On the rise again, PE’s ‘District Six’ is taking advantage of its central location overlooking the harbour. Zoleka Magingxa gives us a local’s tour.
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Marketing coordinator for Mandela Bay Development Agency Zoleka oversees the Old Tramways Building, a newly renovated events venue. It’s most famous for The Valley Market on the first Saturday of the month, ‘which pulls in a diverse crowd and a lot of feet to an area that was previously quiet’. (The R10 entry fee goes to charity.) ‘South End was once a cosmopolitan community.
All races, religions and cultures were united here, but with the Group Areas Act in 1950 it was destroyed. Now it’s rising again. There is also Food Truck Fridays (every second Friday), where all things locally crafted get sold – food, clothing, hair products – plus local bands play. Why do I love PE? For the friendly people, the beaches and that the place bears Nelson Mandela’s name.’ 1 Valley Road, 0794445666
Coffee Break
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‘There is Friendly Stranger, rustic and inviting (in an old harbourmaster’s house), perfect for meetings or after-work drinks.’ 1 Bridge Street, 0764376850. Daniel (below) adds: ‘The coffee and baristas are excellent, as is the food.’
Local cuisine
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‘At the harbour there is Shisa Restaurant – a cool hang-out for drinks and when I am craving African cuisine. I love the ulusu (tripe) and dumplings.’ Off Strand Street, 0604539790
Out and about
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‘South End Museum has a lot of history on the previous dwellers of the area who were forcibly removed.’ Tours are conducted by former residents. Corner Walmer Boulevard and Humewood Road, 0415823325
Explore the outdoors
‘Victoria Park is a wonderful place to spend the afternoon. The park has water-lily ponds, a bird-watching site and a beautiful garden. Weddings, live music shows and summer picnics also take place here.’ Ernest Walter Road, 0415822575
Bridge Street Brewery
Manager Daniel Huddlestone
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‘The brewery was started by Gary Erasmus and Lex Mitchell (of the famous Knysna brewery). It was the first craft brewery in PE and we could not be more proud of our beer! My father has lived in South End for most of his life, so I have seen it change quite a bit over the years. A lot of that change has happened recently – since Bridge Street Brewery opened, in fact. It’s amazing to see this area starting to flourish, with new businesses and events popping up all the time. Our spot is nestled at the bottom of Brickmaker’s Kloof, in the heart of the Baakens Valley. The Inner City Enduro takes place here every year, and the Valley Bash is a new auto rally we were recently involved in. We have plans for it to be bigger in the future.’ 1 Bridge Street, 0415810361
