If you missed Punyete Sontaga and still call yourself a fan of Pitori Bros or hip-hop, then you definitely skipped one of the best shows Pretoria has seen. It was the place to be — a perfect Sunday afternoon and night surrounded by people deeply rooted in the culture.

012 Central was packed with every kind of hip-hop head — rappers, DJs, radio hosts, influencers, and fans all coming together to see what Loatinover Pounds had in store. I pulled up earlier than expected, hoping to leave early after a long night working in Cape Town, but already the vibe was alive. The crowd was building, the energy was right, and it was clear that Pounds has created a solid community of supporters who are ready to faka punyete with him for life.

Props to his team — everything was well-handled. There were enough staff to keep things smooth, security made sure everyone felt safe, and even paramedics were on site. That level of planning made the event feel professional and welcoming.

Before the rain interrupted us, the Qwellers really set the tone. Blue Pappi opened with his own music, then brought out the whole crew to perform their hits. Watching the Pretoria crowd respond with so much love was powerful — especially since Pretorians aren’t easy to impress. The Qwellers held it down.

Then came Nanette, another incredible performer, but just as she was heating things up, the skies opened and the rain forced everyone inside. It took about two hours for the team to move everything to the hall and reconnect the sound, but the wait didn’t even feel like a delay. People were vibing, laughing, and just happy to be in the building, celebrating with Pounds.

When the sound came back, the unnamed DJ who kicked things off deserves his flowers — he didn’t stick strictly to hip-hop, but when he dropped some yanos, the place exploded. That’s when the night fully came alive again.

DJ Clen followed with a killer set, blending his own catalogue with some of South Africa’s biggest tracks and international hits. His set had the crowd on their feet, pushing closer to the stage, and the energy was electric for a solid 30–45 minutes.

Then, the moment everyone was waiting for — A-Reece stepped on stage. I’ve never seen a crowd react like that: old and young fans screaming like they were witnessing a god in the flesh. He delivered flawlessly, closing with some of his classics from Paradise.

Before leaving the stage, A-Reece brought out 25K to join him, and the crowd went bar-for-bar with every lyric. Pretorians love their own, and 25K showed up prepared as always, performing worthy of the occasion.

Finally, the man of the moment — Loatinover Pounds — took over. His set was one of my favorite performances of his to date. Watching Pretoria show him that much love was beautiful. I got to see Mamazala live for the first time, with 25K present, and even the star from the Mamazala video joined the stage to receive his flowers. That’s one thing about Pretoria rappers: they really know how to celebrate each other.

Pounds even brought out Mochen to perform an unreleased track — and trust me, that one’s a hit. I wouldn’t be surprised if it lands on Mochen’s upcoming album, which is already done and ready to drop.

But Pounds wasn’t done yet. After wrapping up his performance, he jumped behind the decks and revealed another side of himself — Loatinover Pound, the Barcadi DJ. He closed the night with nothing but bangers, sending the crowd into a frenzy with that raw Mabopane dance energy. It was an unforgettable highlight to watch him enjoying himself behind the decks while the people went wild.

Punyete Sontaga is more than just a show — it’s a movement. I want to see more rappers take this route, building their own platforms so that brands come to them, not the other way around.

10/10 experience.