By Khulu Radebe
From the dusty streets of Tshirela in Boipatong, a township forever scarred by the brutal massacre at the hands of the warlords on the eve of South Africa’s democratic dawn, rose a phenomenal woman who refused to be defined by pain, but instead chose to redefine possibility.
Ausi Kate, fondly known as the Lady of the Vaal Nightlife, was more than just a businesswoman. She was a movement. A revolution. A pioneer. In a world once reserved only for white clientele, she carved out a black legacy, transforming exclusion into celebration, and silence into music and joy. Kate’s Place was not just a venue, it was a sanctuary of rhythm, resilience, and rebirth.
Through little but determined efforts, she challenged the very structure of racial and social exclusion. She offered a seat at the table where none existed. And she built more than walls and a dance floor, she built a culture, a destination, a feeling.
Her influence echoed far beyond Vanderbijlpark. From the alleys of Sebokeng to the townships of Soweto, from the soul of Sasolburg to the beats of Botshabelo, from Mpumalanga’s corners to North West’s backrooms. Kate’s Place became a name whispered with joy, nostalgia, and pride. She brought township elegance to the entertainment industry, forever shifting its tides.
Yet Ausi Kate was not only a torchbearer for entertainment, she was a quiet engine behind countless financial empowerment schemes, helping others to rise. A giver. A believer. A nurturer of dreams in the shadows of hardship.
Her contribution to township tourism and the vibrant Vaal Wine Meander especially during National Tourism Month, deserves not just a mention but a monument. She knew that black excellence belonged in every space, from the vineyards to the nightlife, from tourism calendars to the national conversation.
And now, the spear of the real nightlife has fallen.
To all the patrons of Kate’s Place, to the family, friends, and those whose lives she touched, we mourn with you. We celebrate with you. We remember with you. May her soul repose in power and peace.
Long live the spirit of Ausi Kate,
The Lady of the Vaal Nightlife.
A queen, a visionary, a legend.
- Khulu Radebe is President of the Free State Liquor Traders Association.
