City on track with informal market infrastructure upgrades across Cape Town

This week, the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth, Alderman James Vos, visited informal market sites across Cape Town to observe the progress of infrastructure upgrades to the spaces. Read more below:

This follows the Council approval earlier this year of the budget for upgrades to trading sites.

‘The City’s goal is to create dignified and accessible trading spaces where traders and customers feel comfortable and confident enough to engage. Our visits to Dunoon, Ravensmead, Mitchell’s Plain, Blackheath, and Kuils River were exceptionally encouraging,’ said Alderman Vos.

The refurbishments include measures that will allow for safer, more modernised, and manageable trading.

Further upgrades are planned for other sites such as Mfuleni, Atlantis, Masiphumelele and elsewhere across the metro. The upgrades are in line with informal trading plans that are based on the unique conditions of each area.

‘These plans help us to identify the area-specific needs of traders while also creating a sustainable working environment for them and are fully consulted with local traders, communities and councillors,’ said Alderman Vos.

In addition to the infrastructure projects, the City’s Department of Enterprise and Investment provides ongoing skills development programmes to traders.

‘This month, traders started on the Micro Enterprise Support and Development workshops focused on marketing and business improvement. Informal market organisational leaders also recently completed a course on Leadership in Corporate Governance where they learned insights on financial management and budgeting, effective communication, conflict resolution and other matters.

‘These ventures all speak to the City’s commitment to supporting Cape Town’s informal economy which is a key contributor to economic growth, providing goods and services to communities, and most importantly, in sustaining livelihoods for people and their families,’ said Alderman Vos.

For more information on the City’s informal market projects, traders can email Informal.trading@capetown.gov.za or visit www.capetown.gov.za/businesshub