Hector Dibakoane of the Makers Valley Partnership says the area is preparing for the 702 Jozi My Jozi Walk the Talk on 26 July. The event will bring about 20,000 participants through the central Johannesburg neighbourhood.
The Makers Valley Partnership, founded in 2018 by Simon Mayson, unites suburbs including Bertrams, Bezuidenhout Valley, Judith’s Paarl, Troyeville, Lorentzville and New Doornfontein. It supports artisans, artists, urban farmers and small businesses in a community of about 50,000 residents.
Dibakoane, the CEO, described Makers Valley as a grassroots hub of creativity and social enterprise. He noted that rebranding the area gives makers greater visibility and collective bargaining power.
Preparations for the 5km family walk, which starts and ends at Ellis Park and passes Victoria Yards, include street cleaning by the Social Employment Fund and repairs by Local Abode. The partnership runs training programmes and a resource lab at Victoria Yards to support local entrepreneurs.
