The Soweto Market Place is aimed at exposing urban farmers to the local market.
It took place at the Dube Boxing Club and Community Centre on October 29 and many entrepreneurs went to show off their businesses.
The marketplace is Simangele Siko’s brainchild, she said, “Our local farmers should be in business with restaurants by now.”
The other expertise the marketplace offers is lessons on organic products. Every two weeks, urban farmers, urban agro-processors who mix natural products to make healthy products like atchaar.
The farmers focus on their own natural resources and all fall under the urban businesses practitioners’ umbrella. Jacqueline Rutlonkoane said, “We have a variety of producers because we are trying to establish our own economy in the township, circulating the money around Soweto.”
Rutlonkoane said, “We want to expose ourselves to funders and tourists.”
The market does not only intend to uplift the local economy but health, skills and life span.
Matshidiso Sekgothe manufactures atchaar, vegetable atchaar, mango atchaar curried fish, chakalaka. She said, “It is good business in a sense that we are dealing with affordable food and all edible to the young and old and all races.”
Even confectioners use the marketplace as a platform to be known by the locals.
Nokuthula Madondo and Thandi Lefofane are partners in their business, T and N confectioneries.
Madondo said, “Our long term plan is to have a school to teach people how to create nice and delicious cakes and run our own shop.”
The confectionery also produces juice.
People who would like to be part of the marketplace can contact Simangele Siko on 071 075 8523.
