Green Point Market traders outraged over sudden cancellations by City of Cape Town

Angry market traders are demanding answers from the City of Cape Town after their Sunday morning market was cancelled this past weekend.

Vendors at the Green Point Market posted the following message on Facebook on Saturday:

The Green Point Market stopped operating due to the construction of the now DHL Stadium, but it returned to its original location earlier this year after 15 years.

According to the City, the market cannot operate on days when major events are taking place at the stadium.

A vendor named Jenny told CapeTalk's Lester Kiewit that she and others were unable to trade for the entire month of August.

"We can look these things up, and there were no events on Sundays. So for the whole of August that we couldn't operate, there was nothing happening."

Jenny said even when events are happening, vendors are given very short notice that they will be unable to trade.

ALSO READ:Green Point Market returns every Sunday in September!

In response to the vendors, City of Cape Town Director for Economic Development and Investment Lance Greyling said the situation was 'slightly tragic."

He said the reason for the cancellation of Sunday's market day was due to a soccer match.

"It was Kaiser Cheifs versus Sundowns and it was part of a championship and they got through and that then meant this event suddenly came on, he said.

Greyling said that on Sunday the area where the market is held was being used by taxis transporting people to the game.

"So it wouldn't have viable to have the market on Sunday."

He explained that in accordance with the bylaws, events, such as the match this weekend, do take priority.

"I think it's a great market, I think it would be lovely if we could have it every Sunday...but events do supercede the market...there's not much we can do about it."

To listen to City of Cape Town Director for Economic Development and Investment Lance Greyling in conversation with CapeTalk's Lester Kiewit, click audio below.