The Oranjezicht City Farm Market will relocate from its current location at premier Helen Zille’s official residence at Leeuwenhof for the duration of winter. The market has been hosted at the premier’s residence for the past six months after city heritage concerns forced it to leave its original location at its namesake farm. (Read our news story here.) The new location has been extremely popular, but was never intended as a year-round solution, as the grassy lawns would not withstand the weekly crowd of 2500-odd visitors during the rainy winter months.

The Leeuwenhof location – complete with dog. Photo courtesy of the market.

“We always knew we’d have to relocate for the winter, and we’ve been looking for somewhere to host the market,” says market organizer Sheryl Ozinsky.

From 6 June, the market will be based at the Granger Bay section of the V&A Waterfront, behind The Lookout venue. A tented area will be set up to create a more cosy and child-friendly environment. Parking will be available for R10, and the gates to Beach Road will be open for those wishing to park that side or walk to the market from the promenade.

Grassy lawns and mountain views at the Premier’s residence. Photo courtesy of the market.

The next 22 Saturday markets will be held at the new location, and Sheryl plans to reapply at the end of October to host the market at Leeuwenhof for the summer months.

Premier Zille at the market. Photo courtesy of the market.

“It’s been the most amazing place to host a market. People have come from all over and said there’s just nothing like it anywhere in the world. The quality of the produce is incredible, the people are incredible, and the setting is just unbelievable – it’s an oasis of green in the middle of this metropolis. People bring dogs, swim in the premier’s pool and play on the tennis courts. I don’t know of any politician, anywhere in the world, who would be this generous.”

While Capetonians will no doubt be sad to see the setting change, Sheryl is optimistic about the new location. “We hope that our old visitors will still support us – and we’re hoping to attract a whole new lot from the Atlantic seaboard.” (There are not really any other markets of this kind from Mouille Point to Camps Bay.) The new location will also give the team an opportunity to find additional partners and improve infrastructure.

If you haven’t had a chance to visit the Leeuwenhof location yet, there are still two more Saturdays to catch the market there.

For more information about the move, check out the market’s Facebook page.