Construction of the long-awaited market for informal traders in Masiphumelele will start soon, says the City.

Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis and mayoral committee member for economic growth James Vos held a sod-turning ceremony on Tuesday January 28 to mark the start of the project.

Mr Hill-Lewis said the project would greatly improve the dignity and cleanliness of informal trading in the area and bring economic benefits to the community.

After years of consultation with locals and the community, the Masiphumelele Gateway Market, will offer 66 trading spots, including bays, kiosks, a food preparation area, ablution facilities, an office block, and parking.

During a public participation process in June 2023, the market got the thumbs-up from the Sunnydale Ratepayers’ Association (SRA) and local traders who said it would put Masiphumelele on the map as a tourist destination (“Thumbs up for Masi Market,” Echo, June 15, 2023).

The site would be cordoned off to the public during construction, Mr Vos said.

“Residents who are using the site as a shortcut into and out of Masiphumelele will need to access Masiphumelele from Pokela Street instead.”

In the next two weeks, he said, residents could expect to see contractors on site from Monday February 3.

Construction would begin with earthworks: clearing the site, excavation, grading, and filling of land ahead of further construction.

Once, the site had been prepared, foundations would be laid, buildings constructed and the market would be paved and landscaped, Mr Vos said.

Heavy machinery would be on the site and the public should stay clear for their own safety, he said, adding that he didn’t believe the development would cause more congestion on Kommetjie Main Road.

Construction should be completed during the second half of the year if all went as planned, Mr Vos said.

“The City of Cape Town believes this development will foster not only a cleaner environment but also significant economic opportunities for the residents and traders in Masiphumelele.”

SRA chairman Chris Dooner said they had been discussing the establishment of the market with the City for about 10 years.

“We are therefore very happy that it looks as if construction will start soon.”

The SRA had not seen the latest plans, but was happy with the plans it had seen and commented on in the last quarter of 2024, he said.

He said the project would be split into two phases.

The first phase, in which the community and traders were involved and represented, he said, was what would soon be built and should serve the needs of most traders.

This phase will include toilets, offices, refuse storage, and limited parking.

Phase two, he said, appeared to target the more specialised traders and service providers and was in the planning and participation stages, which had included input from the SRA.

“We believe that it will be some time before the second phase will be approved and funded,” he said.

Masiphumelele community leader Howard Mbana said informal traders were looking forward to the completion of the market, especially after so many delays, and traders were especially keen to have facilities that would shield them from extreme weather.

From left, are ward councillor Simon Liell-Cock, Masiphumelele trader Melikhaya Mandulo, mayoral committee member for economic growth James Vos, ward councillor Patricia Francke, mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis and trader Christopher Nongco at the sod-turning ceremony on Tuesday January 28. Picture: City of Cape Town

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Construction of Masi market to start soon