This past Sunday, the streets of Langa came alive with movement, music, and connection during the Open Streets Langa event. For one afternoon, King Langa Libalele and Lerotholi Avenue were closed to cars and opened to people, creating a vibrant space for walking, dancing, shopping, and storytelling. The day celebrated the rich history and community spirit of Cape Town’s oldest township.
Celebrating Local Food and Farming
At the heart of the event was the Langa Agrihub farmers’ market, where farmers proudly displayed a wide range of fresh produce, including spinach, kale, beetroot, lettuce, carrots, cauliflower, and green onions. Visitors filled the stalls, eager to buy directly from local growers and learn more about their work.
“The Open Streets event shows the possibilities for Langa as a community, but also for the Agrihub and how we can grow together,” said Mahlubi Zibi, Chairperson of the Langa Agrihub Steering Committee. “It’s a chance to connect with residents, sell our produce, share our knowledge, and demonstrate how local farming can play a bigger role in creating a healthy, vibrant, and inclusive neighbourhood.”
Thobeka Gacula added:
“It would be wonderful to have more days like today, where we can share and sell our harvest. Farming brings me joy, and sharing that joy with the community makes it even more meaningful. Seeing people appreciate the food we grow is truly rewarding.”
Nearby, Mzi’s tea garden was a crowd favourite. Guests gathered to hear Mzi’s story, taste his herbal teas, and buy some to take home. His warmth and passion for herbs made the garden a welcoming space where people lingered, chatted, and connected.
A Taste of Tradition at the Smiley Market
The Smiley Market Side Dish Showcase drew large crowds throughout the afternoon. Local traders and residents prepared traditional favourites such as pap, chakalaka, and a spinach-and-kale side dish, the perfect accompaniment to the market’s well-known sheep heads.
Visitors were also curious about the recent improvements at the market. Over the past months, the space has been cleaned and reorganised, with tons of waste cleared, unsafe structures removed, and new outdoor ovens installed for preparing sheep heads. Solar lights have also been added to improve visibility and safety for those who work into the evening.
“The Smiley Side Dish Showcase celebrates Langa’s vibrant street food culture through a friendly cooking challenge,” said Rhandzu Marivate, Programmes Manager at the SA Urban Food & Farming Trust. “The dishes were prepared using pans provided by EnerGAfrica and heated on BurroSA ovens, with fresh produce supplied by the Agrihub. The showcase was also an opportunity to test the new oven prototypes and food waste collection system developed by Waste ED as part of the AfriFOODLinks project, while giving residents and visitors a chance to see the progress made at the market, a co-design effort led by our partner Ranyaka.”
Innovation and Sustainability at the ReBuilt Demonstrator Launch
Earlier in the day, the African Centre for Cities (ACC) and Bauhaus Earth hosted the launch of the ReBuilt Demonstrator at 16 on Lerotholi. The structure, part of a collaborative project between researchers, designers, and local partners, explores how natural materials and shared creativity can shape better urban spaces.
The event included a walk-through of the Demonstrator, featuring Mzi’s garden structure as an example of small-scale, sustainable design. Guests then gathered for an informal discussion on how such projects can inspire practical change in neighbourhoods across Cape Town.
Later in the afternoon, the courtyard of the 16 on Lerotholi Art Gallery came alive with jazz. Hosted by the Masekhe Foundation, musicians filled the space with rhythm and soul. The performance took place beside another ReBuilt structure, blending art, music, and design in a setting that captured the spirit of creativity and collaboration.
Local Voices, Shared Futures
The success of Open Streets Langa lies not only in its lively atmosphere but in how it celebrated and amplified local voices. Farmers, traders and artists all played a part in showing what community strength looks like in action.
SA Urban Food & Farming Trust 