



Upon a hill in the Shongweni Valley, overlooking the majestic Kirk Falls — a buzz of activity every Saturday morning.
The music, the moments, and the special guests coming up at the market.
Every Friday we shine a light on a maker from the market. Catch up on the latest stories below.

FEATURE FRIDAY: MARIAM’S – Made With Passion This week we’re celebrating the wonderful lady behind not one, but TWO much-loved food stalls at The SFM — Mariam’s at A34 in the Food Court & the Tikka Shed in the Village. Her food is full of flavour, freshly prepared & made with love. We asked Mariam a few questions about her journey, her food & what she loves about being part of our market family: Tell us a little about yourself and how Mariam’s got started. “My dad was a chef, & he inspired my love for cooking. Mariam’s has been part of the food industry for many years, & I’ve been at SFM for many years too.” What inspired you to start cooking? “Definitely my dad. Growing up with a chef inspired me to cook & eventually turn that passion into Mariam’s.” What type of food do you serve? “We believe in freshly prepared, tasty food. At our main stall we serve loaded steak & chicken fries, shawarmas/pitas, Masala Fries & Supa Crisps. At the Village, we serve Chicken Tikka, Tikka Boti, Supa Wraps, Supa Sticks, Tikka Burgers & Wors Rolls.” What is one dish everyone needs to try? “Our Loaded Fries with steak or chicken — they’re a huge hit with our regular customers!” What is your favourite part of cooking? “Seeing my customers enjoying their meals & hearing, ‘Wow, that tastes great!’ That makes it all worthwhile.” What’s most popular with your customers? “Our Loaded Fries and steak and chicken shawarmas are favourites. At the Village, our customers absolutely love the Chicken Tikka.” What do you love about Shongweni Market? “I love the people and the atmosphere. We always strive to give our customers our best every Saturday. We truly believe it’s the best market in the country! The management and staff are amazing, and we’re proud to be part of it.” What ONE thing would you recommend to a first-time customer? “The Masala Fries! Come and try them — you won’t be disappointed.” FUN ONE: If Mariam’s was a person, what would its personality be? “Warm, welcoming, full of flavour and full of passion!” (Sounds a lot like Mariam) We couldn’t have said it better ourselves. Thank you Mariam for bring your passion and flavour to the SFM family and market every Saturday.

This week, we’re celebrating the fabulous Giles from Gipsy G — a woman who brings so much energy, colour & life wherever she goes! We absolutely love having her at SFM. Her personality is infectious, her style is unapologetically bold, and her passion for colour & fashion shines through in everything she does. With Spring here, we asked Giles what this new season means to her — and her answer is every bit as vibrant as she is…Here’s Giles in her own words. “For me, Spring is about a reset button. A new season. A new chapter. A chance to stop, take a breath and have a good look at yourself — where you are, where you've been &, perhaps most importantly, where you want to go next. I think we spend so much time rushing forward that we don't always stop to ask ourselves whether we're actually moving in the right direction. Spring gives us that opportunity. It’s also about how we connect with the people around us — being more present, more open and finding ways to engage with others that actually mean something. And then there’s COLOUR.I love colour. In fact, I think colour tells a story. It can reflect exactly where you are in your life. Your mood. Your confidence. Your energy your personality Your attitude. My colours? Greens, blues, pinks and reds. And definitely bold! I'm not really a pastel person. Give me colour with a bit of attitude & personality! That’s something I love about Gipsy G. Fashion gives us a wonderful opportunity to express who we are without having to say a word. You can be bold, playful, elegant, colourful — or all of those things at once. For me, getting dressed should make you feel something. So this Spring, I'm choosing colour, curiosity & a willingness to embrace the next chapter. New season. New starts. New energy. And plenty of colour.” And that is exactly why we love Giles! Bold, colourful, full of personality & always bringing her wonderful energy to the market. If you’re looking for something that makes you feel good, express yourself and add a little attitude to your wardrobe, make sure you visit Gipsy G at J6 & J7 this Saturday. Here’s to Spring, new beginnings, bold choices and plenty of Colour!

Feature Friday – The Women Behind the Market. As we come to the final week of Women’s Month, we wanted to take a moment to celebrate some of the incredible women who work behind the scenes at Shongweni Farmers & Craft Market. These are the women you may not always see, but their hard work is felt by everyone who walks through our gates on a Saturday. They are here making sure the market is clean, cared for, maintained and ready for the public to arrive. They clean our toilets, keep our spaces tidy, tackle the rubbish (even after the monkeys have had their way with it! 🐒😂), and quietly get everything back in order so that our market can be the beautiful space we all know and love. Their work often happens behind the scenes, but it is absolutely essential to what makes our market what it is. So, this Feature Friday is dedicated to our wonderful team of ladies behind the scenes. 🌸 Thank you for everything you do, for the hard work that often goes unnoticed, and for helping us welcome thousands of visitors every Saturday. We see you. We appreciate you. And we are incredibly grateful for you. ❤️ Happy Women’s Month to the women who keep things moving, clean and beautiful behind the scenes! 🌷 #WomensMonth #FeatureFriday #ShongweniMarket #WomenWhoWork #ThankYou [Left to Right: Nana, Makhosi, Celiwe, Smangele, Zamambo, Angel, Janet and Asanda]

✨ FEATURE FRIDAY: NIKKI FROM CHARMENIKS ✨ This Women’s Month, we’re inspired by the incredible women at our market — women who are full of colour, exude passion and aren’t afraid to let their personalities shine. 🌈❤️ And this week’s Feature Friday is the perfect embodiment of all of that! Meet Nikki from @charmeniks 💕✨ If you haven’t discovered her stall at H11 yet, you are seriously in for a treat! Think colour, sparkle, beautiful jewellery and pieces that make you feel fabulous just by putting them on. 💎🌈 But Charmeniks is more than just jewellery — it’s about expression, confidence and celebrating YOU. And that’s exactly what we love about Nikki. We asked Nikki a few questions about herself, her business and what inspires her… and there was far too much goodness to fit into one caption! 😂 So, take a scroll through the photos and get to know the woman behind Charmeniks. 💕✨ We hope you’ll be as inspired by Nikki as we are! And this Saturday, make sure you stop by H11, say hi to Nikki and let her add a little more colour to your day! 🌸💎 Here’s to the women who inspire us to be bold, colourful, passionate and unapologetically ourselves. ❤️ #FeatureFriday #WomenOfShongweni #Charmeniks #ShongweniMarket #WomensMonth

As we celebrate the incredible women who make our market so special this Women’s Month, we’re excited to introduce the first of our inspiring female vendors – Terry Angelos. Terry is a local artist, illustrator & textile designer. Through her beautifully illustrated homeware, inspired by South African nature, nostalgia & the little details so often overlooked, she invites us all find joy in the everyday. Tell us about yourself... I’m an artist, illustrator & textile designer. I curate all my creative designs as Terry Angelos Studio. I create illustrated homeware inspired by SA nature, nostalgia & details that are so often overlooked. My work is an invitation to slow down, look a little closer and find small things to delight in. What inspired your business? The roots of my business really began in childhood. Before I was an artist, I was a collector. My childhood pockets were always full of feathers, shells, lucky beans, frogs & tiny treasures gathered from wherever I happened to be exploring. Looking back, I realise I wasn’t just collecting objects... I was collecting stories. My business has grown from that same curiosity, transforming the things I notice in nature and South African life into beautiful homeware that people can enjoy every day. I love sharing that same delight and whimsy that nature and nostalgia stirs in me. What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learnt about trading here at the market? That people are looking for connection as much as they are looking for products. The market has taught me to listen to people’s stories, and build relationships rather than simply making sales. What does Women’s Month mean to you? It’s a chance to celebrate women who keep creating, keep showing up and supporting one another. Running a small business isn’t always easy, but I value the generosity of the amazing women at the market who’ve shared advice, cups of coffee, opportunities & kindness along the way. I hope my own work reminds women to make time for creativity, curiosity & the things that bring them joy. We’re so grateful to have Terry as part of the SFM family. Be sure to pop into her stall G1 this Saturday and witness a piece of her world.

✨ FEATURE FRIDAY | The Juice Kitchen This week's Feature Friday is a little different... because the owners of The Juice Kitchen wanted to shine the spotlight on someone very special – Nathi. 💚 If you've visited The Juice Kitchen at the market, chances are you've been welcomed by Nathi's biggest smile, infectious energy, and genuine kindness. He isn't just the face of The Juice Kitchen at Shongweni Farmers & Craft Market – he's the heart and soul of it. In the words of owner, Mark: "For the past seven years, The Juice Kitchen has proudly been trading at Shongweni Farmers & Craft Market. What started as an exciting opportunity has grown into an incredible journey filled with early Saturday mornings, loyal customers, and countless memories. Being part of a market that celebrates local producers, small businesses, and genuine community spirit has been a privilege, and we are grateful to everyone who has stopped by our stall, shared a conversation, or supported us along the way. Shongweni Market has become one of KwaZulu-Natal's most loved weekly destinations, bringing together local traders and families in a unique community atmosphere. Today, we're featuring Nathi because he is the heart, soul, and face of The Juice Kitchen at SFM. Our juices are great – but he is incredible!" We couldn't agree more. ❤️ Next time you're at the market, be sure to stop by their stall A28 in the Food Court for one of their fresh, delicious juices – and don't forget to say hello to Nathi. We promise you'll leave with a smile. #FeatureFriday #ShongweniMarket #SupportLocal #MeetTheMakers #TheJuiceKitchen
Plan your visit before you arrive. Locate the main entrance, the village stage, the food court, and every stall block across the grounds.

During the week, our market grounds and undercover spaces are available to hire for functions, corporate events, workshops and special occasions — set among the gardens with views over the Shongweni Valley.
Follow along for weekly updates, photos from the market, and a peek behind the stalls.