Jetour T2 is really not a pretender:

Launched at the end of October 2025, the Jetour T2 is fast becoming one of South Africa’s favourites, selling 1 651 units by the end of January. 

Jetour registered 665 units sold for January alone and since the launch of the vehicle in Cape Town, I’ve noticed incredible hype around the vehicle. 

People consistently asked me about it even before I had it on test for a week and one thing is for sure: the demand speaks for itself. In fact, there were reports of the vehicle being sold out across the country at the end of January. 

A lot of the hype comes down to the presentation of the vehicle.

The exterior gets that Land Rover Defender inspired shape with the classic box shape with short overhangs and flared, muscular wheel arches. 

But it also does well to throw in its own sense of style as well. The vertical bold front grille that features an illuminated Jetour badge makes it distinguishable from all the other big boxy SUVs out there. 

But, if you park it side by side with a Defender, it will definitely be difficult to tell the difference when looking at the vehicles from the side. 

At the end of the day, the T2 is an absolute head-turner. No matter where you go with it, people will stop to look, compliment and ask a few questions about it. Those who are comfortable with you will make sure they get a full experience of the car and I don’t really blame them, because it commands attention. 

The interior

If there’s one thing we’ve learnt with Chinese cars, it’s that you don’t question their interior.

Especially those that are meant to be a flagship model from a brand. It is no different with the Jetour T2. 

The exterior usually has you drooling and the interior is meant to quench your thirst. 

It is meant to be a “rugged luxury” design that just captures you as soon as you enter. The first thing you notice is the massive 15.6 inch infotainment system that sits dead centre in the front of the vehicle and a 10.25 inch digital instrument cluster that is tucked into the dash. The infotainment screen supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and is extremely responsive. 

Below this big screen is a set of buttons to control the climate and a few other things, but then we get to the gear which extends that rugged feeling with how big and bulky it is. 

Jetour has made this interior absolutely breathtaking and put soft touch materials all around to make it feel as premium as possible. 

The seats are also super comfortable and spacious while the boot has 580 litres of space with the rear seats up, extending to nearly 1 494 litres when folded.

There are also some very cool features, like an integrated bottle opener in the boot plus additional cup holders that make it easy to park this SUV and chill out when you are off on an adventure. 

The interior also has a massive panoramic sunroof that extends from front to back and ambient lighting that also gives an atmosphere to the entire car. 

The drive

First of all, I did not expect to be sitting as high as I was in the Jetour T2. Secondly, I did not expect on-road drive to be as good as it was. 

The only reason for this is because I expected a better on-road experience from the T1, because the T2 has a more robust, off-road-oriented suspension setup with significantly higher ground clearance.

It is 220mm of ground clearance to be exact. Now, I am not going to lie. The T1 felt slightly smoother and more agile on the road. 

However, that is what it is meant to be. 

The T2 is supposed to be your adventure vehicle that is good on and off-road while the T1 is more of the city SUV. 

However, I still found the T2 to be incredibly smooth on the road with exceptionally easy gear changes and also a very punchy engine that can move you along wherever you are without any fuss. 

With some adventure SUVs, all the emphasis is put on the off-roading that the drive in the city and on the highways becomes either terribly bad or terribly sluggish. 

The Jetour T2 either comes in a 1.5 litre turbocharged engine two-wheel-drive set up or a 2-litre turbocharged four-wheel-drive set up. 

If you want to be able to use the car to the best of its ability and for all its capabilities, your best bet is taking it in the second set up. 

If you are just there for the aesthetics, then the 1.5 litre shouldn’t trouble you. 

The 1.5 litre turbocharged engine is not underpowered. It still delivers 125kW of power and 270Nm of torque with the fuel consumption claimed to be better than that of the four-wheel-drive variant. 

The 2-litre turbocharged engine delivers 180kW of power and 375Nm of torque which makes it feel perfectly powered.

The vehicle also has X Mode”, which is an intelligent, automated off-road system designed for superior, “set-and-forget” performance on challenging terrain like sand, mud and rocks. 

It automatically adjusts torque distribution, engine power and traction control, making it highly effective for rugged, uneven surfaces.

Pricing and verdict

The new Jetour T2 range is priced at R 569 900 for the Aspire while the T2 Xplora is at R 639 900 and the flagship T2 Odyssey is at R 679 900.

Part of its popularity is also its price. I mean, all this for under R700 000 is actually ridiculous. 

Part of also being so popular means that the vehicle will have its detractors.

There are still those who question the Chinese vehicles and have labelled it a “pretender” due to its resemblance to the Defender. 

But make no mistake about it, the Jetour T2 is far from that. It is absolute value for money and the sales figures show that.

The Jetour T2 is also a South African Car of the Year 2026 finalist.

– The Mail & Guardian

Sounding Joburg: In lieu of an editorial note:

When I finally have a moment at the table for this note, Kujenga’s Night at the Marketplace starts playing. 

My Spotify playlist is as eclectic as I am. Lots of jazz, too much pop, lots of blues, too much Nina Simone, not enough Miriam Makeba, some punk-filled Busi Mhlongo and of course filled with Zoè Modiga. 

So this will read like a stream of consciousness. I hope that’s ok. I am also playing with form here as I listen to this truly excellent portal into Postcolonial Jazz on the continent so this is perhaps a meditation on form, citational practice, rhythm, repetition and writing for the internet when books continue to be unattainable because of capitalism. 

In her excellent essay entitled An Ode to Zadie Smith: A Search for Feminist Clarity, Danielle Bowler quotes an excerpt from  Smith’s book NW: “Natalie Blake, who told people she abhorred expensive gadgets and detested the internet, adored the phone and was helplessly, compulsively, adverbly addicted to the Internet.”

This excerpt in many ways is a reflection of my own experience with the internet, an iPhone that I thrifted which randomly locks at inopportune moments and a gadget that has become a kind of gig guide into the city. 

My phone helps me to follow the latest South African musicians, zero in on their stylistic choices, their hair brands, their influences and most importantly where they will likely perform next. 

What I realise as a result of Thomas M Pooley’s book entitled The Land is Sung: Zulu Performances and the Politics of Place, is that the gadget that I call my phone has turned me into a kind of ethnographer. 

He writes that “ethnographers began to place themselves squarely within the narratives they told as interested observers who were constrained but also empowered by their own unique perspectives”. 

As I swipe left, right, up and down on my phone, I realise that I inhabit a similar orientation as the ethnographer. 

And so in an attempt to settle the ethical discomfort I have with this position, I have decided to publicly curate an edition of writing filled with musicians, writers, journalists, ethnographers and music makers and listeners to tell us more about the sounds that animate the Johannesburg landscape. 

– The Mail & Guardian

Jazzwrld and Thukuthela lead as Metro FM Music Awards 2026 nominees revealed:

The race for the Metro FM Music Awards 2026 has begun, with Jazzwrld and Thukuthela emerging as the clear early frontrunners.

Announced at a star-studded nominees party at The Forum in Hyde Park, Johannesburg, this year’s nominations reflect a music landscape firmly in the grip of amapiano’s continued evolution, while making space for gospel, jazz, maskandi and hip-hop heavyweights. In total, 21 categories and more than 100 artists are in contention.

Jazzwrld and Thukuthela each secured seven nominations, giving the duo significant momentum heading into the awards ceremony scheduled for April. Close behind is a cluster of multiple nominees, among them Mawhoo, Sam Deep, Kabza De Small and Jazzwrld’s frequent collaborators across the amapiano ecosystem, a sign of how collaborative the scene has become.

This year’s edition also introduces two new categories, Best Maskandi and Best Lekompo, signalling the awards’ attempt to keep pace with shifting listener tastes and the resurgence of traditional and hybrid sounds.

Notably, artists Karishma, Goon Flavour and Nkesh, among others, arrive as first-time nominees, suggesting the pipeline of new talent remains strong even as established names continue to dominate the upper tiers of the ballot.

The ceremony will take place at the Durban ICC on Saturday, 25 April 2026, with public voting now open via Metro FM’s website.

Below is the full list of nominees.

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Best Jazz Album

• Mandisi Dyantyis — Intlambululo: ukuhlambulula
• Judith Sephuma — When Winter Fades
• Andile Yenana — Way Out Is In
• Benjamin Jeptha—- Homecoming Revisited
• Siphamandla “Paras” Dlamini — Ingoma Busuku

Best Gospel Album

• Xolly Mncwango — Unusual Live/Deluxe
• Nontokozo Mkhize — The Live Experience
• Musa Yende — Sustained by Grace
• Mmatema — Heart of Gratitude
• Nothando Hlophe — A New Dawn

Best Produced Album

• Jazzwrld & Thukuthela — Most Wanted
• Kabza De Small — Bab Motha
• Sam Deep, Stixx and Nvcho — Kings of Kwapi
• Kelvin Momo — Thato Ya Modimo
• Lwah Ndlunkulu — Amaciko

Best Collaboration

• Sam Deep, Nia Pearl, Boohle and Mano — Shela
• Jazzwrld, Mawhoo, Thukuthela and Gl_Ceejay — Uzizwa Kanjani
• Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Nduduzo Makhathini & Mbuso Khoza — You Make Me Happy
• Mawhoo, Gl_Ceejay, Jazzwrld & Thukuthela — Bengicela
• Goon Flavour, Master KG & Eemoh — Ngishutheni

Song of the Year

• Sam Deep, Nia Pearl, Boohle & Mano — Shela
• DJ Smallz, 031 Choppa & Uncool MC — Zep
• DJ Maphorisa, Xduppy, Kabza De Small, Thatohatsi, Young Stunna & Nkosazana Daughter — Abantwana Bakho
• Mawhoo, Gl_Ceejay, Jazzwrld & Thukuthela — Bengicela
• Khadeair, Peekay Mzee & Kaytah — Magumba
• Jazzwrld, Mawhoo, Thukuthela & Gl_Ceejay — Uzizwa Kanjani
• Shandesh and Mvzzle — Sdudla or Slender
• Goon Flavour, Master KG & Eemoh — Ngishutheni
• Umafikizolo — Uzoncengwa Unyoko
• Ciza, Jazzwrld & Thukuthela — Isaka

Best Viral Challenge

• DJ Smallz, Zinedinex, Sguche; 031 Choppa & Uncool MC — Zep
• Mluucisian, Ricky Lenyora, DJ Maphorisa, Vulela Maweekend; Mark Khoza & Angekenanuye MC — Malacosta
• Goon Flavour, Master KG & Eemoh — Ngishutheni
• Shandesh and Mvzzle — Sdudla or Slender
• Umafikizolo — Uyoncengwa Unyoko

Best Female Artist

• Mawhoo
• Lordkez
• Zee Nxumalo
• Shandesh
• Lwa Ndlunkulu

Best Styled Artist

• Musa Keys
• Daliwonga
• K.O
• Vusi Nova
• Zee Nxumalo

Best R&B Song

• Lordkez — Aweh
• Una Rams — Priceless Possession
• Naledi Aphiwe and Mawelele — Come Duze
• Lloyiso — Higher
• Langa Mavuso — Dangerous

Best Maskandi

• Umafikizolo — Uzoncengwa Unyoko
• Simonofu and Zee Nxumalo — Sajola Kamnandi
• Mzukulu, Intombi Yasolundi — Ubu Ghost Bami
• Khuzani —  Umanikinikana
• Siya Ntuli — Amaphiko

Best Male Artist

• Sam Deep 
• Ciza
• Kabza De Small
• Kelvin Momo
• DJ Maphorisa

Best Hip Hop

• Stogie T, Nasty C, Maggz & A-Reece — Four Horsemen
• Yanga Chief — What If (Mngani)
• Big Zulu ft. Emtee — Abazazi Bafunani
• Makwa ft. Kwesta — Umguzumbane We Summer
• K.O ft. Cassper Nyovest — Supa Nova

Best Dance

• Mawhoo, Gl_Ceejay, Thukuthela & Jazzwrld — Bengicela
• Khadeair, Peekay Mzee, Kaytah — Magumba
• Ciza, Jazzwrld, Thukuthela — Isaka
• Jazzwrld, Thukuthela, Babalwa M & Dlala Thukzin — Uvalo
• Jazzwrld, Mawhoo & Thukuthela, Gl_Ceejay — Uzizwa Kanjani

Best Music Video

• Zee Nxumalo, Skillz & Sykes — Mamma
• Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Nduduzo Makhathini & Mbuso Khoza — You Make Me Happy
• Lordkez — Aweh
• Sam Deep, Nia Pearl, Boohle & Mano — Shela
• Ciza, Jazzwrld & Thukuthela — Isaka

Best Lekompo

• Janesh & Hitboss — Ngwanaka
• Kharishma, DJ Angelo, Buddy Sax & DJ Janisto — Wa Inama
• Shandesh and Mvzzle — Sdudla or Slender
• Shebeshxt, Naqua SA; Zee Nxumalo & Slidoo Man — Rato Laka
• Mvzzle, Mawhoo, Natiey Lepaka & Janesh — Leskandi 2.0

Best Amapiano

• Sam Deep, Nia Pearl, Boohle & Mano — Shela
• DJ Maphorisa, Xduppy, Kabza De Small, Thatohatsi, Young Stunna & Nkosazana Daughter — Abantwana Bakho
• DJ Maphorisa, Focalistic, Ricky Lenyora, Uncool MC, Mellow and Sleazy — Dlala Ka Yona
• DJ Jaivane, Smaki 08, Wesley Keys & De Rose — Lutho
• Kabza De Small, Sykes, Young Stunna, Nkosazana, Tracy & Thatohatsi — Ngiyozama

Best Kwaito / Gqom

• Dladla Mshunqisi & Beast RSA — Puku Puku
• DJ Lag & Zee Nxumalo & KC Driller — Ngiyasindelwa
• DJ Tira, Pcee, Campmasters & General C’mamane — Awungazi
• Kamo Mphela, Aymos, QUE DJ & Jay Music — Partii
• Bello B & We Dem Boyz — Dubai

Best African Pop

• Lwah Ndlunkulu — Mnakwethu
• Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Nduduzo Makhathini & Mbuso Khoza — You Make Me Happy
• Naledi Aphiwe, Blxckie, Lily Faith — Waiting for You
• Mawelele & Naledi Aphiwe — Buya Ekhaya
• Samthing Soweto — Deda

Best New Artist

• Shandesh
• Khadeair
• Kharishma
• Goon Flavour
• Nkeshemba

Artist of the Year

• DJ Maphorisa
• Sam Deep
• Ciza
• Shandesh
• Zee Nxumalo

Best Duo or Group

• Thukuthela & Jazzwrld
• Dladla Mshunqisi & Beast RSA
• Inkabi Nation
• Focalistic & Ch’cco
• Major League DJs

– The Mail & Guardian

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