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Three people stand behind a white fence with a Danger Keep Out sign. Bad Neighbours appears in bold letters, barbed wire above and a blue background behind them—featuring the Hot 1027 Breakfast team.

Joburg neighbours: the people we love… to complain about

Joburg neighbours: the people we love… to complain about

On Air

Joburg neighbours: the people we love… to complain about

Joburg neighbours: the people we love… to complain about


Every Joburger knows the truth about suburban life: you don’t choose your neighbours. You simply learn to live with them… and occasionally dream about moving.

The HOT 1027 Breakfast team opened the floodgates this week when a simple conversation about gardening etiquette spiralled into a full-blown neighbour confessional. And if the messages are anything to go by, Joburg estates, complexes and suburbs may be friendlier on the surface than they appear.

“Get your wife a remote. ‘ATA!’ is not a remote.”

One listener pleaded with a neighbour who apparently prefers shouting for the gate to open instead of investing in technology from this century.

Listen to the HOT 1027 Breakfast team share their stories then hear them take hilarious calls from HOT 1027 listeners:

A dog stands in a yard wearing a large, fluffy, reddish-brown wig that makes it look like a lion. Caption above reads: Today I learned I can scare the neighbours by putting a wig on the dog—perfect for any hot 1027 breakfast prank!.

Then there’s the early-morning enthusiast.

“My neighbour comes home at 3am on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday… and hoots until someone opens the gate.”

Some complaints, however, fall firmly into the category of neighbourhood espionage.

“Stop lurking through your curtains!”

But the real prize may go to the most creative feud in Joburg history.

“My neighbour decided I’m a hobbit… and put hobbit posters all around the complex.”

Yes, apparently parking bays, walls and cars were decorated overnight — proving that passive-aggressive behaviour in Joburg sometimes comes with excellent production values.

Modern problems also require modern complaints.

“Can you stop taking photos of other people’s houses for your Instagram?”

And yet, in true Joburg fashion, not every neighbour is a villain.

“Our neighbour plays loud music on Saturday nights… but it’s good music, so we don’t mind.”

Which perhaps sums up Joburg perfectly. We might argue about gates, dogs, noise and curtain-twitching… but if the playlist is right, we’re willing to forgive almost anything.

So are Joburgers the best neighbours or the worst?

Judging by these stories — probably both.

Is this conversation helpful so far?


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