| The Ubuntu
Craft Market
The Ubuntu Craft Market is an exciting project in the Alfred Nzo
District Municipality of the Eastern Cape facilitated by
Scientific Roets (PTY) Ltd. Alfred Nzo has been classified as
one of the rural nodes in South Africa that should be
prioritised for development initiatives. The Ubuntu Craft group
is a deserving group of rural women and youth who had come
together to address the need for entrepreneurship and self
employment in their town of Mount Frere. They looked to their
own talents and decided to start a crafting business. In
November and December 2004 they requested assistance to develop
their business professionally. Working with their existing
skills and their unending enthusiasm a business plan was
developed with assistance from Scientific Roets (PTY) Ltd to
clearly articulate their needs for infrastructure, training,
institutional development and business operationalisation.
Some of the Ubuntu Craft Group working together on their
business plan
This business plan was submitted to the Department of
Environmental Affairs and Tourism by Scientific Roets in
February 2005 and R 6 million funding was granted to the project
in April 2006. Furthermore, Scientific Roets submitted an
application for discretionary grants to MAPPP-SETA (the Sector
Education and Training Authority under which Arts and Craft
falls) and an amount of R 625 000 funding was awarded for an NQF
2 Craft Production Learnership and Skills Programme for the
group in March 2006. This Learnership and Skills Programme was
completed in March 2007.
On the infrastructure side: Preliminary designs, Land surveys,
Permissions to Occupy, an Environmental Impact Assessment and
Detailed designs were done from May to July 2006. In July the
infrastructure was put out for tender in two phases: Earthworks
and Services, and Top structure. The Earthworks on the project
was completed the end of January 2007 and the construction of
the top structure was completed in December 2007. The facility
is an exceptionally aesthetically pleasing modern, African
design. The facility has several crafting studios (beading,
grass work, dress-making, pottery and leather work), a curio
shop, restaurant, offices, public ablutions, parking, an
interesting “Zimbabwe ruins” obelisk feature and a stunning
full-colour “Market Day” mural.
The restaurant at the Ubuntu Craft Market
The Ubuntu Craft group moved into the premises in December 2007
and started operations immediately. It is planned that a museum
that will display, inform and educate the public regarding the
cultural life of the Bhaca Tribe from this region and its
resonance with the crafts of the facility will be housed at the
site.
The aim of the Ubuntu Craft Market is to provide craft products,
a travel rest and refreshments (a restaurant forms part of the
complex) to tourists and travellers along the N2.
Beautiful cultural wall murals by artist Lindela Silangwe at the
Ubuntu Craft Market
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