The Cape Winelands is a wonderful place to live. Much of its appeal is of course the beautiful setting, proximity to Cape Town, exceptional spaces for outdoor activity, the culinary culture and access to world class facilities. The semigration from all over South Africa to the Western Cape requires expansion and while I am very pro-development, does it come at the expense of the original charm of our area?
The charm of the Cape Winelands is more than vineyard-covered mountain slopes and olive groves. Villages with their intimate communities and local businesses are an integral part of the Winelands. What is not to love about small town coffee roasters, bakers, butchers and weekend markets with green grocers and cheese makers? There is the convenience of the local tailor knowing your size, the florist expecting your weekly order and the mechanic keeping your parts in stock. As towns expand and develop, however, the influx of numbers require shops and businesses that can keep up with the demand. And while in theory, big businesses and shopping malls could complement small shops, manufacturers and service providers, we often see that their volume-supported promotions and one-stop-shopping convenience have a negative impact on the small, local businesses.
There has been a global deterioration in town and city centres for many years as small industrial, retail and even housing spaces have been emptying out. A decrease in the demand for office space and an increase in e-commerce as well as experiential retail have made city centres less popular places for small businesses and manufacturers. Lower rent and more affordable municipal rates in business parks outside the city centre have led to less city-bound traffic while a lack of maintenance and investment also resulted in the decay of areas that used to be hustling and bustling. Economic downturn and issues with crime further drove consumers out of city centres and even the contribution of tourism has been dwindling as these areas ran dry of their daily activities and energy.
While our towns are still beautiful winelands’ villages, I do think we should keep our eyes open and learn from how towns and cities are now trying to rekindle the charm of their downtown and inner-city areas. According to the New York Times article, cities like New York, Chicago, Baltimore and Seattle are revisiting rules and requirements to make the areas more accessible and enticing for local industries. Integrating small businesses allows these cities to diversify and strengthen their economies. “Now, they’re returning to an earlier era, when craftspeople such as food makers, woodworkers and apparel designers were integral parts of neighborhood life, and economic activity revolved around them.”
A return to former spaces doesn’t necessarily imply a return to former ways. Today, local, personalised production lends itself to influencer marketing and an experience culture that helps areas maintain a unique character. With a new focus on maker and artisan activity, thriving local industries can even reawakening tourism interest.
Many countryside towns see their young people leaving the area to find work in cities. Often the schools, public institutions and services begin to struggle as a result and deterioration is an obvious next phase. We don’t have that problem at all. Our area is developing and progressing and more jobs and opportunities are created for the locals – but also for bigger businesses coming in.
In a country with a struggling economy, we can’t be grateful enough for the opportunities we have in the Western Cape. I do think though, that while our growth and progress depend on the influx of people, industries and foreign capital, we should be careful of not losing the integrity and character that made us such a coveted destination to begin with. We need to create space and support for our small manufacturers and local businesses to not only contribute to our original economies, but also to keep the authentic charm of the Cape Winelands alive.