Grey is winning winter again and New Balance knows it:
Winter in Johannesburg changes people.
The city slows down a little. Mornings become dramatic. Everybody suddenly owns a long coat. Coffee shops fill up quicker than during other seasons. Plans start with “Are we sitting inside?” And fashion? Fashion becomes serious business.
Because winter dressing is not for the weak.
Unlike summer, when you can survive with sunglasses and vibes, winter forces people to think. Layering becomes intentional. Sneakers matter more. Textures matter more. Suddenly everybody is paying attention to scarves, oversized hoodies, wool coats and whether your shoes can survive both the cold and a spontaneous night out.
Somehow, every winter, one colour quietly takes over everything: grey.
Not boring grey. Good grey.
The kind of grey that works with everything in your wardrobe. The kind of grey that makes an outfit feel expensive even when you barely tried. The kind of grey that looks just as good walking through Rosebank on a coffee run as it does outside a gallery opening in Braamfontein.
Which is exactly why New Balance’s Grey Days campaign feels perfectly timed for where everybody’s head is at right now.
The campaign has been rolling out across May, with The Grey Shop bringing a steady stream of sneaker and apparel drops into South Africa.
Honestly? It feels less like a campaign and more like the official uniform for winter.
The first release introduced grey staples, including the FuelCell Rebel v5, the 1080v15 and the 204L, alongside apparel pieces designed around layering, comfort and everyday movement.
Then came the ABZORB 2010, which feels like the sneaker equivalent of somebody saying: “I’m relaxed, but I still know what’s going on.” It balances futuristic details with classic running-inspired design in a way that feels wearable instead of intimidating.
The roll-out kept going with the ABZORB 2000 and ABZORB 5030, both pulling heavily from early-2000s running culture while feeling modern enough for everyday styling. They are technical, chunky and nostalgic in the best possible way.
Then on 22 May, the ABZORB 1890 entered the chat.
The silhouette leans into New Balance’s heritage while experimenting with visible tech details and layered construction that feels futuristic without trying too hard. Which, honestly, is probably why people love New Balance. Nothing feels forced.
Maybe that is the real reason the Grey Days campaign works.
It taps into what fashion feels like at the moment.
Globally, people are dressing differently. Loud fashion is exhausting. Hyper-trend cycles are tiring. Everybody seems to be gravitating toward pieces that feel grounded, wearable and comfortable enough to exist in real life.
People want clothes and sneakers that can move between work, lunch, groceries, drinks and late-night linking without needing a full outfit change in between.
Grey fits perfectly into that world.
It is softer than black, cleaner than loud colour palettes and versatile enough to make layering feel effortless. Grey allows people to look put together without looking overworked. During winter especially, that balance matters.
Across Johannesburg, winter fashion has quietly become its own language. You see it everywhere. Oversized scarves moving through Rosebank cafés. Vintage jackets outside art spaces. Hoodies and sneakers catching late-afternoon light in Braamfontein.
People are dressing according to mood now.
Grey carries that mood naturally.
For New Balance, the connection to grey runs deeper than trend forecasting anyway. The brand’s relationship with the colour dates from the 1980s, when it introduced grey running shoes designed to work within urban environments. While other brands pushed bright performance colours, New Balance leaned into muted tones that blended naturally into city life and aged well.
Decades later, the same idea still works.
The Grey Days campaign does not feel like it is trying to convince people to wear grey. Most people are already there. It understands the current mood: comfort, functionality, good sneakers and clothes that feel lived in without losing style.
Which, honestly, sounds a lot like winter itself.
DA asks Public Protector to probe eThekwini ‘R2 500 bag of samp’ scandal:
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in eThekwini has written to the Public Protector requesting an investigation into alleged irregularities in the municipality’s soup kitchen programme, including claims that the city paid more than R2 500 for a 10kg bag of samp that typically retails for about R100.
The party said the alleged overpricing forms part of a broader concern over a R280-million annual contract used to fund 92 soup kitchens across the metro, aimed at providing meals to impoverished and homeless residents.
DA eThekwini mayoral candidate Haniff Hoosen said the matter points to possible corruption and financial misconduct. “The DA has now referred this eThekwini scandal to the Public Protector to investigate; R280-million of taxpayer money is being spent on these every year, and with inflated contracts, this money may be seriously vulnerable to corruption across the board,” Hoosen said.
He added that the municipality had failed to create sufficient employment opportunities, leaving many residents dependent on soup kitchens for survival.
“It is inhumane of the ANC-led administration to view this as an opportunity to loot. The DA asks the Public Protector to investigate the possible corruption, financial misconduct, procurement irregularities, gross overpricing, and health and safety violations.
“It cannot be business as usual while ANC cadres continue to line their own pockets at the expense of the most vulnerable,” he said.
According to the DA, the programme’s tender allocates R240 million for groceries and food supplies and R40 million for bread.
In a letter to Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka, Hoosen called for a full-scale investigation into the awarding and administration of the contracts.
“I hereby formally request that your office conduct a full investigation into the soup kitchen programme administered by the eThekwini municipality due to serious concerns relating to possible corruption, financial misconduct procurement irregularities, gross overpricing, health and safety violations,” he said.
Hoosen said a review of pricing schedules suggested extreme inflation in certain items.
“One alarming example is a supplier charging approximately R2 500 for a 10kg bag of samp which ordinarily retails for approximately R100 at major supermarkets and wholesalers,” he alleged.
The DA has also called for scrutiny of the procurement and tender-awarding process, including whether there was any corruption, collusion, fraud or maladministration.
The eThekwini Metro did not answer specifically to the questions put to it by the Mail & Guardian but instead stated: “The municipality is aware of the recent negative and unfounded portrayal of soup kitchens and wishes to provide important context and correct the false narrative.
“Soup kitchens exist to serve impoverished residents and, while challenges exist, they should not overshadow the vital role these kitchens play.”
The metro further stated across the eThekwini municipal area, 94 soup kitchens provide a nutritious meal every week day to about 32 900 beneficiaries.
“The municipality allocates an annual operating budget of R141 million towards groceries, bread, gas and stipends, in addition to R3.1 million in capital funding,” it added.
The metro also conceded that the economic hardship and poverty have led to unprecedented demand, arguing that public misconception and negative portrayals of the project risked discouraging donors and volunteers.
It added that it was working on a comprehensive model review of the soup kitchens.
Singularity Summit Returns to inspire Africa’s future this October:
Global thought leaders return to Johannesburg to explore AI, quantum computing, digital identity and the next era of human potential
Singularity South Africa has confirmed that its flagship Summit will return to the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg on Wednesday 21 and Thursday 22 October 2026, bringing together some of the world’s most influential voices in exponential technologies, innovation and future-focused leadership.
Now entering its eighth edition in South Africa, the Summit will once again be presented in collaboration with headline sponsor Old Mutual, alongside metaverse partner UBU. Following the success of the 2025 Summit, which attracted more than 2 000 attendees, from over 600 of local and global leading companies, and widespread acclaim from delegates, the 2026 Summit aims to push the conversation even further, exploring how rapidly advancing technologies are reshaping industries, societies and human potential itself.
With two immersive stages, an interactive expo, workshops and networking experiences, the Summit will once again create a space where business leaders, entrepreneurs, investors and innovators can engage with the ideas shaping the future.
The 2026 programme will unpack the accelerating impact of artificial intelligence, 3D printing, digital identity, quantum computing, crypto economies, human optimisation and Africa’s evolving technology infrastructure. From the rise of AI factories and agentic AI to the future of emotional intelligence in machines, this year’s line-up reflects the breadth of disruption already transforming the world around us.
The first speakers confirmed for the 2026 Summit include:
- Raoul Pal – Founder of Real Vision and one of the world’s leading voices on cryptocurrency, macro investing and AI.
- Tilly Lockey – Real life bionic woman and disability advocate, with two of the world’s most advanced bionic arms.
- David Roberts – Internationally recognised thought leader on disruption, innovation, exponential leadership and navigating the accelerating pace of AI.
- Brandon Birchak – Human performance specialist from Las Vegas, exploring endurance breathing and the untapped potential of the human body and mind.
- Hardy Pemhiwa – President and Group CEO of Cassava Technologies, building AI factories, infrastructure and digital ecosystems across Africa.
- Professor Benjamin Rosman – Renowned AI researcher exploring emotional AI and the future relationship between humans and intelligent systems. Recently named among TIME’s top 100 people to follow in AI.
- Mmathebe Zvobwo – Director of market development for South Africa at Truecaller, speaking on the AI trust paradox and redefining secure communication across the continent
- Cathy Hackl – Nokia’s AI futurist and one of the leading global voices on emerging technologies, spatial computing and the evolving relationship between humans and AI.
Celiwe Ross of Old Mutual says this Summit allows for the advocacy of human-centred AI adoption, where technology enhances rather than replaces human capability. “Innovation is often spoken about in terms of technology, but its real impact is felt through people. The question for business is not only what new tools we adopt, but how we equip people to grow, respond, and lead in an environment that is constantly changing. For Old Mutual, future readiness is about building the confidence, capability, and culture needed to move forward responsibly,” Ross said.
The Summit’s metaverse experience will also return in partnership with UBU, offering attendees across the continent access to immersive digital experiences, interactive sessions, workshops and networking opportunities within Africa’s growing virtual ecosystem.
“Every year, the pace of technological change becomes harder to ignore,” said Shayne Mann, co-CEO of Singularity South Africa. “What makes this Summit exciting is not only the calibre of the conversations, but the people in the room. It is where Africa’s business, technology and creative leaders come together to engage with what is coming next and, more importantly, what role the continent can play in shaping it.”
“The conversations around AI, digital infrastructure and exponential technologies have shifted dramatically over the past year,” added Mic Mann, co-CEO of Singularity South Africa. “There is now far greater urgency around how these technologies are implemented, governed and scaled responsibly. This Summit is designed to give delegates direct access to the people building the future, while creating meaningful discussions around prosperity, opportunity and innovation in an African context.”
Further announcements, including additional speakers and ticketing information, will be released in the coming months.
For more information, regular updates or to book, visit www.singularitysouthafricaSummit.org.
ENDS
Ticket prices:Super Early Bird: R 14 500 (in person), R 3 800 (metaverse). Book before 31 May and get your super early bird discount 30% off the standard ticket price limited availability. Next pricing packages take effect on 1 June 2026.
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