Green Point Flea Market returns after 15-year hiatus, bringing back local culture
The return of the once popular Green Point Flea Market, marks a major win for more than 200 informal traders, many of whom traded at the original market before it was closed in 2009.
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After a 15-year absence, the Green Point Flea Market is making a long-awaited return to its original home, reviving a once-thriving trading space that had long been displaced by the development of the Cape Town Stadium precinct.
The popular market, once a Sunday fixture for locals and tourists, was shut down in 2009 during the redevelopment of the Green Point Stadium precinct ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Now, after lobbying, the market will officially reopen on Sunday, May 11, from 8 am to 6 pm. It will operate every Sunday thereafter, except on days when major events are scheduled at the stadium.
The return marks a major win for more than 200 informal traders, many of whom traded at the original market before it was closed in 2009. The reopening has been hailed as both an economic boost and a celebration of Cape Town's informal trade heritage.
Rosheda Muller, chairperson of the Green Point Flea Market and National President of the National Informal Traders Alliance of South Africa (NITASA), said the return was more than symbolic.
"This market was the heartbeat of informal trade and entrepreneurship in Cape Town. It is more than just stalls and sales, it's heritage and identity for many families," she said.
Visitors can expect everything from Cape Malay delicacies like koesisters and samoosas, to hand-crafted ceramics, clothing, and arts made by local creatives. Among the vendors will be an 80-year-old trader selling from her wheelchair. Many young traders stepping in are children of the vendors from the market's earlier days.
The return is made possible through a partnership with the City of Cape Town, which has supported the market as a space for informal trade and micro-enterprise development. New vendors are welcome to apply to trade. Organisers say they hope the community will show up in full force to support the market's return and ensure it remains a Sunday institution.
"Many of our traders rely on this opportunity to supplement their income and provide for their families," said Muller.
Muller called on Capetonians and tourists to support the traders and be part of what she described as a "joyful nod to the past, and an open invitation to a vibrant future.
Cape Argus