The first moyo open-air African Street Food Market in Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront, featuring sustainable items such as bright green aquaponic lettuce and true African produce such as local beer and biltong, will be in full swing within two weeks’ time, says Dries van der Merwe, Group Brand & Marketing Manager, moyo.
Powered by solar panels and situated on the water’s edge in the Clock Tower Precinct, most of the approximately 20 stalls will be open daily between 09h00 and 21h00. “The whole idea is for visitors to take their biodegradable containers, buy real African street food and enjoy that on the comfortable couches,” he said at a Society of Incentive and Travel Executives networking event. Patrons preferring more social-style dining can do so around long wooden tables inside the restaurant that opened in December.
Van der Merwe says the aquaponic lettuce illustrates the beauty of urban farming, and is an initiative moyo wants to roll out across SA. “We want to educate people about good food while adding another layer to dining.” In aquaponics, aquaculture (raising aquatic animals in tanks – in this case tilapia fish) is combined with hydroponics (cultivating plants in water) to create a sustainable food production system.

Jason Snell, Brand Extension Manager, moyo, adds: “It’s our own responsibility to find African produce, and to brand and sell it as African.”