WATCH: South Africa’s tyre bonfire tradition on New Year’s Eve

By Marcus Moloko

South Africa’s diverse cultural landscape has long been marked by unique traditions, and among them is the practice of New Year’s Eve bonfires.

• Video by Bongani Joka/Facebook
  
  In certain communities, residents historically gathered to welcome the new year by stacking old tyres around a tree and setting them alight. The ritual symbolised burning away the hardships of the past year and ushering in renewal, unity, and hope for the year ahead.

This tradition, while not widespread across the country, has been particularly visible in townships and peri‑urban areas where bonfires became a communal event.

The practice dates back decades, when communities used available materials — often discarded tyres — as fuel for large fires.

The towering flames served as a beacon of celebration, drawing neighbours together in song, dance, and reflection.

For many, it was more than spectacle; it was a cultural marker of resilience, a way