Cape Town - Following a two year hiatus, the SPAR Cape Town Ramadaan & Lifestyle Expo returned this weekend and attracted thousands of visitors.
Organised by Radio 786 and featuring more than 150 vendors, the expo at the Green Point Track was officially opened by mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis on Friday,
“Supporting this event is one way we create a sense of pride among Capetonians. We wish the Muslim community a special and reflective Ramadaan period.
“I congratulate the organisers and affirm how proud we are to be associated with this event.
“Cape Town’s rich cultural diversity is what makes the Mother City so special, and why we love to call it home,” Hill-Lewis said.
Visitors were kept entertained with live cooking demonstrations and competitions throughout.
Radio 786 station manager Tashreeq Truebody said over 25 000 people had visited over the weekend.
An event of this magnitude usually takes around eight months to plan. However, this was done in six weeks due to the Covid-19 pandemic and current regulations, he said.
“This event has demonstrated that Ramadaan is certainly universal. That the principles of Ramadaan are universal.
“The reality is that we are one Cape Town community that has different layers to it and we’re grateful to have been able to demonstrate it with this event,” Truebody said.
Ooh Fudge owner Zulfa Cassiem said the event provided an opportunity to engage with customers.
“I love interacting with my customers and the one thing I also maintain is that I love getting feedback from customers – good or bad – because that’s the only way I’ve managed to improve my products.
“And I did not realise how much I actually missed it until I had the opportunity now to speak to my customers face-to-face. The run up has been tiring and a bit stressful but I am so happy to be here.”
Bo-Kaap resident and expo visitor Raheel Amed, said: “I just wanted to experience the new market. I have been to many markets but never experienced so much of the Muslim community, so this is exposure for me and I just wanted to wander around and obviously try new foods.”
SPAR Mookrey Group owner Riaz Mookrey said the event has become one of the biggest on the Western Cape’s social calendar.
“I will definitely be involved in all the future events because of the positive feedback, not only in the Muslim communities where my stores are situated, but also people from various other backgrounds.”
