- The
Masiphumelele Gateway Market, a R14 million project, is set to open this
year, providing 66 trading opportunities and essential amenities. - The
project aims to improve the local community by replacing informal pavement
trading with clean, safe, and dignified spaces. - The
development is expected to support job creation, and enhance public safety.
The Masiphumelele Gateway Market, a project that has been 10 years in the making, will finally come to fruition this year.
In a sod-turning ceremony on Tuesday 28 January, Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis was joined by Mayco member for economic growth James Vos and Subcouncil 19 chair Simon Liell-Cock to mark the start of the construction process.
Situated on the busy Kommetjie Road, the market is expected to accommodate around 66 trading opportunities with trading bays, kiosks, a food preparation area, ablution facilities, an office block, parking and other amenities.
In conversation with People’s Post, Liell-Cock shared that the project would cost an estimated R14 million.
“This project, pushed by the subcouncil and ratepayers association, has come along for more than 10 years.”
The project follows the approval of the Masiphumelele Trading Plan, which went through an extensive public participation period.
Liell-Cock expressed his joy that informal trading will be done in a more dignified place.
“We are very happy and looking forward to it. Any traders who are currently trading on the pavement or on the road will be taken off the road and will have a new space to trade from,” he commented.
The market, which is situated at the taxi rank in Masiphumelele, will also allow the City to beautify the space.
“The project will also allow us to clean up the pavement, the roads and ensure that there is no more litter and pollution,” shared Liell-Cock.
Last year, council approved a 30% cut in informal trading tariffs for the 2024-’25 financial year.
“We’ve wanted a traders market for a decade and just to make the experience easier on everyone because we want to create a destination,” said Liell-Cock.
Speaking at the site, Hill-Lewis noted that the development of the market would be a positive improvement for the community.
“The Masiphumelele Gateway Market will bring a more dignified and clean trading space for this community and for the informal traders,” he commented.
“It will also help spare economic opportunities in the area and we want to be a city known as much for our care and service in communities like Masiphumelele as we are for our global accolades for tourism.”
Meanwhile, Vos shared that the City aims to take into account the needs of traders and consumers who will use the site.
“These features will ensure a safe, functional and well-operated trading environment for the surrounding community,” he said. “Also notable is that the local community will be employed for the construction phase.”
Other positive benefits the new Gateway Market is expected to bring include providing traders with safe, sheltered and dignified trading spaces, reducing pavement congestion, contributing to public safety and supporting overall job creation during both the construction and operational phases.
