Discover the latest news updates, experiences and more at the V&A Waterfront
There are a wide variety of attractions and activities to enjoy on the property. From heritage landmarks to more leisurely pursuits. Fun for all ages.
Take your experience to new heights with the Wheel’s elevated views across Granger Bay, Robben Island, Table Mountain, Signal Hill, and the Cape Town Stadium.
A number of apartments are available for rent at the V&A Waterfront, ranging from smaller studios to 1 and 2 bedroom apartments. Living at the V&A Waterfront offers residents security, convenience, a vibrant nightlife and all the amenities you may possibly need.
Apartment living at its most convenient.
The V&A Waterfront is an iconic 123-hectare neighbourhood which welcomes millions of people from all over the continent and world. We celebrate heritage & diversity, champion art & design, support entrepreneurship & innovation & drive positive social, economic & environmental change.
We’re the first attraction in South Africa to adopt the WTTC Safe Travels stamp.
Welcome to the V&A Waterfront where history meets modernity. Located in the heart of beautiful Cape Town, our neighbourhood offers a unique variety of dinning, shopping and entrainment options. Come experience the best that Cape Town has to offer
+27 21 408 7600
info@waterfront.co.za
Makers Landing: 10AM – 9PM (Fri-Sat), 10AM – 6PM (Sun), Optional Trade (Mon-Thu)
OZCF Market: 4PM – 9pm (Wed), 8AM – 2PM (Sat), 8:30AM – 2PM (Sun)
Watershed: 10AM – 7PM (Mon-Sun)
Battery Park: 9AM – 6PM (Mon-Sun),
Victoria Wharf: 9AM – 9PM (Mon-Sun)
Alfred Mall: 10AM – 7PM (Mon-Sun)
As a neighbourhood, we know that there is a constant need for quality service staff within our waterfront world. We also know that it is in our power to do something about it. That’s why we’re investing in foundational skills development in young people. The goal of the V&A Academy is to create a reliable pipeline of talent into key industries such as Hospitality, Tourism and Retail, both within our precinct and beyond.
The V&A Waterfront is an ecosystem full of opportunities for undeserved youth to kickstart their careers through readiness for entry level positions and the journey towards lasting employment.
The Academy leverages the interconnectedness of our V&A neighbourhood by meeting the skills demand with innovative, scalable solutions, producing work-ready candidates geared for customer service excellence.
The Academy and its goals are rooted in the V&A Waterfront’s commitment to creating shared value by championing inclusivity, sustainability and opportunity. As a neighbour, you can play a vital role in creating space for excluded young people to participate in the economy, build a trusted talent pipeline into the service industry and benefit from the high standards the V&A is known for.
Your front line drives your bottom line — investing in young people leads to exceptional service across the neighbourhood.
We connect retailers, restaurants, hotels and tourism operators with an upskilled pool of talented individuals, passionate about customer service and committed to delivering excellence.
We invest in people to address the issue of poverty, inequality, skills shortages and youth unemployment.
Our holistic and inclusive ecosystem approach ensures depth quality interventions, while staying flexible to meet the specific demands of the stakeholders and candidates involved.
Invest in your local neighbourhood and stimulate economic activity in the precinct. Our programmes help businesses tackle staff shortages, access essential skills and drive growth.
Make your BEE spend more impactful, help achieve meaningful transformation and drive real progress for your community and economy by working with the V&A Academy.
The V&A Academy is the Waterfront’s in-house service offering to tenants and stakeholders, created to meet the local need for talent while addressing the pressing socio-economic challenges created by high youth unemployment.
Developed and managed by the V&A Waterfront, the Skills Academy is a collaboration with key strategic partners and relevant stakeholders.
Academy Lead
Brett leads the V&A Academy team and is responsible for strategic partnerships to create job opportunities for young people across the V&A Waterfront.
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Emily is a Youth Empowerment Expert with over 20 years’ experience in the space. Emily co-founded Amathuba Collective, offering extensive programme...
Thabile in a seasoned HR Practitioner with a special focus on youth employment. She leads young teams and develops talent in administrative and compliance roles.
It takes a neighbourhood to develop skills: the V&A Academy collaborates widely with sponsoring entities, small and medium businesses, BEE measured companies, various service providers and training partners—and more importantly, young people, to develop the attitudes and abilities required to meet the demand for quality staff in the V&A Waterfront.
As a restaurant, hotel, retailer or small/medium business, you need staff you can rely on. Partner with the Academy as a Host and/or Employer and support the development of practical work skills in our young people.
Let us know how many staff members you need and when you’d like them to start.
Sign Up Here
If you’re a B-BBEE measured entity, put your SD budget to good use and invest in neighbourhood talent. Empower young people from disadvantaged backgrounds who have been given the skills needed to deliver service excellence.
To implement your Skills Developments projects (Learnerships, Internships, Bursaries, YES Programmes) with the V&A Academy, express your interest.
Show Interest Here
If you are interested in entering the service industry and committed to your personal and professional growth. Kickstart your career at the V&A Waterfront!
Apply Here
The V&A Academy’s skills programmes focus on training the right attitudes for excellence, laying a strong foundation with effective work readiness that emphasises emotional and mental strengthening. We develop foundational social and emotional competencies, fostering positivity, confidence and professional resilience. Candidates are fully prepared for the realities and pressures of the service industry.
The V&A Academy is committed to nurturing dedicated candidates, providing innovative solutions to practical challenges and offering ongoing support to all throughout the journey, ensuring successful and impactful implementation of the skills programmes.
Join our mission to create opportunities, change lives and shape a thriving community.
The V&A Academy has changed my life. It gave me confidence, taught me how to engage with people from different backgrounds, and interact with customers—including foreign tourists who don’t always speak English. The most rewarding part is being able to provide for my son and mother. Even small things, like buying milk from my tips, make a huge difference. The shift from training to work was big—going from classroom discussions to real customer interactions—but it’s been an amazing experience. I encourage young people to take opportunities like this, search for jobs on SA Youth, and not just sit at home waiting.”
– Zoleka Bokwe, 30
The Academy prepared me for the workplace by teaching me time management and professionalism. Having a job means I can save for my studies and help at home. The training was intense — but it gave me the foundation I needed. The biggest lesson I’ve learned is to keep looking for opportunities. SA Youth helped me find this job, and I’d tell others to use it, apply everywhere, and take action. My workplace experience has been great, and I’m grateful for the V&A Academy’s support.”
– Asisipho Tsibani, 24
The V&A Academy helped me grow into a more responsible, confident person. The training prepared me for work—understanding that bosses expect things done a certain way. The best part of my job is being able to support my family. It wasn’t easy finding work—it took me months—but persistence paid off. I’d tell other young people to keep applying because opportunities are out there. The support from the V&A Academy facilitator was incredible— the patience and guidance made a huge difference. I’m proud of how far I’ve come.”
– Nckubeko Nama, 21
Before the Academy, I was shy and not confident speaking to people. The training helped me come out of my shell and feel comfortable in my role. I also learned how to handle difficult guests and situations, realising they’re just having a bad day. The most rewarding part has been having a job—it’s better than staying home waiting for something to happen. My advice to young people is to just go for it—don’t be nervous! Overall, it was a great experience, and I’m grateful for the opportunity.”
– Erin Jacobs, 19
The Academy changed my life. Before this, I was shy and unsure about my future, but I gained confidence and learned how to engage with people. Working in hospitality has exposed me to guests from all over the world. The best part of my job is being able to take care of myself and contribute at home—I no longer need to ask my mother for things. My advice to young people is to look for opportunities, take them seriously, and never give up. The V&A Academy helped me build a future, and I am truly grateful.”
– Somelele Gqiba, 21
Become An Employer
The V&A Academy trains young people for careers in tourism, hospitality, and retail. We provide skills training, job placements, and ongoing support to ensure success for both candidates and employers.
The Academy is open to:
Our six-week program includes:
We source candidates from the SA Youth Platform and assess them for attitude, work readiness, and commitment before placing them with employers. For employers requiring graduates-in-training for hospitality and tourism roles, we also recruit from relevant TVET colleges in the Western Cape.
We manage the entire recruitment and assessment process end to end. This includes sourcing, screening, and preparing candidates before presenting them for final interviews with hiring managers. Host employers also receive:
We provide:
There is no cost to host employers. All graduate stipends are fully funded. Employers only need to provide mentorship and workplace experience.
The Academy helps businesses maximize their B-BBEE Skills Development points by funding learnerships, internships, and training for young people.
Graduates who perform well can move into full-time jobs. If an employer can’t offer a role, the Academy helps candidates find new opportunities.
Businesses can:
South African citizens aged 18-35 can register on the SA Youth Platform. Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed and assessed before placement.
The Academy supports tourism, hospitality, and retail—sectors that drive employment at the V&A Waterfront.
We offer:
The Academy trains for front-of-house and back-of-house roles across industries. While we don’t provide technical training, we focus on work readiness, customer service, and professionalism to help young people succeed.
We provide ongoing coaching and mentoring to support both candidates and employers. If needed, we can offer additional training or find a replacement.
Yes. The Academy is open to businesses of all sizes. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are encouraged to join and benefit from skilled, motivated staff.
The V&A Academy is designed to serve businesses based at the V&A Waterfront. However, we recognize that many Waterfront businesses rely on supply chain partners to support their operations. As long as the roles are linked to a business at the Waterfront, we are happy to support their supply chain partners in creating quality entry-level job opportunities.
academy@waterfront.co.za
academy lead
Emily is a Youth Empowerment Expert with over 20 years’ experience in the space. Emily co-founded Amathuba Collective, offering extensive programmes to strengthen young people’s emotional and mental wellbeing.
Their passion to help youth to love themselves and grow into positive and confident humans has informed the V&A Academy approach. At the Academy she guides and oversees activities from an impact perspective to ensure we achieve measurable, lasting change in the young people and their hosting businesses.
At the Academy she liaises with hosts, managers and supervisors to support the development of the young people and their ability to add significant value to their employers. She guides the administrative processes to ensure smooth and impactful implementation the Academy’s projects.
He focuses on enabling career paths for under-resourced youth in Cape Town’s tourism, retail, and hospitality sectors. Brett is passionate about supporting young people’s transition into the workplace and ensuring host businesses nurture their growth. He works to help businesses improve customer service excellence by developing young talent. Brett oversees the design and delivery of training programs, collaborating with employers, funders, and partners to create lasting, positive change across the V&A Waterfront ecosystem.
