The BCT car boot sale and Bunny Park Food Craft Market continues to play a significant role for locals who want to make some money and those in search of a bargain.
It was no different on February 25 as the traders displayed their wares while hundreds keenly eyeballed these items.
Frequented by senior traders, young people have now caught the bug as they try to make ends meet due to the high youth unemployment rate in the country.
The latest quarterly labour force survey released by Statistics South Africa on February 28 revealed that youth aged between 15 to 24 years and 25 to 34 years in the fourth quarter of last year recorded the highest unemployment rates of 61% and 39.9% respectively.
For this reason, the youth now has to explore different avenues of making money.
The newspaper caught up with young people at the car boot sale and craft market, who admitted they were feeling the pinch because of the unemployment situation in South Africa.
First-year college student Meagan Donker from Edenvale, who sold items such as sweets, toys and biltong, encouraged her peers to attempt multiple ways of making a living.
“I’m trying to earn money as a college student. The economy is very bad and my generation is heavily affected by this.
“We are feeling the pinch as young people so I’m trying to make as much money as I can,” she said.
Donker dabbles in graphic design and photography in her spare time. She said this helps her to get by every month.
“Try multiple things. If you have an idea, just do it. The worst that can happen is that if it doesn’t work, you can always try something different. That’s what I’ve always had to do.”
Rynfield resident Michael Smith, who sells handmade goods, including sculptures and figurines, shared Donker’s sentiments, saying the youth should learn new crafts.
“As young people, we must always try our best to find all the different avenues of making money. Try to be ambitious, learn new crafts and importantly, explore different industries. If something doesn’t work out, see if you can find ways to fix it,” said Smith.
The next market is on March 25 at Bunny Park.
For food and craft market bookings, contact Janine at 072 713 3332 or info@craftsinthepark.co.za and for the City Times car boot sale bookings contact Immaculate at Immaculatem@caxton.co.za or 062 591 8988.
