Market day to aid community

THE Made in Chatsworth Market will be launched at Depot Road Memorial Primary School on Sunday.

Organisers said the initiative served as an economic recovery plan, by creating jobs and providing a platform for small businesses to sell food and goods.

Kiru Naidoo, a public servant, author of Made in Chatsworth and an organising member for the market, said they aimed to improve the livelihoods of the community who have been impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We are hoping to have at least 100 stalls on the day, and are encouraging people who produce and manufacture their own goods to get our economy moving again.”

He said the idea stemmed from their social media pages, which was used as a platform for home industries to advertise and earn a modest income during the lockdown.

"Everyone is welcome. It must be remembered that many children were sent to school and food was put on the table in many homes through the home-making and sales of samoosas, vadas and amagwinyas. We also encourage the stallholders to prepare heritage foods like poli, dhall roti and arpam to rekindle the fast disappearing traditional foods. Let's get that spirit of self-sufficiency going to energise our economy.”

Naidoo said the theme for the first market day was Worker’s Month.

“We will celebrate the heroes of the Chatsworth community who contributed to the freedom Struggle and trade unionism.”

Principal Yogs Moodley said: “The SGB had passed a resolution to partner in setting up the weekly market and support the community wherever it is able. Our school community is rich in diversity and we are at the heart of the community. It is fitting that our latest project gets off the ground during Worker’s Month.”

Naidoo said the book, Thambi Naidoo and Family: Struggle For A Non-Racial Democracy In South Africa, would be launched on the day.

For more information on the market email: info@madeinchatsworth.co.za