The weekly Dorp Street Sunday Market announced that it would shut down indefinitely due to uncertainty over future municipal permit approvals.
The last market was held on 22 February and vendors say the closure will have a significant impact on their businesses.
Leani Breedt, who runs operations and is the co-organiser of the market, said the reasons given by the Stellenbosch Municipality for the closure are similar to those given for the market’s temporary closure in 2024.
“Some municipal departments believe the traffic gets congested, and that pedestrians don’t have enough space to move,” she said.
Breedt added that the market then made the necessary changes which would allow pedestrians, and even visitors with wheelchairs and baby-strollers, to move through the market space comfortably.
“We’ve made crucial changes and extra additions to the best of our abilities and had smooth running market days, with our events permit being successfully approved,” she said. “However, we were advised not to try and apply again after February 2026.”
Furthermore, Breedt said that the constant back-and-forth with the municipality over the market’s operations has created uncertainty, which she believes is unfair towards the vendors. As a result, organisers of the market have decided to halt the Sunday Market’s operations for the time being.
Denise Alcock, owner of Alice in Vintageland, a business that specialises in selling vintage clothes, has been a vendor at the market since it started over five years ago.
“The market has been a weekly income for me, because I am also a single parent. I’ll have to find other ways to supplement that income,” said Alcock, who also has a full-time job along with running her clothing business.
Vendors said the market has had a positive impact on the community, attracting business not only for stallholders, but also for permanent businesses along Dorp Street.
Charmaine Datnow, owner of Konfyt Susters, a local business specialising in jams and sauces, said the market is vital for local economic growth. She added that customers who visit the stalls often go on to support other businesses along Dorp Street, whether for lunch, refreshments or other purchases.
Michelle Jefthas, a salesperson at Oom Samie Se Winkel, a local business permanently situated on Dorp Street confirmed this.
“Daar is baie meer mense wat op Sondae by die winkel in kom,” she said.
Another common talking point amongst the vendors was the influx of tourists that the market attracts.
“Buses will pull up with a bunch of tourists, and they of course have the buying power,” said Tyrone Oosthuizen, owner of Cedar Love, a business specialising in producing healthy and natural food products.
Despite there being other markets in Stellenbosch hosted by the same organisers, many vendors expressed that the Dorp Street Sunday Market was the most lucrative and brought the most exposure to their businesses.
“While there’s no Sunday Market for now, you can find our other branches such as Market in the Garden on Saturdays at Stellenbosch Botanical Garden, and Market on the Plein every Wednesday at the Rooiplein,” said Breedt.
Despite attempts by SMF News to reach out to Stellenbosch Municipality for input on the market’s closure, they were unable to comment at the time of publication.