Sibanye, Khayelitsha, Cape Town: Shop Review

Sibanye
Cnr. Lwandle & Spine Roads, Khayelitsha
Cape Town | Map

Specialty: Beautiful township crafts, in support of HIV/AIDS-affected communities
Tel: +27 (0) 21 364 1187 / (0) 83 522 2271, Fax: +27 (0) 21 364 1149
jo-sibanye@mweb.co.za
www.sibanye.org.za
SA Blog recommends a look inside? Don’t miss it!

Further Insight & Opinion
Sibanye – which means “we are one” in Xhosa – is a glorious emporium of hundreds of the most colorful crafts from the hands of wire-workers, bead-workers, basket-weavers, embroiderers and “bottle cap” artists (those who make crafts from discarded items) in Khayelitsha, Cape Town’s largest township.

Unlike most other craft shops, however, Sibanye is actually located in the area where its products are made, and doubles as an artists’ community center, making it a major hub of artistic and economic activity. No fewer than 17 craft organisations and 29 individual artists are represented on its eclectic shelves.

Sibanye’s central mission is to help those affected by HIV/AIDS: not only do its products come from communities that live with the daily realities of the AIDS epidemic, but it offers craft training, marketing, centrailsed orders processing and product development specifically to those whose economic prospects would otherwise be sharply curtailed because of HIV/AIDS.

At Sibanye, it’s about economic empowerment – for visitors who like to support Fair Trade projects when they travel, this is the place to come.

The center is just a 35 min. drive outside Cape Town, on the N2 (Spine Road exit). Many township tours also pay it visit – including the one below, recommended by Sibanye.

Visit Sibanye with Babi’s Tours:

Babi’s Tours
+27 (0) 21 361 2202
+27 (0) 84 938 4249 (mobile)
+27 (0) 76 457 9368 (mobile)
phaks@babistours.com
www.babistours.com