Soweto's beach: Power Park dam was transformed into an urban beach at the weekend

RELATED LINKS: Soweto Beach Party surfs into town THE theme of this year's Soweto Beach Party is Beach Bling Soweto Style. Party people should get their tickets now – they will not be available at the gate. Read more Soweto REGION D encompasses the whole of Soweto, where Orlando was the first township. Other long-established townships include Diepkloof, Dube, Meadowlands, Orlando East and Orlando West. There are also large informal settlements in the region. Read more This week in Joburg LUCILLE Davie rounds up the best things to do this week in the city of gold. Read more What's hot STUCK for something to do? Our guide points you in the right direction for a party, among other jols. Read more

Mazet of the Afro-pop trio Mina Nawe performed at the fifth annual Soweto Beach Party on 29 September

The cold could not put off Sharon Dungazweni and Pretty Masemola from Pimville

Weather fails to cool beach party The weather may have been miserable, but the party was hot and happening at Power Park Dam in Orlando, which was turned into a beach for the weekend. October 1, 2007 By Tabisa Mntengwana JOBURGERS valiantly ignored the gloomy weather, put on their best beach bling and had a smashing time at the Soweto Beach Party this weekend, when Power Park Dam was transformed into an urban beach with 400 tons of soft beach sand, big, bright umbrellas, kiosks and a beer corner. Power Park Dam in Orlando was turned into a beach on Saturday 29 September, for the fifth annual Soweto Beach Party, which kicked off at noon with a performance by various DJs, including Menace, Kabila, Jawz and kwaito artist Okapi. Putting the crowd's dancing skills to the test: DJ Fats with some of audience members Partygoers brought along their camping chairs and beach towels to kick back, relax and listen to some hot tunes. Afro-pop group Mina Nawe made an entrance with the popular song Where I Wanna Be, and people in the crowd were invited up on to the stage to show off their dance moves. The group also performed a few songs from its soon-to-be-released album. The party continued with DJ QT - party people danced to his tunes Mari Boine - Vuoi Vuoi Me, McLloyd - The Punisher and Trackheadz – His Kingdom while he made his way to the stage. "This guy knows his music and he will be playing songs from his first and second albums," announced DJ Fats, the master of ceremonies. The party got hotter when actor and musician Khanyi Mbau and choreographer and musician Somizi Mhlongo, aka Divo, hit the stage. Mbau performed songs from her soon-to-be-released album while Mhlongo performed some of his popular songs from his second album, Divo, which is packed with house, soul, jazz, Afro-pop and dance music. But the real party was outside the dam, where car sound systems were turned up and revellers danced like there was no tomorrow. Palesa Sengoatsi from Diepkloof summed up the attitude. "We are enjoying ourselves even though we are not with the crowd inside," she said. Sure they had a great time, but they missed the likes of Bojo Mujo, DJ CNDO, C-Live and YFM’s hip-hop DJs Zan-D, who all put on a fantastic show. Permission to use web site material Publishers may use material from this site free of charge, as long as: Credit is given to either the "City of Johannesburg website (www.joburg.org.za)" or to "Johannesburg News Agency (www.joburg.org.za)"; If the article is used online, a link is provided to the original article on this website; The name of the article's author is acknowledged; The webmaster is informed of how and where the material is used (fill in this brief online form). Johannesburg News Agency is operated by BIG Media at 011-484-1400 Print this Page E-mail this article to a friend Help using Joburg.org.za