A new online market is helping small businesses in Cape Town, South Africa, to continue trading amid the pandemic.

The pilot e-commerce platform, launched by the City of Cape Town in May, is targeted at informal traders, vendors and crafters who have been negatively affected by the COVID-19 lockdowns and restrictions.

More than 500 products from 150 small businesses are available for purchase, including clothing, home decor, fashion and beauty items, homemade furniture, pet items and kitchenware. Only locally produced products are sold on the platform. Vendors are assisted with photography and product styling, as well as delivery.

The initiative is spearheaded by the city’s Urban Management Directorate. Grant Twigg, mayoral committee member for urban management, says the city is committed to assisting the informal sector with economic opportunities to ‘minimise the negative economic impact caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and to find innovative ways of doing business’.

The pilot market will operate until the end of June this year.

15 June 2021
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