At the heart of everything we do is a commitment to inclusivity, opportunity, and sustainability. Guided by these values, we’ve introduced several platforms and initiatives designed to create meaningful opportunities for growth – from business and product development to creative support, skills-building, mentorship, access to networks, market exposure, and job opportunities.

V&A ACADEMY:

Asisipho Tsibani, a V&A Academy graduate who is now working with Cape Town City Sightseeing.

The V&A Academy, which officially launched in May 2025, is a skills development programme which prepares young South Africans (aged 18–35) for careers in tourism, hospitality, and retail. The Academy supports unemployed youth from underserved communities with personal development, industry training, and job placements which aims to build meaningful employment opportunities that evolve into meaningful and sustainable careers, longer term. This is about sustainability for the long run.

The six week programme includes foundation-building workshops, service excellence training, and hands-on work experience within businesses across our neighbourhood. In addition, the V&A Academy provides full support to both line managers and young people for 12-months after placement – in order for our young people to do well, they need to be well!.

In 2025, the Academy has partnered with 14 Watershed host employers to unlock 31 jobs for young people interested in working in the art, craft and design industry. We are constantly evolving our program to support tenants with their entry-level talent across the neighbourhood.

Over the past two years, the Academy has trained over 200 young people for jobs across our neighbourhood. The training is free of charge and provided at no cost to businesses across the Waterfront. The Academy is training up to 360 candidates in 2025 and would like to partner with 50 employer hosts for the upcoming season.

Meet V&A Academy Graduates, Luxolo Mtunu and Asisipho Tsibani

Luxolo Mtunu and Asisipho Tsibani, are two of the 200 youths who have started their career journey with the V&A Academy. After completing the Academy’s training, Luxolo from our first cohort in 2023 was placed as a server at TimeOut Market and has since grown into the role of Stock Supervisor, while Asisipho part of our second cohort in 2024 now works as an Operations Assistant for Cape Town City Sightseeing.

Find out more, here: www.waterfront.co.za/academy/

Artist Alliance:

Launched in 2021, the Artist Alliance programme offers young creatives hands-on training, mentorship from industry leaders, and opportunities in disciplines such as fine arts, videography, music production, and graphic design. It also provides networking events which help artists connect, grow, and showcase their work, supporting both their creative and business development. To date, there have been two iterations, supporting 18 artists.

Artist Auditions:

Supported by Artist Alliance, Artist Auditions is a call for buskers, such as acrobats, musicians, dancers, face-painters, and more to showcase their creative talent throughout our neighbourhood. Upon successful auditions, buskers gain access to our Buskers Programme, which offers ongoing mentorship, workshops to develop creative and business skills, public exposure, career support including potential bursaries, and the opportunity to earn public gratuities while performing live. The programme supports 135 individuals annually.

Makers Landing Food Business Incubator:

Biythany and Jacqueline Julie, co-owners of Not So Plain, who recently graduated from the 2024 Food Incubator Programme.

The Makers Landing Food Business Incubator is an initiative designed to support local food entrepreneurs. This 12-month programme provides tailored business development support, product refinement, mentorship, access to a licensed commercial kitchen, and opportunities to reach new markets. Since its launch in 2020, the programme has successfully incubated over 30 food businesses.

Find out more, here: www.makerslanding.co.za/incubator/

The Watershed:

The Watershed is home to over 150 tenants representing more than 365 local brands. For 10 years, Watershed has served as a space for local independent makers, artists, and small businesses to showcase a diverse range of products, including fashion, ceramics, jewellery, textiles, and homeware.

Watershed Design Lab:

The Design Lab, launched in April 2021, is a ‘retail incubator’ which provides creatives with focused support through training and mentorship. The programme assists creative entrepreneurs to prepare for retail by offering real-world experience. The programme is run in partnership with the Craft and Design Institute and Business and Arts South Africa and has successfully incubated 18 local brands.

 

YOU’RE INVITED TO THE NEIGHBOURFOOD EXPERIENCE

This winter, the V&A Waterfront invites visitors to our NeighbourFood Experience. Running from June to August, Neighbourfood is a three-month celebration of food, community, and conscious and sustainable choices. Enjoy exclusive food specials on fine-dining, seafood, specialty offerings, light lunches and drinks, as well as hands-on food events, and a focus on sustainable seafood.

It’s more than just a meal; it’s about connecting through food, learning, and sustainability.

Here are just a few of the delicious specials on offer:

3 Courses or more:

• COY Restaurant: For just R490 per person, you can enjoy a three-course meal at COY, best known for their refined take on modern African cooking.
• Marble: Enjoy a three-course meal at one of our newest additions to our neighbourhood for just R450, or R350 for a two-course.
• The Raj: Date Night at The Raj, R750 per couple for a three-course meal with a bottle of Merlot or Chardonnay.
• TANG: Enjoy a five-course Kaiseki journey at R450 pp or an eight-course experience at R650 per person.

Light Bites:

• Conscious Carnivores: Winter Warmers lunch menu at just R120.
• Cause Effect: Pizza Tuesdays — any pizza for R89, plus a Cocktail Club every Friday with 3 curated cocktails for R199.
• Wimpy: Burger and Shake promo for R89.90

Specialty:

• J&M Biltong: Famous Wednesdays, buy R120 bulk beef biltong and get R60 free droewors.
• Afrikoa: Buy a six pack of Afrikoa’s rich, handcrafted hot chocolate bombs and receive a free nougat.
• Dip n Dip: Order a cappuccino or americano and a chewy cookie for just R35.

See full list of Neighbourfood specials and promotions, here.

 

INDOOR ACTIVITIES FOR WINTER FUN

Here are some indoor, family-friendly activities visitors to the Waterfront can enjoy around our neighbourhood during the winter period:

1. Ster-Kinekor
   Lay back and enjoy the latest movies on the big screen.
2. Art Jamming
   Create your own paintings or drawings using a variety of art supplies. Kids can also have fun making and decorating their own slime.
3. Two Oceans Aquarium
   Explore marine life including penguins, stingrays, and many other sea creatures. It’s both educational and entertaining for all ages.
4. Hint Hunt Escape Room
   Work together to solve puzzles and escape within 60 minutes. Suitable for children 9 and older when accompanied by adults. There’s also an Amazing Race experience around the Waterfront.
5. Scratch Patch & Mineral World
   Dig through piles of stones to find your own gems. A great way for kids to start a collection of interesting minerals.
6. Zeitz MOCAA
   Visit the largest contemporary African art museum. You can explore the exhibits on your own or take a guided tour.
7. Cave Golf
   Enjoy indoor mini golf with 18 different holes designed to challenge and entertain players of all ages.
8. Be-up Indoor Adventure Park
   Visit Be-up, for a fun indoor park experience with wall-to-wall trampolines, climbing walls and obstacle courses.

 

EVENTS AT THE WATERFRONT:

UWC Rowing Club 48-hour Ergothon

Get ready to witness endurance, teamwork, and determination like never before! As the University of the Western Cape Rowing Club, we’re thrilled to announce our upcoming 48-Hour Ergothon – an epic rowing challenge where participants will row non-stop in shifts for two full days.

Date: Friday, 20 June – Sunday, 22 June

Time: 15h00

Location: Amphitheatre