Vibrant Green Point market reopens, traders go back to their roots

Once hugely popular and widely patronised, the Green Point Flea Market in Cape Town has been largely dormant — but now it’s come back to life.

It made its return last month, 15 years after it had to give way to the venue where the Cape Town Stadium was built for the 2010 Fifa World Cup. Its return marks a boost for the city’s informal economy.

On Sundays, traders set up stalls and buyers arrive, defying the cold and occasional showers.

Arts and crafts, homemade clothes, cookware, silverware and traditional Cape Malay food can be found there.

A recent agreement with the city council allows the market to return to its original spot, where it will be open every Sunday, except during scheduled stadium events.

Market chair Rosheda Müller, who is also president of the National Informal Traders Alliance, tells the FM the traders are grateful to be back as the market plays a key role in Cape Town’s informal trading sector.

Müller says there are about 6-million informal traders across the country. “Whether you run a spaza shop, are a home-based trader, a little manufacturer at home, or a gogo making vetkoek and selling it. We are so huge, but because we are so vulnerable in our individual capacity, we don’t always get the necessary acknowledgment.”

Müller is often asked how young people can get involved. “Poverty is everywhere,” she says. “We are encouraging the youth to use this market as a stepping stone into developing their businesses. Speak to us, so we can help and get them here. Many people have started at these markets and grown their businesses. We saw [when] the unemployment stats were released how devastating especially youth unemployment is. Hundreds of people are contacting me because our marketing has done very well.”

One regular trader, Wafieka Haywood, is delighted to be back. She sells cookware at her stall.

“We were trying different markets and things, but it’s not as effective as coming here because this is where people come on a Sunday afternoon. People bring their kids to the beach; they drive past and stop at the market,” she says. “They support it because it’s [got everything] from jumping castles to local vendors to tourist things, so it’s for people from all different areas.”

Their first week back, she says, was a success because many people were in the area. “All of those people came here to see what the hype is ... it was fantastic.”

She says the informal economy is essential for the traders. “There are some of us who have full-time jobs, and there are others who don’t. So this is people’s livelihood.”

She is grateful for the city providing cleaning and security services for the market.

The City of Cape Town says it supports markets because they boost the economy and create jobs. Mayoral committee member for economic growth James Vos says: “Markets are vibrant spaces that nurture and showcase local talent and drive economic opportunity.”

The city recently asked traders to register on its website. “A call for traders to apply is yet to be issued. The delays in advertising are due to the high demand for trader assistance with regard to the registration process. The city envisions about 200 traders on the site,” Vos tells the FM.

In 2024, Cape Town’s informal workforce reached 223,712, accounting for 12.7% of total employment in the city, according to the Quarterly Labour Force Survey.

According to the statistics, the sector remains dominated by wholesale and retail trade, which employed 67,972 people, or 30% of informal workers. Construction followed as the second-largest contributor, providing jobs for 39,963 individuals (18%).

The city says it holds workshops with the flea market traders as part of preparations to pilot the return of the P4 (parking area of the stadium) trading area in terms of the approved 2019 Green Point informal trading plan.

“In previous years, the city has boosted support for traders by funding training. The programmes enabled the traders to receive skills development in business strategy, financial management, product refinement, display and packaging, and sales and marketing. What they learnt will benefit them not only during this market but also for future events,” Vos says.

“Neighbourhood markets have rightly become massively popular in recent years, with locals looking to reclaim that sense of community and visitors seeking out those gems that give them a taste of Cape Town,” says Vos.

He says the complexities around the stadium precinct caused by other events delayed the return of the market.

“I am proud to support these platforms that give up-and-coming entrepreneurs and creators the scope to reconnect with previous customers, build new relationships, boost economic opportunities and give locals a well-located market. Markets bring life to our public spaces, offering affordable goods, economic opportunities and support for local producers. They’re vibrant hubs for community spirit, and we can’t wait to see the amazing vendors join us again this year,” he says.

Vos says the city intends to grow the market and make it bigger and better for locals and tourists to enjoy. “We urge Capetonians to come out in numbers to support local vendors and entrepreneurs to make the market a sustainable source of income for local traders and entrepreneurs.”

This is our roots, this is our land. For a lot of people here, this is their income

—  Shemielah Edwards

The market returned briefly in 2020, but at the nearby Green Point Bowling Club. However, this site wasn’t suitable for the vendors — sand blowing in the wind made selling food especially difficult.

Market organiser Shemielah Edwards says they are happy to be back and that it has been a long wait for many of the traders.

“This is our roots, this is our land. For a lot of people here, this is their income. For 15 years, we’ve been fighting to come back to this land,” she says.

“There are a lot of people in Cape Town who are struggling. I come from Manenberg [about 20km away on the Cape Flats] and I can tell you our youth become gangsters because there’s nothing for them.

“There is a lot of red tape if they want to go and sell stuff on the road. [Goods] will be taken from them by law enforcement because they don’t have permits. But here I can give people work. That makes a big difference.”

The market is not only about creating jobs, but also about challenging stereotypes.

At a young age, Shumeez Scott began her foundation in 2018, determined to make a difference.

Her nonprofit organisation provides social and educational events for individuals with Down syndrome and special needs. Part of this, she says, includes bringing them to markets such as this one to interact with people and sell their arts and crafts.

Scott says her organisation provides support for people after they finish school. “That is the time when there are very few resources for them or job opportunities. We try to bring as much of the abilities out and not show the disability side of things, and to let people know that the more opportunities they get, the more you will see that they have abilities.”

Everything they sell, including arts and crafts, is made by the young adults. Scott says the markets are an important place for making people “feel that they are included in society, where we can show people their abilities”.

Müller sells homemade jackets. Her husband designs the fabrics and does the cutting. He got the idea for the long winter jackets from watching English football, where managers sometimes wear them.

 “I’m so proud I’ve never given up,” says Müller. “I’m 72 and I’ve got one leg in the grave already, but I’ve got a strong team working with me and they all have the same views. We’ve had our highs and our lows on this market, but it’s about survival.”

She says some of the regular traders did not have enough money to return immediately and were waiting until next month. All the traders, she says, are looking forward to the return of tourists to Cape Town in summer.

She had asked the city for the first month back to be free (of rent) for the traders, but this request was turned down. However, she says the city has promised to work with her organisation. Her priority is the youth and the unemployed “because this is an outlet for survival, an outlet to sustaining livelihoods”.