With the cost of living rising daily, a team of dedicated community members is turning community spirit into an opportunity for local entrepreneurs to make ends meet.

TV director and editor Stephan Marais-Swart, in collaboration with the Roodekrans Neighbourhood Watch, established the Roodekrans Neighbourhood Watch Farmers Market to give local businesses, particularly those selling handmade products, a platform to showcase and sell their goods. The market is held once a month on a Saturday from 08:00 on the corner of Ouklip and Graphite roads. The exact date is usually advertised on their various social media platforms.

Marais-Swart said the idea grew out of his own experience of financial hardship and understanding how quickly someone could find themselves struggling to make ends meet.

“I thought there was a great need for smaller businesses to get through to their immediate public. I then started a WhatsApp group where local businesses could advertise their businesses, and from there it grew into something big,” he said.

From WhatsApp to community upliftment

What began as a simple way to connect businesses with potential customers gradually developed into a broader community initiative. This included small competitions and the Love Your Neighbourhood concept, which celebrates interesting people and encourages community clean-ups.

Marais-Swart said community upliftment had remained at the heart of the initiative from the beginning.

“A lot of the things are handcrafted, but there isn’t necessarily a platform for people to sell them, and that is where the market started. We thought it was going to be a one-off thing, but seeing its success, it is now a monthly concept and an opportunity for people to generate an extra income,” he added.

The monthly market aims to do more than help small businesses earn money. It also creates an opportunity for residents to connect, discover local products and support entrepreneurs within their own neighbourhood.

According to Marais-Swart, the broader goal is to build a happier, more close-knit community where residents support one another and work together to improve their surroundings.

He encouraged residents across Roodepoort to get involved in the initiative, whether by supporting local traders, donating towards community projects or volunteering at clean-ups.

Residents interested in learning more about the market and other community initiatives can contact Marais-Swart on 076 037 7725.