It's been a decade since they were evicted to make way for the Cape Town Stadium, but on Sunday, traders at the popular Green Point Flea Market will be back in business.
The president of the South African Informal Traders Alliance (Saita), Rosheda Muller, says members are excited to go back.
“After a lapse of 10 years, traders will celebrate their return to a market from which they were evicted in 2009 to accommodate the building of the Cape Town Stadium for the Soccer World Cup 2010,” she says.
“When we first traded here, there were five organisations called the Green Point Flea Market, Green Point Independent Traders Association (GPITA), Green Point Centre Market, Green Point Rebel Market and Green Point True Rebels.”
Rosheda, 67, says over 30 years of trade, these organisations all had different lease agreements, but now they have merged together as a collective.
She has been elected as the chairperson of the newly formed Cape Town Stadium Market.
Traders will resume business at parking area P4, adjacent to the athletics stadium.
“It’s been a long and difficult road back but despite the long delay and frustrations, I believe it has been worth it,” says Rosheda. “This Sunday will be a milestone in our history.”
She says shoppers and visitors can expect an array of goods and delicacies from a plethora of local and international traders.
“Operated in a partnership with the City of Cape Town, we offer visitors a safe, secure and enjoyable shopping experience in one of the city’s most beautiful surroundings.”