[Image: Dorp Street Sunday Market]
After months of bureaucratic back-and-forth, Stellenbosch’s beloved Dorp Street Sunday Market has officially bitten the dust—at least for now.
The organisers pulled the plug on Tuesday, exhausted by what they call a never-ending maze of municipal red tape. While they haven’t ruled out a return in the future, they’re done fighting what feels like a rigged game.
Same application, different year—denied anyway? In a scathing statement, the organisers laid out their frustrations, per Cape Argus:
“It is with great sadness that we announce the final closure of the Dorp Street Sunday Market. As you may recall, we announced our return in December 2024, but unfortunately, we have faced numerous challenges since then. Despite having our application approved three months ago, the events committee of Stellenbosch Municipality has refused to approve our 2025 application, which is identical to the 2024 application that was previously approved. The only difference is the updated dates for 2025.
Adding fuel to the fire, there were zero written complaints from municipal departments, and the events by-law hasn’t changed. So what gives?
The organisers claim they’ve been stonewalled at every turn, with unseen forces seemingly working against them.
“We’ve done everything possible, knocking on numerous doors, yet we continue to be turned down at every corner.
“The constant red tape and obstacles have made it clear that the market is not welcome here.”
The decision doesn’t just hurt the organisers—it’s a gut punch to local vendors, restaurant managers, and small business owners who depend on the market to keep their businesses afloat.
“This is unfair to our vendors, who need to plan their stock weeks in advance, as well as to local business owners and restaurant managers who must schedule staff shifts ahead of time.
“Despite our efforts, politics, and power struggles have once again prevented us from providing a platform for local businesses and ultimately creating more jobs.”
Despite their frustration, the organisers left a glimmer of hope:
“We want to thank everyone who has supported us over the years. We built something special as a community, and hopefully, one day, we’ll bring it back.”
View this post on Instagram
GOOD Party councillor Marius van Stade called the shutdown a huge loss, noting that the market had become a pillar of Stellenbosch’s post-Covid recovery, giving small businesses a chance to thrive.
The municipality, for its part, insists it isn’t entirely shutting the door on local markets.
“The municipality is responsible not only for ensuring free and safe access to public spaces for all residents but also for their safety while engaging in public offerings such as markets.”
The municipality reaffirmed its commitment to supporting entrepreneurship and local markets in “appropriate, approved locations designated for such activities”, adding that further information would be shared in due course.
In other words, Dorp Street wasn’t the place, and no alternative has been found.
So, was this just a case of mismanagement and red tape? Or was the market deliberately pushed out? Either way, the Dorp Street Sunday Market is gone—and Stellenbosch is worse off for it.
[Source: Cape Argus]
