Sort it out ASAP!

• Put your valuables away. Out of sight, out of mind, out of their hands

• Hear something dodgy? Don't be a hero. Call MSI or your security company immediately

The Bold Ones (Armed Robberies)

Now these guys are a different breed. Six incidents last year occurred between October and December, and unlike the night crawlers, these crews operate in broad daylight, usually between 11am and 6pm. They're called "crowbar gangs" for a reason. They'll derail your motor gate, break your pedestrian gate, or pry open doors. They're armed, they're aggressive, and they move fast! Most robberies are done in under four minutes.

What makes a house a target?

• Poor visibility from the street (easy to operate unnoticed)

• Clear views inside (they can see your layout and plan their move)

• Weak pedestrian gates and doors

If it happens to you: Don't be a hero. Just don't. These suspects escalate when challenged, and nothing you own is worth your life. Stay calm, cooperate and be observant. The moment it's safe, call MSI and your security company. Also report it to SAPS, crime stats directly affect police resource allocation in our area.

Make yourself a harder target:

• Reinforce pedestrian doors and keep security gates locked

• Use curtains or blinds. Don't give them a floor plan from the pavement!

• Test your panic buttons and alarms weekly

The Bottom Line

We're not saying let's turn Mellies into Fort Knox, but a little extra vigilance goes a long way. Chat to your street WhatsApp groups, keep MSI's numbers handy, and make sure your address number is visible at night (emergency responders need to find you fast).

Last year taught us some tough lessons. This year, let's be ready.

Need security advice?

📞 Danny (Operations): 066 448 3249

📞 JT (Technical): 065 808 6245

Rally for Water Justice

Don't forget to join in the Water Protest this coming Saturday! We've been having grief parties and consoling each other about our water crisis online all year, no more talking. It's time for action! Reply to this email with your best water crisis placard line ideas for our banners!

Details:

Date: Saturday, 1 November

Location: Johannesburg Council Chambers, Civic Boulevard, Braamfontein

Time: 10am

Whatsapp group: https://chat.whatsapp.com/KGqzCYm6lpx1dcYFNvAHRQ

MRA Monthly Meeting

The next Melville Residents Association monthly meeting will be next Tuesday, 4 November, for an "important community meeting" with Ward 87 Councillor Kyle Jacobs.

On the agenda:

• Ward Councillor Kyle Jacobs will share updates on developments in our ward

• Discussion on the City's proposed revision of the commune policy

• JMPD insights from the MRA’s meeting with the Director, facilitated by the Bomb Squad Civil Group

• Updates on Joburg Water and the MRA’s demand for urgent service delivery improvements

• Portfolio reports from Land Use, Liquor and others

The MRA urges you to "Bring your voice. Get involved. Help shape the future of Melville!"

For more info, email: [email protected]

Business Bites 🗂

Margheritas & Mo’s at Piza ē Vino

The lovely people at Piza ē Vino invited us to a content creation session, launching their upcoming Margheritas & Mo’s campaign. This November, Piza ē Vino (at the robots at the back entrance of Campus Square) are launching a campaign supporting Brovember, a local, South African-driven charity that assists in raising funds and awareness around the stigmas surrounding men's mental health as well as physical health. You know Movember, right? Same movement, different charity. 

This campaign not only targets men, but also wives, girlfriends, daughters and sisters to get on board, supporting the cause, sharing the story, donating or joining the awesome vibe at Piza e Vino and indulging in the limited-time only Margherita’s menu.

The concept? A carefully curated menu consisting of their famous margherita pizzas and margarita cocktails, “made with the finest Olmeca tequila”. R5 of every sale will be donated to Brovember. 

The objective? To bring what they love & are good at (Margherita’s!) and join the movement to remove the stigmas around mental health.

Get your Mo on

There's also a competition factor to it. Guests must take selfies with their "Mo" (moustache), which can be real, fake or drawn on, and use the campaign hashtags. The best Mo selfie wins a tequila hamper. The campaign will run for the whole month of November.

Visit any Piza ē Vino to participate in their Margherita’s & Mo’s campaign. Book a table at the Melville branch at 076 795 7710 or simply walk in.

Melville Art Mile 🎨 

Die Pienk Kerk Is Still Rocking!

We're happy to report that Die Pienk Kerk is still rocking! Just when you thought their popularity might plateau, they find ways to reach new heights.

This past Saturday, we attended the Karoo Gothic Exhibition opened by Gordon Froud of Gordart Stokvel Gallery, and my oh my, what a smash hit! Another event packed to the rafters, with incredible art splayed throughout the restaurant, some live music, poetry and an atmosphere soundtracked by hearty laughs. Patrons enjoyed the food and vibes, but I feel that the biggest takeaway from Saturday's event was the networking.

Die Pienk Kerk is getting people off their butts and out and about again, creating wonderful opportunities for like-minded people to connect and revel in the Melville festivities. It's these moments of connection that compound for years to come and incept ideas that turn into more amazing ventures for our hood. We haven't seen cars parked so far from the actual venue in Melville in so many years. Well done, Die Pienk Kerk—keep the hood rocking! 

The Melville Art Mile Keeps Rolling!

The Melville Art Mile keeps rolling on with an art-packed weekend! Here's what's on.

Wine and Art Fair at JAM

There's a Wine and Art Fair by Just Like Sunday Apparel, together with Lifestyle Hub and JAM. It’s happening at the Joburg Artist Market (27 Boxes) over both days of the weekend at a cost of R50 per general entry ticket.

Expect a Just Like Sunday Apparel pop-up store with samples of their new upcoming summer line available, their "Social Club" experience – an interactive space designed for strangers to connect – and a special surprise event for pet owners as well. This event promises "great food, wine tasting and amazing art."

Wine Tasting Experiences:

• General Tasting - R50 (sample 2 wines)

• Standard Tasting - R90 (sample 2 wines + a glass of your fave)

• Premium Tasting - R150 (glass of choice + mini charcuterie)

• Deluxe Tasting - R350 (a full bottle + charcuterie for 2 + picnic table setup)

Stalls:

• General / Food Stalls - R300 per day

• Wine Stalls - R500 per day OR R700 for both days

• Easel for artists to exhibit - R80 per day

Stokvel Gallery Opening

Gordon didn't lie about having a full roster of openings every weekend for the rest of the year! Alastair Findlay, Allison Klein and Elizabeth Davison are opening at the Stokvel Gallery on Friday at 5.30 pm. Their three-artist exhibition "A Walk In The Park" will be running all weekend long!

Indoni Arts & Entertainment Food & Wine Walk About

JAM seems to be the place to be for art lovers because Stokvel Gallery's new neighbours are also up to something. The new kid on the block (in a box?) has been rocking the Joburg Artist Market with multimedia events since they opened, and this week is no different. Indoni Arts & Entertainment is hosting "An Evening with Zama Magubane", they’ll be having a conversation around their current exhibition Uvula Aluseko. Catch them on Saturday, 1 November, from 6pm to 9pm. Food and wine are included for an all-inclusive fee of R250.

Avalon Art Open Studio

Avalon Art is open this weekend, too! Rae and Hildegard will be having an Open Studio and Pop-Up Shop on both Saturday and Sunday from 10.30am to 4pm this weekend. You get to feast your eyes on this mother-and-daughter duo's incredible artwork and buy some of Hildegard's amazing perfect-for-summer crochet crop-tops and her handmade jewels as well!

Koppies Check-In ⛰

Trail Fund Project Winners Announced!

After a brilliant response to last week's story on the Trail Fund Project, we thought it only right to give you guys some closure. We're over the moon to report that the Trail Fund Project's King of the Hill crown remains on home ground!

The men's segment winner is Donovan Shirley, a Melville resident for 28 years with a deep connection to the Koppies. He ran it at a mind-blowing time of 20m29s! The women's segment winner is Marelie Meintjies, a Linden resident, with a massive effort of 22m46s.

We did a quick interview with the first-ever King and Queen of the Melville Koppies Trail to hear about their experience and what the cause means to them.

Interview with Donovan (Men's Segment Winner)

Q: What motivated you to sign up for the Trail Fund Project? 

Donovan: The Koppies! Having a chance to contribute to the Koppies. I think the Trail Fund Project is an absolutely great initiative, and Alex did so well identifying it. I run at Pirates Running Club, and the challenge came up close by, so we challenged our teammates. We had about 15 or 20 people from Pirates come through.

Q: You obviously know the Koppies well, but what did your running club teammates think about the Melville Koppies trail? 

Donovan: One thing all of them commented on is that they can't believe they're in Joburg, when they're actually in the Koppies. There are beautiful sections along the forest side. You could be in the middle of Natal or the Drakensberg. The fact that there's so much diversity in that little piece of nature was amazing.

Q: What does having the Koppies in the heart of Jozi mean to you? 

Donovan: Dude, you've got to protect it. In fact, if anything, we've got to grow it. I still run through the West Koppies at least twice a month. It's just needing some attention—it's becoming a little bit derelict (Melville Koppies West). I think it could be a magnificent piece of wildlife in Joburg.

Q: Did your teammates talk about coming back? 

Donovan: My teammates were talking about coming back to do it a little bit slower, to actually appreciate the views and not just sprint past them.

Q: If you had to describe the experience in one word? 

Donovan: Humbling. It was humbling because the route was tough, but also because it is so beautiful in there, and we are just tiny little specks in the bigger scheme of the world, in the middle of Joburg!

Interview with Marelie (Women's Segment Winner)

Q: What made you decide to sign up for the Trail Fund Project? 

Marelie: I saw it on Instagram and thought it was a great initiative and a great way to make the trail running areas close to where I live a little bit safer. It only makes sense to support the projects that are closest to you.

Q: Had you been to Melville Koppies before? 

Marelie: I had only been there once before, to a different section. I didn't actually realise there were different portions, and I didn't know there was a portion that is enclosed and safer. I never actually went because I thought that it wasn't safe to run.

Q: What stood out to you? 

Marelie: It was actually a lot more technical than I thought it would be, which was pretty cool because I do like technical trails. It's short, so it's not for long runs, but it is quite fun to go do maybe a lap or two.

Q: What does having the Koppies in the heart of Jozi mean to you? 

Marelie: As a trail runner in Joburg, it's often very hard to find technical areas close by. Usually, we have to head out to areas like Magaliesburg or more towards Kliprivier. The nice thing about having Melville right here is that I can almost run there from my house, do a lap or two and go back. It's a nice variance from always having to run just in the Spruit (Braamfontein Spruit).

Q: How does it feel knowing your run supports conservation? 

Marelie: That’s always the best part of all of this. I used to work as a conservation consultant for five years, so nature is always close to my heart. It's nice to know that natural areas like that are being conserved and that whatever you can do is supporting keeping it in a state that is enjoyable for everyone.

Q: Will you be back to run the Koppies again? 

Marelie: Yes. Now that I know that it's there, I'll definitely be back there.

Q: If you had to describe the experience in one word? 

Marelie: Fun. It was short, nice and a little technical, so it was a nice little challenge.

Congratulations to Donovan and Marelie! We hope you enjoy your well-deserved prizes! And to Alex Weis, the mastermind behind this thoughtful adventure, and everyone who ran, got involved and supported our urban oasis, on behalf of the Melville Koppies Committee, I'd like to say siyabonga, re a leboga, baie dankie, and come visit us again soon!

The Tail End 🐾

Pet Winter Wear Contest 2025 Concluded!

We’d like to show Ziggy's Pet Pamporium some love for the amazing collaboration. Cobi is such an easy person to work with and made hosting this competition such a pleasure! The Ziggy's team went above and beyond at every opportunity, making the competition fun and worthwhile for our competitors.

This chapter closes with our final prize-giving; Jennifer Malec brought her super stunners and The Pet Swag Contest runners-up Ripley & Hicks to receive a hamper, worth R750 courtesy of Ziggy's Pet Pamporium! Well done to these furry fashionistas and their family, and a big thank you again to all who participated. We can't wait for next year!

Cats and Their Primordial Pouch

Today's Tail End tip is for the Melville feline community. We learnt a new word this week: Primordial Pouch! It's a flap of loose skin with some fatty tissue on a cat's belly that starts to develop at about six months. Many cat parents make the mistake of thinking their cats have a weight issue, but no, it's natural.

It protects cats' vital organs during fights, gives them more flexibility while running and jumping, and can also serve as a reserve tank for food. So don't be alarmed and start starving your kitty.

Only start worrying if you notice a lump in the pouch and you're sure your cat's not pregnant. Consult with a vet and have it checked for cancer or other health issues.

Thank you! 🙏

Thank you for joining us for an extremely long, Halloween week edition of Melville Untold. We can’t believe you made it this far! There’s so much happening in the hood that it’s getting harder and harder to fit it all. We appreciate the read.

If you read a gem, why not give us a tip? Buy us a coffee: Payshap id: 0605293425 (Standardbank)

Have any hot tips or thoughts on one of our stories? Don’t be shy, reply to this email. Let's chat.

Forward this email to someone who cares about Melville. 🤍

Til next Wednesday,

Stay sassy, stay spooky, stay supernatural.

Ha det bra ✌️