Trading at the Castle

On Friday Diana, her sister Carolyn and I visited a fabulous pop up market in the Cape Town castle, Trading at the Castle, a joint initiative between Kamers vol Geskenke and the Cape Craft & Design Initiative. It was billed as an official Cape Town World Design Capital event and just as we were leaving we bumped into WDC CEO Alayne Reesberg, who has much to be proud about with this showcase of craft and design from the Western Cape. It was a pity we did not have more time (we were on our way to the airport) because every one of the 110 stall holders had something wonderful to offer.


The setting was quite breathtaking. After days of rain and cloud, Cape Town suddenly broke out in blue sky and sunshine, revealing the backdrop of Table Mountain in all its grandeur with its famous tablecloth just visible. The Castle is worth a visit any day of the year for its historical treasures and collection of paintings and artefacts, but for this event its courtyards and interiors had been converted into a more contemporary sort of gallery.

One of the five sections of the pentagon-shaped castle had been converted into the indoor market, each of its three floors given over to the stall holders. The first to catch my eye was Professional Wireworks, owned by Zimbabwean living in Cape Town for thirteen years, Professor Pedro. He and his team of hand crafters produce intricately woven wire pieces, such as the tree we bought for our friend whose fiftieth birthday we were going to that evening. Using different coloured wire, these pieces have a lightness of touch which make them instantly appealing - he and his sales assistant could hardly keep up with the rush of customers. 

Next, I chatted to Halima Omary, whose sister Tsidi's business, Gord, makes bags and other accessories out of recycled packaging. Tsidi works out of the Cape Flats and employs a handful of ladies to assist her in making these original pieces which she sells at markets all over the Western Cape

Further down the room was Barrydale Hand Weavers, owned by Carol Morris and master weaver Tvane Mavuma. Barrydale is a charming town at the start of Route 62 which runs east towards Oudtshoorn in the Little Karoo and has become a mecca for people seeking a less frantic lifestyle out of the big cities. We chatted to Tivame and his assistant Jackie about the business. Tivane arrived in Barrydale from Swaziland more than ten years ago, bringing his loom and weaving skills with him, and teamed up with Carol who was involved in the craft fabric industry. Using hand-operated looms, they produce rugs, cushion covers, tableware, tea towels and other items for the home, all made from 100% cotton. Inadvertently it has becomea job-creation scheme, with looms popping up all over the town as other people take up the craft.

Last, I spent a few minutes with Julie Schaffer from Spaza. Julie hails from Canada and set up this business a year and a half ago. She began with print-making then expanded into printed fabrics for all sorts of uses - including an elasticated food cover as more sustainable and attractive alternative to cling-wrap. She has built up a small team of workers on the Cape Flats, all formerly unemployed women.

Before heading off to the airport I had five minutes with Wanda du Toit, founder and co-owner of Kamers. She started it twelve years ago and has built it up into one of the best known pop-up event brands focusing on the craft and design sector. Her main events are in Stellenbosch in November and Irene, near Pretoria, in December. We discussed the developmental needs of the sector, which in my new role as Shadow Minister for Small Business Development takes on a greater significance for me now. She is passionate about finding and developing new entrants, particularly Previously Disadvantaged Individuals.

It was heartening to see a good number of PDI-owned businesses at the Castle.  Well done to Wanda and her team for their passion and commitment to development! The same goes for the CCDI, which has had a huge impact on the sector in the Western Cape. Founded by Erika Elk in 2001, it has set the benchmark for good practice in design, manufacture, sales and distribution in the sector in South Africa. According to the CCDI the sector employs 40 000 and contributes R2 billion to the economy. This sector has the potential to grow exponentially and employ significant numbers of low or semi-skilled people in townships and rural areas. The DA will be working closely with the CCDI and similar organisations to find ways of boosting their resources and impact across the country.