Kwa Mai Mai Citichat 9 March 2001

CITICHAT 9/2001 - 9th March 2001


Kwa Mai Mai

When Richard Bradley, one of the doyens of the Business Improvement District profession in the USA, was here to assist us with our Centre City Development Framework last year, he remarked that Johannesburg was 'a city of 'best kept secrets'.

One of them undoubtedly is Kwa Mai Mai, another appears to be the hotel school dining room.

The 2.4 hectare Kwa Mai Mai is situated at the intersection of Anderson and Berea Streets next to the M2 Anderson Street off-ramp. Its roots go back to the 1920s when a migrant workers' compound was built at the southern end of Delvers Street and the residents encouraged to make and sell various handcrafts. The resultant bazaar and the compound itself became known as Mai Mai, the origin of the name however appears to be lost in conflicting stories. It moved to its current site in 1940 where it consisted of 250 stalls, 10 shops, a beer-hall and compound/hostel. The latter and a number of stalls and shops were demolished in 1964 to accommodate new road construction. However the remainder of the complex deteriorated over the years and competition in the form of cheaper versions of its goods - traditional African cultural items - negatively impacted on its viability.

In 1997 the community, assisted by development consultants Settlement Planning Services (Setplan), obtained funding for the redevelopment of the Bazaar from the then Southern Metro Local Council and the Gauteng Provincial Government.

The redevelopment process was carried out in three stages, identifying the needs of the community, implementation and sustainability. The first phase incorporated a public involvement process which defined the needs of the community and established a decision making process in which the community were completely involved and which also included exposure to developmental philosophy. An institutional structure, a Section 21 (not for gain) company, was established with the community supplying all the office bearers.

The implementation stage, utilising local labour, included upgrading to stormwater drainage, electricity and water supplies; a children's play-lot; a stadium for traditional dancing; a product showroom and the renovation of all existing facilities. A training room was built in the community centre where basic life skills training, marketing skills and entrepreneurial development are provided.

The 'community' referred to is as much as 600 strong, including children, and is predominantly Zulu speaking. The majority live above the trading areas. Apart from traditional manufacture of African goods such as traditional Zulu bridal kists or umabo (bridal gifts) coffins, pelmets and furniture, traditional crafts of stick making and weaving of sleeping mats, and the manufacture of traditional clothing, the Bazaar houses a number of Sangomas and Inyangas who diagnose and dispense medication for the treatment of sickness or protection against illness and evil.

With the heightened interest internationally in cultural tourism, the sustainability of the bazaar is being sought by promoting Kwa Mai Mai as a tourist destination. It will provide an opportunity for tourists to see and learn about African traditions, culture, clothing etc.

Not that long ago, the area would not have attracted too many visitors, it was dirty and quite intimidating. Now I understand that it is in the process of being properly cleaned up by its community who are committed to Kwa Mai Mai becoming a significant additional offering to tourists local, national and international.

I spent quite a number of years in my previous life sitting on the Council of the Technikon Witwatersrand. One of the social highlights of each year was the Chairman of Council's Dinner at the hotel school in Smit Street and I used to have the occasional lunch there as well. The food was always excellent, immaculately served by students in training in a pleasant atmosphere provided by a beautiful old building. Since coming off the Tech Council, I have ashamedly lost touch with the facility but I recently received an e-mail from one of our readers advising that it is still alive but not well in that it is receiving very little support. Many people complain about the lack of good eating facilities in the city or ask where they can take guests. Well, here is one which can be recommended. The e-mail I received says the following;" Last night we dined at the hotel school in Smit Street. The food is excellent and at R65 for four courses very reasonable. Their wine list is small but good and prices are the most reasonable that I have seen in a restaurant in a long time. The students are very keen to impress and try very hard to please. Security is fine and there is parking."

They do lunch and dinner, good place to take overseas guests or business colleagues etc. Unfortunately they do not have a budget for advertising (hence inclusion in this newsletter) so it does somewhat fall under our "best kept secrets" category but, hey, this is really worth our support! Bookings on (011) 406.2954.