A comparison of Greenmarket Square and the V&A Waterfront

The emergence of the bright new commercial triumph of the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront has been one of the most publicized developments in Cape Town. The redevelopment of the dilapidated and obscure Cape Town Harbour commenced in 1989 and has continued apace ever since. The Harbour has come back to life and is visited by millions of people every year, making it one of South Africa’s prime tourist venues, although an estimated 80% of these visitors are Capetonians.

On the other hand, Greenmarket Square has been the centre of Cape Town city life for almost three hundred years originating out of the need for a commercial trading area where ships could buy the provisions needed for journeys around the coast of Africa. Today a mix of craft and flea market products and services including beaded jewellery, candles, African artefacts, clothing and collectables make up the majority of merchandise. The vibrance of the market is accentuated by the hustle and bustle among the closely packed market stalls and live street entertainment

From the start, the marketing of the Waterfront stressed its role as a restorer of heritage and South African visitors would

be offered “a special historical ambience,” although it was pointed out that historically related attractions ranked low with foreign visitors. (Worden, 1994) Although the waterfront is not an historical theme park along the lines of the Kimberley Mine Museum, it uses historical images as an important part of its self-presentation. During development some of the stated objectives, together with the promotion of tourism, residential, business and harbour activities, included ‘restoring the historic links to the city’ and ‘conserving and enhancing those elements with cultural significance.’ However, the cultural heritage created and mythologized by some visitors at the waterfront exists within a fiercely commercialised context. The waterfront is a product of private enterprise and its goals are those of profit. History serves the aim of enterprise, and relics of the past are readily modified to commercial needs. (Worden, 1994)

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