Khayelitsha Craft Market

Khayelitsha Craft Market, photo courtesy World Bank Photo Collection.

Khayelitsha, meaning “our new home”, is one of Cape Town’s biggest townships. It’s a mix of formal housing and informal shacks on the Cape Flats, about 20km from the city centre.

Amid this bustling community one will find the Khayelitsha Craft Market at the St Michael’s and All Angels Anglican Church, where visitors enjoy interacting with the locals and buying their crafts, souvenirs and traditional African fare. Browse through displays of handmade curios, pottery, beadwork, baskets and fabric paintings.

The market aims to alleviate poverty in the area, and crafts are produced by the local community.

The craft market is open from 09h00 to 14h00 on Monday to Friday, and 09h00 to 12h00 on Saturdays.

Although Khayelitsha is still characterised by poverty and unemployment, tourism is proving a major drawcard to this and other townships, giving visitors an insight into the everyday lives of the people who live here, while showcasing their creative talents.

A visit to the craft market might include a stop to see the Baboon Man, a local artist who uses cement to create baboon sculptures, or the Look-Out Hill tourist facility on the corner of Mew and Spine Roads, which houses an arts and science centre, a restaurant, gift shop and information kiosk. Don’t miss the look-out point on the highest dune for a 360-degree view of False Bay, the Hottentots Holland mountain range, Helderberg and Groot Drakenstein.