The City of Cape Town is breathing life back into the CBD’s economy by hosting night markets.
The series of night markets began on Saturday with a live concert and market on Greenmarket Square in honour of Heritage Month and to unite South Africans from different backgrounds.
The initiative was brought into motion to reflect the city’s commitment to helping reignite the local economy, after the crippling effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The night markets will become a regular feature and will have fun and entertainment for the whole family.
The City’s JP Smith said it was their responsibility to create an environment that enables businesses to grow, which means an increase in job opportunities.
“The City believes having more activity and footfall at Greenmarket Square, especially in the evenings, could have a domino effect that spreads across the Central Business District,” he said.
He added: “We need to work towards the revitalisation of tourism, events and business in our city and this is why we are collaborating with entrepreneurs who want to achieve this goal.”
Local restaurateur and owner of Baran’s coffee shop and restaurant, Baran Kalay, said the night markets are important for creating a vibrant and safe city.
“The likes of which we last saw during the 2010 FIFA World Cup, when locals flooded the CBD for evenings of family-friendly fun.”
Night on the Square Operations Manager, Fatima Seedat, said: “This initiative is a good example of public-private partnerships that create opportunities for emerging entrepreneurs and vendors in the city,”